Independence First
Independence First reported $22.6 million in revenue and $22.7 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.78 went to program services, $18.45 to management and general costs and $1.77 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 87.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $285,404 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 25% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $23MFor context, the median across 3,614 covered human services charities: $88.27 programs, $11.52 management, $0.21 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $23MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.8% | 87.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 18.5% | 11.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.8% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.19 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 9.5% | 20.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 4.2% | 2.4% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 87.5% | 70.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $285,404 | $274,992 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.26% | 1.18% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 7.3 | 6.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 13 of 13 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expensePersonal assistance services provide personal care services at home for individuals with disabilities with rn supervision and case management for participants. These services assist persons with disabilities to remain independent in the community rather than be forced to move into an institutional setting
Independent living services provides skills training to persons with disabilities with education and training to increase their ability to live independently in the community. Skills training offered include topics of money, home and time management, communication skills, how to build self-esteem, how to set goals and make good decisions, dealing with conflict and anger, stress management, assertiveness, computer training, just to name a few. Individuals set their goals and training assists them to be successful in achieving them
Wisloan and telework - this program is an alternative loan program for wisconsin citizens with disabilities who desire to purchase assistive devices or services
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT/CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $258,710 | $0 | $26,694 | $285,404 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $209,177 | $0 | $11,742 | $220,919 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $187,850 | $0 | $31,453 | $219,303 |
| CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $153,987 | $0 | $28,651 | $182,638 |
| IT DIRECTOR/FACILITIES DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $124,294 | $0 | $49,321 | $173,615 |
| PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $130,212 | $0 | $26,523 | $156,735 |
| HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $112,556 | $0 | $17,818 | $130,374 |
| DIRECTOR OF INDEPENDENT LIVING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $108,338 | $0 | $19,108 | $127,446 |
8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Independence First (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $726K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b13 · 13 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 51,005
- Volunteers Part I, line 6118
Private foundation grants it received
8 private foundations reported grants to Independence First totaling $104K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Independence First's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Independence First, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Independence First spent in 2025, $79.78 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All human services charities · Largest charities in Wisconsin
Questions people ask
How much of Independence First's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Independence First reported that 79.8% of its $22.7 million in expenses went to program services, 18.5% to management and general and 1.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Independence First pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Independence First reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $285,404, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Independence First get its money?
Of $22.6 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 9.5% came from contributions and grants (including 4.2% from government grants) and 87.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Independence First a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 39-1343425 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202622299349302187 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202501149349300830 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202401349349306760 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202321319349305742 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202211339349306096 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202041339349302474 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 39-1343425: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.