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About Us

Who Are We?

CPAs for the Public Interest (CPAsPI), the community service arm of the Illinois CPA Society, links the expertise of CPAs and financial professionals with Illinois not-for-profit organizations and community needs. The Illinois CPA Society is the state professional association of CPAs and affiliated financial professionals with over 22,000 members. For more information on the Illinois CPA Society including their governance polices, please visit the About Us section of their website. CPAsPI is funded through generous support of approximately 1,400 Illinois CPA Society members annually.

We hope you will take advantage of the services and resources CPAsPI offers to the Illinois not-for-profit community, including:

Workshops – Through low-cost workshops, CPAsPI offers training for not-for-profit staff and volunteers on their financial responsibilities. 1-2-3 Not for Profit Financial Basics helps small and emerging organizations understand the very basics of their financial management responsibilities. This series covers Tax and Reporting Responsibilities, Setting up an Accounting System, and Creating a Budget and Constructing Cash-Flow Projections. Training for not-for-profit directors includes the Financial Management Responsibilities of Not-for-Profit Board Members. Other workshops on financial management topics are offered throughout the year.

Accounting Consultation – CPAsPI volunteers are available to help emerging not-for-profits understand and address their immediate financial management challenges with brief pro bono consultations. CPAsPI offers consultation help to organizations who have attended the 1-2-3 Not for Profit Financial Basics workshop series.

CPA Board Connection – Builds bridges between the accounting community and the boards of directors of Illinois charitable not-for-profits. CPA Board Connection provides resources and training so board members better understand and exercise their financial management responsibilities and helps to connect CPAs with Boards through our online directory.

Publications and Resources – Information and resources on many aspects of not-for-profit accounting.

Community Service Projects – CPAsPI matches the expertise of CPAs with a broad range of community service projects and initiatives in Illinois as needs are identified. CPA volunteers have prepared and taught classes on accounting topics in partnership with other not-for-profits and government organizations. CPAsPI actively recruits and places CPAs with statewide projects that assist low-income individuals and families in preparing their tax returns. It’s all about matching what CPAs do best with the needs in communities throughout Illinois. For more information on how to identify CPAs for projects in your organization and community, contact CPAsPI.

Staff

Karen Rosen, Director, CPAs for the Public Interest
312/993-0407 ext. 227 or 800/993-0407 (Illinois only)

Katie Waters, Coordinator, Community Service
312/993-0407 ext. 216 or 800/993-0407 (Illinois only)

© Copyright 2007 CPAs for the Public Interest. Use of all information is subject to a disclaimer.