Conduct a Financial Audit

We are seeking a licensed CPA who can conduct a financial audit for our nonprofit organization, Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts (BBF).

BBF is a community-based arts organization serving youth and families on Chicago’s West Side. As we grow and manage an increasing number of public and private grants, an annual audit has become a requirement for compliance and continued funding eligibility. We are requesting support to conduct a formal audit that meets the following needs:
A financial audit of our organization’s books, aligned with GAAP standards
Generation of an audit report suitable for grantor and regulatory submission
Communication with BBF’s leadership and fiscal agent to collect any necessary documentation
Optional: Recommendations post-audit to strengthen internal controls or documentation

We understand this is a significant commitment, and we’re deeply grateful for any CPA who may be willing to offer this service on a pro bono basis. This audit will directly support our ability to receive and manage public grants, philanthropic support, and capital funding. We are prepared to provide timely access to financial documents, board resolutions, prior year statements (if applicable), and any other needed materials.

Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts (BBF) exists to ignite creativity, healing, and opportunity in youth and families on Chicago’s West Side through arts, culture, and innovation. We provide programming in visual arts, digital media, STEM, and mental wellness—empowering young people to dream boldly and build purpose-filled futures.
A completed financial audit will directly support our ability to:
Maintain and grow critical funding from city, state, and philanthropic sources
Demonstrate financial transparency and stewardship to our partners and the broader community
Expand programming to serve more youth with high-quality, community-rooted creative experiences
Build long-term sustainability as we grow our footprint, launch new initiatives, and steward major investments in local infrastructure
By helping us complete this audit, you’ll be directly supporting BBF’s mission to break cycles of disinvestment, elevate the brilliance of our youth, and ensure the arts are a catalyst for community transformation. Your skills will unlock access to resources that help real people—students, parents, artists, and dreamers—create brighter futures in a place that has long deserved more.

Full Leadership Buy-In: Our CEO, Dr. Pamela Blackman, and COO Maria Medina, CFO Jeff Goldberg, and organizational consultant Wilonda Cannon, are fully engaged in the process and see the audit as a priority for the organization. Our CEO has authorized our operations and finance team to be available to respond promptly to requests for documentation and data.
Document Readiness: We are prepared to provide financial records or whatever is needed and organize the materials typically required accordingly. We are also prepared to complete any intake checklist provided by the auditor.
Dedicated Point of Contact: We have designated a primary project lead to coordinate communication, provide access to information, and support timely turnaround of audit materials.

Clear Implementation Path: The audit will be used to meet funder compliance requirements, support capital campaign transparency, and strengthen BBF's long-term financial sustainability. It will also be shared with our board and used to guide internal improvements post-audit.

Gratitude & Collaboration: We value our pro bono partners and treat them as true collaborators. We are ready to co-create a timeline, respect volunteer time boundaries, and do our part to make this a meaningful and successful engagement.