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Independent Sector
Independent Sector reported $11.1 million in revenue and $11.0 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $76.81 went to program services, $15.44 to management and general costs and $7.75 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 88.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $769,294 (PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 34% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $11MFor context, the median across 1,030 covered philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities: $91.67 programs, $6.50 management, $1.83 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 $11MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 76.8% | 90.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.4% | 6.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.7% | 1.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.09 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 88.2% | 80.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 8.2% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $769,294 | $322,368 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 6.98% | 1.60% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 16 | 3 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 15.8 | 58.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 14 of 15 | 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 expensePublic policy:Independent Sector works with nonprofits, philanthropies, corporate-giving programs, and lawmakers to shape and advocate for policy solutions and legislation that advance the common good, encourage organizations to become better advocates, and create healthy, equitable communities where everyone thrives.Independent Sector president and CEO dr. Akilah watkins shared our 2025 tax policy agenda with house and senate budget leaders, urging lawmakers to strengthen the nonprofit sector's financial resources, workforce, civic engagement, and public trust. Throughout the reconciliation…
Capacity building:in 2025, Independent Sector established the nation's first center of excellence on the nonprofit workforce to strengthen the effectiveness, sustainability, and equity of the charitable sector. The center was created to support the nation's 1.9 million charitable organizations and approximately 13 million nonprofit employees, recognizing that a strong workforce including salaried staff, stipend-supported leaders, and volunteers is essential to mission delivery and public trust.the center will advance Independent Sector's mission by building national infrastructure for…
Research:Independent Sector identifies and informs sector issues through research, analysis, cross-sector dialogue, and communication. Our research is the foundation to drive structural change through the federal policymaking process, and to develop standards of practice, tools and training to empower organizations and their leaders. Independent Sector analyzes and shares insights on four core dimensions of the charitable sector's health: finances, workforce, public trust and governance, and policy advocacy. These findings are compiled in the annual health of the U.S. Nonprofit sector report…
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 & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $694,133 | $0 | $75,161 | $769,294 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $366,391 | $0 | $50,397 | $416,788 |
| CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $307,142 | $0 | $46,661 | $353,803 |
| VP COMMUNICATIONS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $209,352 | $0 | $26,152 | $235,504 |
| VP, PROGRAMMING INNOVATION & IMPACT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $182,257 | $0 | $22,856 | $205,113 |
| VP FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $188,574 | $0 | $14,422 | $202,996 |
| DIRECTOR, FINANCE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $165,540 | $0 | $30,556 | $196,096 |
| DIR, PUBLIC POLICY & GOV'T REALTIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $160,027 | $0 | $16,780 | $176,807 |
16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Independent Sector (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.5M (Part IX, line 5).
7 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–1b15 · 14 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 545
- Volunteers Part I, line 6127
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ERNST & YOUNG Legal consulting | $562,500 |
| TEAL MEDIA Technology consulting | $152,688 |
| EDELMAN INTELLIGENCE Research consultant | $140,444 |
| UNITED WAY OF NORTHER NEW JERSEY Research consultant | $135,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 8 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
35 private foundations reported grants to Independent Sector totaling $2.6M 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 Independent Sector's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Independent Sector, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Independent Sector spent in 2025, $76.81 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Kosciusko County Community FoundationWarsaw, IN · revenue $11M · programs 81.2% · FY2025
- Franciscan Health FoundationMishawaka, IN · revenue $11M · programs 99.7% · 2024
- United Way of Buffalo and Erie CountyBuffalo, NY · revenue $11M · programs 80.0% · FY2025
- Veterans United FoundationColumbia, MO · revenue $11M · programs 94.3% · 2025
- Montgomery County Community FoundationCrawfordsville, IN · revenue $11M · programs 70.1% · 2025
All philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Independent Sector's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Independent Sector reported that 76.8% of its $11.0 million in expenses went to program services, 15.4% to management and general and 7.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Independent Sector pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Independent Sector reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $769,294, for the role of PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Independent Sector get its money?
Of $11.1 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 88.2% came from contributions and grants and 8.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Independent Sector a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1081024 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, 2020, 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 202622659349300317 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202502349349301110 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202412649349301326 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202321299349302022 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202212229349301421 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202111269349301621 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202031349349302313 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1081024: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.