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Non-profit

Center for Public Representation (CPR)

Website:

www.centerforpublicrep.org
Location:

Northampton, MA
Tax ID:

04-2760470
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $2,714,409
Expenses: $2,238,762
Assets: $16,414,207
Type:

Legal and Advocacy Organization for Individuals with Disabilities
Founded:

1982
Executive Director:

Cathy Costanzo

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The Center for Public Representation (CPR) is a nonprofit organization focused on expanding the rights of disabled individuals through advocacy, legal actions, and policy reform at the state and national levels. 1 Focus areas include the reduction of segregated facilities for the disabled and their integration into the community, elimination of segregated employment practices, elimination of all involuntary treatment to disabled individuals, alternatives to guardianship, and other practices that CPR considers to be discriminatory to the disabled.

Background

The Center for Public Representation (CPR) was incorporated in 1982 as a legal advocacy center for people with disabilities. 2 Since 1982 CPR has participated in litigation and advocacy supporting the integration and full participation of people with disabilities into the community. 3 Specialty areas include health care policy, community integration, employment policy, and disability rights. 4

Advocacy

Center for Public Representation advocates for bills that will eliminate the sub-minimum wage for people with disabilities and will encourage integrated employment. 5

In 2021, CPR was part of a coalition with American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that sent a letter to President Biden supporting the elimination of federal funding for police in schools, indicating that it creates discrimination and criminalization of youth, including those with disabilities. 6

CPR partnered with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and several other organizations to participate in hearings by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution concerning problems associated with guardianship and to explore “supported decision-making” as an alternative. 7 Supported decision-making is an alternative to guardianship for individuals with disabilities that would allow disabled individuals to choose people they know and trust to be part of a formal support network to help them with their decision-making rather than make decisions for them. 8

During the COVID-19 crisis, CPR joined with civil rights groups to address discrimination toward disabled individuals associated with crisis standards of care at federal, state, and local levels. 9 CPR has advocated for every relief bill that has passed since the start of COVID-19 including the American Rescue Plan Act which included funding for home and community-based services for the disabled as an alternative to nursing homes and other group settings. 10

Litigation

Center for Public Representation litigates for individuals with disabilities and files class action lawsuits to fight alleged unequal treatment of those with disabilities. In October 2022, CPR filed a class action lawsuit against Massachusetts to stop the institutionalization of people with disabilities, indicating that the state has failed to provide community residential services that would enable integration into the community. 11

In January 2022, CPR’s class action lawsuit against North Carolina to provide employment services to the disabled and eliminate segregated workshops and employment programs was settled. 12

Funding

Tax returns for the year 2021 for Center for Public Representation report $2,714,409 in revenue and $2,238,762 in expenses. 13 Of that total revenue, 10.5 percent was paid in executive salaries and 61.8 percent of revenue was paid in staff wages and compensation. 14

The Van Ameringen Foundation donated to CPR in 2019 and 2020. 15 Van Ameringen Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation that focuses on advocacy and treatment of mental health. 16

American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) donated to CPR in 2020. 17 ANCOR is an advocacy organization that represents providers of services to people with disabilities. 18

Additional donors included Foundation for Justice, Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp., National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Foundation, Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation, WITH Foundation, 19 and Massachusetts Health Decisions. 20

Leadership

As of 2022, Cathy Costanzo was the executive director of Center for Public Representation and has been with the organization since 2005. 21

Robert Aglogia is board president of CPR. He is retired from a career in government and nonprofit leadership positions focused on supporting mental health and disabilities issues. 22

Richard Dubois is a board member of CPR and is also executive director of National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) 23 which advocates for left-of-center solutions to consumer related issues through advocacy and litigation. Examples include support for the formation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 24 and the cancellation of student debt. 25

William Kellibrew is a board member of CPR and is also board director of the William Kellibrew Foundation 26 which works to address domestic violence and sexual assault. 27

Clarence Sundram is a board member of CPR. 28 He is also an independent reviewer of a settlement of a class action lawsuit that requires the state of New York to create at least 2,000 supported housing beds for adult home residents with mental illnesses. 29

References

  1. “Mission Statement.” Center for Public Representation – About. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://www.centerforpublicrep.org/mission-statement/
  2. Center for Public Representation. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://www.centerforpublicrep.org/
  3. “Mission Statement.” Center for Public Representation – About. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.centerforpublicrep.org/mission-statement/
  4. LinkedIn – Center for Public Representation. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/company/cprinc/about/
  5. “Advocacy.” Center for Public Representation – Our Work. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.centerforpublicrep.org/advocacy/
  6. “CPR Joins Coalition with ACLU in Letter to President Biden.” Center for Public Representation – News. February 25, 2021. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.centerforpublicrep.org/news/cpr-joins-coalition-with-aclu-in-letter-to-president-biden/
  7. “CPR Calls for Critical Reforms to Advance Supported Decision-Making.” Center for Public Representation – News. November 3, 2021. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://www.centerforpublicrep.org/news/cpr-calls-for-critical-reforms-to-advance-supported-decision-making/
  8. “About Supported Decision-Making.” Supported Decision-Making homepage. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://supporteddecisions.org/about-supported-decision-making/
  9. “COVID-19 Medical Rationing and Facility Visitation Policies.” Center for Public Representation – COVID-19. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.centerforpublicrep.org/covid-19-medical-rationing/
  10. “COVID-19 Legislation.” Center for Public Representation – COVID-19. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://medicaid.publicrep.org/feature/covid-19-legislation/#covid-5-bills
  11. “ADA Class Action Seeks to Compel Massachusetts to Stop Unnecessary Institutionalization of People with Disabilities.” Center for Public Representation – News. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.centerforpublicrep.org/news/ada-class-action-seeks-to-compel-massachusetts-to-stop-unnecessary-institutionalization-of-people-with-disabilities/
  12. “CPR Secures Settlement Agreement in North Carolina to End Segregated Employment.” Center for Public Representation – News. January 20, 2022. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.centerforpublicrep.org/news/cpr-secures-settlement-agreement-in-north-carolina-to-end-segregated-employment/
  13. Center for Public Representation. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part I). 2021.
  14. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer – Center for Public Representation. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/42760470
  15. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer – Center for Public Representation. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=center+for+public+representation
  16. Van Ameringen Foundation. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://www.vanamfound.org/
  17. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer – Center for Public Representation. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=center+for+public+representation
  18. “Our Priorities.” Ancor – Advocacy. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://www.ancor.org/advocacy/
  19. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer – Center for Public Representation. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=center+for+public+representation
  20. Cause IQ – Center for Public Representation. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/center-for-public-representation,042760470/
  21. LinkedIn – Cathy Costanzo. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-costanzo-7b430717/
  22. “Board of Directors.” Center for Public Representation – About. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://www.centerforpublicrep.org/board-of-directors/
  23. “Board of Directors.” Center for Public Representation – About. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://www.centerforpublicrep.org/board-of-directors/
  24. “Accomplishments.” National Consumer Law Center – About Us. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://www.nclc.org/about-us/accomplishments/
  25. “President Biden’s Order Canceling Federal Student Loan Debt Will Bring Transformational Relief to Millions.” National Consumer Law Center Press Release. August 24, 2022. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://www.nclc.org/president-bidens-order-canceling-federal-student-loan-debt-will-bring-transformational-relief-to-millions/
  26. “Board of Directors.” Center for Public Representation – About. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://www.centerforpublicrep.org/board-of-directors/
  27. William Kellibrew Foundation. Accessed December 17, 2022. http://williamkellibrewfoundation.roundtablelive.org/
  28. “Board of Directors.” Center for Public Representation – About. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://www.centerforpublicrep.org/board-of-directors/
  29. LinkedIn – Clarence Sundram. Accessed December 17, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarence-sundram-79a7056/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: October 1, 1983

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Jun Form 990 $2,714,409 $2,238,762 $16,414,207 $405,704 N $1,295,605 $527,670 $137,738 $234,876
    2020 Jun Form 990 $2,182,706 $2,266,577 $13,391,052 $624,780 N $259,399 $1,582,532 $133,635 $203,346 PDF
    2019 Jun Form 990 $3,777,663 $2,365,170 $12,122,339 $292,721 Y $315,860 $1,422,239 $218,176 $233,992 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $2,198,775 $2,549,245 $11,905,598 $317,038 N $412,006 $1,151,702 $338,936 $213,097 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $1,942,213 $2,668,033 $12,262,190 $337,657 N $17,632 $1,750,035 $345,130 $272,075 PDF
    2016 Jun Form 990 $5,298,995 $2,374,646 $12,571,509 $491,739 N $13,203 $4,695,458 $311,560 $250,638 PDF
    2015 Jun Form 990 $1,637,893 $2,276,779 $9,924,229 $573,513 N $9,080 $1,167,923 $294,919 $177,475 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $2,998,167 $2,302,706 $10,393,054 $427,804 N $10,575 $2,576,087 $241,195 $237,589 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $2,753,655 $2,379,127 $9,404,111 $633,184 N $166,061 $2,154,781 $247,440 $198,278 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $2,417,168 $2,074,677 $8,788,396 $462,603 N $37,075 $2,010,763 $272,921 $183,931 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $4,552,360 $1,784,936 $8,473,618 $705,160 N $185,375 $4,162,580 $137,153 $178,970 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Center for Public Representation (CPR)


    Northampton, MA