Center for Economic Progress
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| abbreviation = CEP
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| merged = Ladder Up
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| formation = {{start date and age|1990|09|}}
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| founding_location = Chicago, Illinois
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| type = Nonprofit
| tax_id = 36-3693728
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| headquarters = Chicago, Illinois
| location_city =
| location_country = United States
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| products =
| services = Tax and financial services
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| budget =
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| revenue = $872,000
| revenue_year = 2019
| disbursements =
| expenses = $1.25 million
| expenses_year = 2019
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| staff = 50
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| volunteers = 1000
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| awards = Financial Stability Impact Award (2011)
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| formerly = Center for Law & Human Services
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}}
The Center for Economic Progress (CEP) is a non-profit organization based in Chicago that offers free tax preparation and financial services to low-income families.{{cite web
|url=http://www.economicprogress.org/index.php/c/About_Us
|title=Center for Economic Progress: About Us
|publisher=Center for Economic Progress
|accessdate=8 July 2010
|archive-date=9 February 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209010443/http://www.economicprogress.org/index.php/c/About_Us
|url-status=dead
}} Since its founding in {{start date and age|1990|p=y}}, CEP has helped families obtain $400 million in refunds.
{{cite web
|url=http://www.600words.com/2010/02/volunteers-help-make-tax-time-a-little-less-taxing-for-lowincome-.html
|title=Volunteers help make tax time a little less taxing for low-income
|first=Esther J.
|last=Cepeda
|date=15 February 2010
|work=600words.com
|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times
|accessdate=8 July 2010
}}
Services
As part of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, CEP provides free tax preparation at sites in Chicago and surrounding Illinois during tax season to families that earn under $50,000 annually or individuals who earn under $25,000.{{cite web
|url=http://www.newcommunities.org/news/articleDetail.asp?objectID=1779
|title=Lower-income filers receive free tax prep
|first=Ed
|last=Finkel
|date=26 March 2010
|work=newcommunities.org
|publisher=LISC/Chicago's New Communities Program
|accessdate=8 July 2010
|archive-date=19 June 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619182130/http://www.newcommunities.org/news/articleDetail.asp?objectID=1779
|url-status=dead
}} It also promoted the 2010 US Census at its tax sites in neighborhoods that showed especially low response rates in 2000.
CEP employs approximately 50 staff members and recruits more than one thousand volunteer tax preparers each year.{{cite web
|url=http://www.economicprogress.org/assets/events/CEP_2009TaxSlick.pdf
|title=Tax and Financial Services Highlights.
|publisher=Center for Economic Progress
|accessdate=6 July 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308184241/http://www.economicprogress.org/assets/events/CEP_2009TaxSlick.pdf
|archive-date=8 March 2012
|url-status=dead
}}