Community Theater Opens New Funding Opportunities with CJG Partners Audit

At a Glance

Client: Schaumburg on Stage
Industry: Nonprofit Community Theater
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Executive Director: Mary Alice Benoit
Services Provided: Financial audit

ROI: Enabled grant applications requiring audited financial statements, resulting in $8,000 in grant funding with additional applications pending. Positioned the organization for future grant opportunities and potential state tax credits.

When Mary Alice Benoit transformed Schaumburg on Stage from a for-profit children’s theater group operating out of a basement into a thriving 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2017, she had ambitious growth plans. The organization expanded from producing two shows annually to six productions while purchasing one building and renting another facility.

However, as Schaumburg on Stage sought to secure grant funding to support its expanded programming, Mary Alice encountered a significant barrier. Many grants require audited financial statements, and she had previously avoided this expensive step.

“Many grants in particular require audited financials, and you know they have to be done by an accountant, or they won’t accept them,” Mary Alice explained. “We had avoided it, I’m going to be honest, in the past, because it is super expensive for our nonprofit. But in order to go to this next level of grant writing, almost all the applications require audited financials.”

A Trusted Partnership

When the decision was made to pursue an audit, Mary Alice turned to someone she could trust: CJG Partners. The connection was personal—through family connections, and Mary Alice wanted to work with a firm she could rely on.

“I really did want to go somewhere with someone that I trusted,” she said. When her brother-in-law, who is also a CPA but doesn’t perform audits, recommended CJG Partners, the choice was clear.

Expert Guidance Through Unknown Territory

For Mary Alice and her team, the audit process was completely new territory. “I had no clue of what was required in an audit,” she admitted. “So we were just very confident that they knew what they were doing, and then we just were able to supply them with what they requested.”

The CJG Partners team worked closely with Schaumburg on Stage’s bookkeeper to gather all necessary documentation. Throughout the process, CJG maintained excellent communication and responsiveness.

“We felt like we were in very good hands,” Mary Alice said. “It was an expensive proposition for us, so we wanted to go with somebody that was going to give us good service, which we did. Every time there was a problem or a concern, they were very responsive.”

Immediate Results and Future Opportunities

The audit enabled Schaumburg on Stage to apply for grants that were previously inaccessible. The organization has already won $8,000 in grant funding, with additional applications still pending.

Beyond the immediate grant opportunities, the audit positions Schaumburg on Stage for future funding possibilities. “There is one hopeful thing—the state of Illinois is thinking of increasing tax credits for nonprofit and community-based theater,” Mary Alice noted. “And if we do succeed on those, those also require audited financials.”

The Value of Specialized Expertise

What impressed Mary Alice most about working with CJG was their specialized knowledge and ability to handle something her regular accounting firm couldn’t accommodate.

“We do have another firm that does our regular accounting, but when that firm couldn’t accommodate our audit needs, we were very pleased to be able to turn to a firm that could do that specialty and help us out,” she said.

The relationship aspect was equally important. “I’m a relationship person, so it was nice to know that there was a local firm nearby that we could establish a relationship with.”

Looking Forward

While the grant landscape has become more challenging due to funding cuts at both state and federal levels, having audited financials ensures Schaumburg on Stage is positioned to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. The organization can now pursue higher-level grant funding and is prepared for potential state tax credit programs.

Most importantly, they now have a trusted partner for future audit needs. “It’s just nice to know that you have a firm that you can count on that’s going to be able to do it for you,” Mary Alice concluded.

For a growing nonprofit like Schaumburg on Stage—which now serves 80 children in summer programs and produces six shows annually—CJG Partners provided the specialized expertise needed to unlock new funding opportunities and support continued growth in serving the community through high-quality theater programming.