AT NO COST TO YOU, GET FUNDING FOR Ladder Up WHEN YOU:
Buy a Home / Sell a Home / Lease Commercial Property
Your Real Estate Transaction Can Help Others Achieve Financial Stability
Since 1990, the Center for Economic Progress (CEP) in Chicago has provided free quality tax and financial services to as many as 20,000 Chicago residents in a year. Through their membership in Investing in Communities®, most standard real estate transactions, such as buying a home or leasing office space, can also benefit CEP. With 70% or more of the referral fee going straight to charity, real estate transactions can become free funding to support economic development in Chicago. The CEP received $8,728 through Investing in Communities when they signed a lease on their new office space. Residential sales can also generate funding for CEP, regardless of the broker the client chooses, provided the client starts with Investing In Communities before engaging a broker or agent.
In conjunction with their partners at Ladder Up – who they officially merged with in 2018 – the CEP is there for Chicago residents struggling to pay bills, save and manage money, pay off debt, and build credit. They offer personalized and free tax and financial services, a free legal clinic, along with the developmental tools and services needed to start making real, personal economic progress.
Tax Assistance Program
The Tax Assistance Program offered by the CEP connects clients to a wide variety of vital tax services to assist with what can be a very confusing and time consuming process. Hiring a tax professional can be prohibitively expensive for Chicagoans who are just trying to make ends meet.
Fortunately, thousands of Chicago residents turn to the leading center for economic development in the city, and take advantage of the Center for Economic Progress’s Tax Assistance Program. This program’s services include:
- Tax return preparation for the current tax year and prior years;
- Customized credit reports;
- Free legal clinics for clients facing pressure from the IRS or Department of Revenue;
- Assistance in renewing or applying for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number without a valid social security card;
- Tax assistance after the deadline.
These services, along with many others, enable Chicago residents to file their taxes correctly with confidence. Families trust the Center for Economic Progress and come back year after year, and in some cases, are even able to give back as volunteers themselves as in this story in the Chicago Tribune.
Financial Health Services
The CEP offers an assortment of valuable financial health services, such as:
- Financial Coaching – coaching on how to manage personal finances through the Project Money Program
- Savings Campaign – public awareness and education on strategies for saving money
- Credit Building – The Center for Economic Progress provides year-round credit reports and tips for improving your credit score
These services and programs have been effective means of getting clients out of debt and getting them on track for a future of financial stability, responsibility, and confidence. Together with its partner Ladder Up, CEP has made a “…total economic impact of $1.15 billion…” That’s a huge impact.
Buying, Selling, Leasing Supports The Center for Economic Progress
Now anyone who cares about helping people find badly needed financial coaching and tax services can turn virtually any brokered real estate transaction into funding for the The Center for Economic Progress. Generate funding for the cause by using this free platform to choose among real estate agents that are appropriate for your residential or commercial real estate needs. Or use IIC to make arrangements with an agent you already have in mind. For example, the purchase or sale of $300,000 home can result in about $1,300 of free funding, which has a direct impact on our mission. Ready to start?
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Focus Area: Community Development, Social Justice
Budget: $1 million - $5 million
Total IIC Funding:
$8728