RSM Continues to Promote Faculty Excellence at Illinois State University with $100,000 RSM Impact Fund Gift

CHICAGO – (May 24, 2022) – The RSM US Foundation and owners of RSM US LLP (“RSM”) – the nation’s leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market – recently announced a $100,000 gift to Illinois State University (ISU) for its RSM Impact Fund. This is the second such gift, which supports professional development for the school’s faculty and students.

ISU’s RSM Impact Fund was started amid the 2015-2017 Illinois state budget crisis to provide a safety net of funding for faculty recruitment and retention, as well as student scholarships and development.

Zack Fortsch, retired RSM tax partner, and a Class of 1983 ISU graduate, as well as a member of the university’s College of Business Hall of Fame, led efforts to raise $110,000 in  RSM-related donations (including an RSM US Foundation match) in 2021. This year, he donated $50,000, which was boosted by a $50,000 match from the RSM US Foundation.

“Post-pandemic, the competition for faculty talent is fiercer than ever, and the need for the RSM Impact Fund for faculty recruitment is urgent, given recent and upcoming retirements and other factors,” said Debbie Seifert, Chair of the Department of Accounting at Illinois State University. “Our excellent faculty are the backbone of our program success, and the RSM Impact Fund continues to provide for faculty excellence through additional funding. The Department of Accounting at Illinois State University is very thankful for the generous support of RSM.”

“The issue of faculty recruitment is a statewide issue in Illinois,” said Fortsch. “With ISU being a ‘crown jewel’ for our firm in terms of recruiting, we are honored to continue to support their efforts to retain world-class faculty who will help build tomorrow’s leaders.”

“I would like to personally thank RSM, the RSM US Foundation, Zack and the other RSM owners who so generously support our university,” said Ajay Samant, dean and professor with Illinois State University College of Business. “Their actions speak volumes regarding their commitment to the community.”

“The RSM US Foundation is dedicated to building tomorrow’s middle market leaders by enhancing educational outcomes and to supporting organizations committed to providing stable environments for youth in the areas of hunger, housing or health, as improvements in these areas ultimately help students succeed,” said Doug Opheim, chief financial officer with RSM US LLP and chair of the RSM US Foundation Board of Directors. “We are happy to support Illinois State University and other learning institutions in the 83 cities across the U.S. and Canada where our people live and work, as we focus on building better communities through enhanced education.”

RSM also offers a number of scholarships, an annual volunteer opportunity to promote community involvement and Birdies Fore Love, a charitable giving platform for The RSM Classic PGA TOUR event for which RSM is the title sponsor.

To learn more about RSM’s philanthropic initiatives and the RSM US Foundation, visit RSM’s website.