Fund Supported Programs
Paving the Way to Tomorrow's CPAs
The CPA Endowment Fund supports scholarships, student and faculty outreach programs and an initiative to provide college students with financial literacy seminars.
Illinois CPA Society Accounting Scholarship Programs
The CPA Endowment Fund currently supports four scholarship and award programs administered by the Illinois CPA Society, all for students who have dedicated their study plans to entering the CPA profession.
Book Scholarships
Reimburses up to $500 to students who demonstrate achievement and financial need
University-Based Scholarship Programs
Several donors have stepped forward to establish named scholarships; a wonderful legacy to help talented college-level students who are committed to becoming CPAs. With their generous support, and the partnership of the universities, the following scholarship programs are available.
Student and Faculty Outreach Programs
A top business concern of employers of CPAs is "how are we going to find qualified CPAs to bring our organizations and the CPA profession into the future." The Fund is committed to supporting programs that build a qualified and diverse supply of new CPAs. Examples of these programs include:
- High School Educator Symposium
Training sessions for high school teachers and counselors to educate them about accounting, the CPA designation, and resources to help them teach and introduce students to accounting careers.
- High School Residency Programs for Multicultural Students
Support for two programs that bring multicultural Chicago-area students to college campuses for residential programs. The Accounting Careers Awareness Program sponsored by the National Association of Black Accountants and the Accounting Leaders of Tomorrow program at Illinois Wesleyan University are designed to promote interest and attract students to accounting by facilitating student interaction with peers, academia, and corporate/CPA firm representatives.
- Accounting Careers Day
Held each spring at a Chicago university, this Illinois CPA Society program introduces Chicago Public School students to careers and role models in accounting through fun and interactive learning sessions.
- High School Accounting Contests
Career information on the CPA profession is presented to students at high school accounting contests that are held at community colleges statewide.
- Career Materials
The Fund supports the purchase of cutting edge accounting career materials that are distributed to accounting faculty and students, as well as used in career presentations.
- Today I am the CFO
Covers topics straight from newspaper headlines dealing with compelling aspects of business and the role of accountants, Led by world renowned textbook authors Belverd Needles and Marian Powers.
- Education Summit
Symposium for Illinois CPA Society leaders and accounting faculty to address the recruitment of students to the profession.
Financial Literacy Initiative
The Illinois CPA Society is committed to being a part of a national CPA public service initiative to assist Americans with their financial literacy.
Real World Survival: Having a Ball on a Budget Financial Literacy Program
This year the initiative focuses its efforts in part on expanding its outreach to college students. To address the significant challenge of rising college student debt, the Fund is supporting Real World Survival: Having a Ball on a Budget financial literacy seminars held on university campuses throughout the state.