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Nonprofiteer
← INDEPENDENCE FIRST INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by INDEPENDENCE FIRST INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$23,992,310
Total expenses
$24,229,748
Contributions and grants received
$2,011,409
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$21,322,142
Investment income
$560,037
Other revenue
$98,722
Total assets, end of year
$17,207,756
Total liabilities, end of year
$3,641,508
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$13,566,248
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$19,619,470
Management and general expenses
$4,069,315
Fundraising expenses
$540,963
Program service expenses (Part III)
$19,619,470

Program services were 81.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1a · Federated campaigns

    $61,516

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $3,300

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $841,408

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $862,520

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $242,665

  • 2a · Program service revenue: PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES

    total $20,451,195 · related or exempt $20,451,195

  • 2b · Program service revenue: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

    total $623,370 · related or exempt $623,370

  • 2c · Program service revenue: INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES

    total $230,105 · related or exempt $230,105

  • 2d · Program service revenue: ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES

    total $4,964 · related or exempt $4,964

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $12,508 · related or exempt $12,508

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $265,124 · excluded $265,124

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $202,622

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $158,887

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $43,735

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $43,735 · unrelated business $43,735

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $2,574,008

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $2,279,095

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $294,913

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $294,913 · excluded $294,913

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $79,239

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $3,300

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $24,252

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $54,987 · excluded $54,987

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $682,501 · management and general $682,501

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $16,782,766 · program services $14,542,863 · management and general $1,844,072 · fundraising $395,831

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $485,784 · program services $428,112 · management and general $46,020 · fundraising $11,652

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,520,277 · program services $1,297,914 · management and general $187,036 · fundraising $35,327

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,428,287 · program services $1,191,191 · management and general $204,674 · fundraising $32,422

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $56,593 · management and general $56,593

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $59,950 · management and general $59,950

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $28,105 · management and general $28,105

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $736,210 · program services $571,311 · management and general $164,899

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $82,749 · program services $3,771 · management and general $78,240 · fundraising $738

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $785,559 · program services $752,686 · management and general $28,378 · fundraising $4,495

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $275,798 · program services $206,848 · management and general $41,370 · fundraising $27,580

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $342,175 · program services $209,669 · management and general $128,397 · fundraising $4,109

  • 17 · Travel

    total $66,122 · program services $55,146 · management and general $9,475 · fundraising $1,501

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $31,772 · program services $31,772

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $251 · program services $209 · management and general $36 · fundraising $6

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $156,141 · program services $104,428 · management and general $49,665 · fundraising $2,048

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $246,521 · program services $184,891 · management and general $36,978 · fundraising $24,652

  • 24a · Other expenses: BAD DEBT EXPENSE

    total $416,139 · management and general $416,139

  • 24b · Other expenses: MEMBERSHIP DUES

    total $26,517 · program services $22,115 · management and general $3,800 · fundraising $602

  • 24c · Other expenses: LICENSES AND FEES

    total $18,356 · program services $15,369 · management and general $2,987

  • 24d · Other expenses: NCIL

    total $1,175 · program services $1,175

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $232,041 · end of year $86,885

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $1,110,682 · end of year $641,217

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $250,956 · end of year $202,339

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $2,465,089 · end of year $2,234,563

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $451 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $79,193 · end of year $110,094

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $10,238,028

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $5,067,238

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $5,361,307 · end of year $5,170,790

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $7,595,711 · end of year $8,319,470

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $372,957 · end of year $427,522

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $14,876 · end of year $14,876

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,141,475 · end of year $1,247,969

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $33,535 · end of year $66,136

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $1,407,974 · end of year $1,039,377

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,395,715 · end of year $1,288,026

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $10,386,706 · end of year $10,371,166

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $3,117,858 · end of year $3,195,082

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

INDEPENDENCE FIRST IS A NON-PROFIT 501C3 INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER (ILC) DIRECTED AND CONTROLLED BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, PRIMARILY SERVING THE FOUR COUNTY METROPOLITAN MILWAUKEE AREA. OUR MISSION IS TO EFFECTIVELY FACILITATE EMPOWERMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH THE CORE SERVICES OF ADVOCACY, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, PEER SUPPORT, AND TRANSITION. INDEPENDENCE FIRST PROMOTES DIVERSITY AND MULTICULTURAL PARTICIPATION IN ITS OPERATIONS AND SERVICES.

  • PERSONAL 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.

    Expenses $16,170,494 · Revenue $20,451,195

  • INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING PROVIDES 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.

    Expenses $1,566,020 · Revenue $230,105

  • ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SERVICE PROVIDES EDUCATION ABOUT, EVALUATIONS FOR, AND TRIALS OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT. THIS PROGRAM EXISTS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND EMPLOYERS MAKE INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT AND TO FIND COST-EFFECTIVE WAYS TO MEET THEIR ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT NEEDS.

    Expenses $243,060 · Revenue $623,370

  • Expenses $1,639,896 · Revenue $17,472

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Marcia Boucher

    PRESIDENT/CEO

    Total calculated
    $270,342
    From this org
    $245,894
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,448
    Hours/week
    40 + 3 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $245,894
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $12,394
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,054
    Filer's total
    $270,342
  • Wendy Huot

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $207,184
    From this org
    $196,072
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,112
    Hours/week
    40 + 3 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $196,072
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,663
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,449
    Filer's total
    $207,184
  • Kathy Acevedo

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $204,975
    From this org
    $177,021
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $27,954
    Hours/week
    40 + 3 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $177,021
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,482
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,472
    Filer's total
    $204,975
  • Tracy Thomas

    CONTROLLER

    Total calculated
    $173,078
    From this org
    $149,309
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,769
    Hours/week
    40 + 3 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $149,309
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,922
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,847
    Filer's total
    $173,078
  • Jacob Nowak

    INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR/FACILITIES DIRECTO

    Total calculated
    $164,213
    From this org
    $120,289
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $43,924
    Hours/week
    40 + 3 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $120,289
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,592
    Nontaxable benefits
    $37,332
    Filer's total
    $164,213
  • Myra Sanchick

    MARKETING & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

    Total calculated
    $151,983
    From this org
    $123,514
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,469
    Hours/week
    40 + 3 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $123,514
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,269
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,200
    Filer's total
    $151,983
  • Samantha Hudson

    PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $132,673
    From this org
    $111,614
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,059
    Hours/week
    40 + 3 related
  • Scott Curwick

    HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $124,779
    From this org
    $109,442
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,337
    Hours/week
    40 + 3 related
  • Ryan Ramos

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3 + 1 related
  • Brad Holz

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Kawanza Newson

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kent Walters

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3 + 1 related
  • Billie Torrentt

    CHAIR (THRU JUNE 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3 + 1 related
  • David Frank

    TREASURER (THRU JUNE 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3 + 1 related
  • John Dziewa

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related
  • Mark Ciesko

    DIRECTOR (FROM JUNE 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Eric Degroot

    DIRECTOR (FROM JUNE 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • William Crowley

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Christine Brooks

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Paul Wierzba

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Emily Siira

    DIRECTOR (FROM JUNE 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Anne Schwartz

    DIRECTOR (FROM JUNE 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Beverly Walker

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jakeim Jackson-Bell

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Karen Hunt

    DIRECTOR (THRU JUNE 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Scott Luber

    DIRECTOR (THRU JUNE 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
22 April 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.1
Source object
202501149349300830

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