Center for Economic Progress
The Center for Economic Progress is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping hard-working, low-income families move from financial uncertainty to financial security.
Our Vision
The Center for Economic Progress envisions an America of shared prosperity, where all working families can access the financial opportunities they need to succeed.
Our Mission
The Center for Economic Progress helps hard-working, low-income families move from financial uncertainty to financial security. Local in service but national in voice, we achieve our mission in three ways:
- We provide trusted tax and financial counseling, giving Illinois families the tools to make sound choices.
- We lead NCTC in promoting economic progress for low-wage workers and their families. lead a national coalition of organizations that promote economic progress for low-wage workers and their families.
- We advance policies and practices to create a financial system that works for all.
With offices in both Chicago and Springfield, Illinois, the Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Learn more about our work.
Our History
The Center for Economic Progress was founded in 1990 by Michael O’Connor, a veteran public benefits lawyer. Formerly the Center for Law and Human Services, the agency first focused on helping homeless families and individuals access services.
The center for Economic Progress was founded in 1990 by Michael O'Connor, a veteran public benefits lawyer. In the past 20 years, we've served more than 300,000 families, returning $441 million in refunds--more than any other organization of our kind. In 2011 alone, our 1,200-member volunteer corps helped put $50 million back into the pockets of more than 28,000 Illinois clients and their families.
