INDEPENDENT SECTOR

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

T500

Classification

2000

Street

1602 L ST NW STE 900

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2025

• Withheld by Nonprofiteer: this text may name a private individual.

  Expenses $2,694,182 · Grants $25,000

• 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 WORKFORCE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, LEARNING, AND COLLABORATION ACROSS THE CHARITABLE SECTOR. ITS WORK WILL FOCUS ON IMPROVING WORKFORCE CAPACITY, LEADERSHIP READINESS, AND LONG-TERM SECTOR RESILIENCE.IN ITS INAUGURAL YEAR, THE CENTER LAUNCHED PILOT INITIATIVES ACROSS THREE WORKFORCE SEGMENTS SALARIED STAFF, STIPENDED LEADERS, AND VOLUNTEERS SERVING CURRENT AND EMERGING LEADERS AT MULTIPLE CAREER STAGES. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDED:- LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE THAT STRENGTHENED PEER LEARNING, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND CROSS-ORGANIZATIONAL COLLABORATION AMONG NONPROFIT PROFESSIONALS. - THE STUDENT LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, WHICH SUPPORTS STUDENTS PURSUING NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP CREDENTIALS WHILE STRENGTHENING THE SECTOR'S FUTURE TALENT PIPELINE. - THE FIRST NATIONAL STRATEGIC VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT ADVISORY BOARD, ELEVATING VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP AS A CORE WORKFORCE STRATEGY AND ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES FOR ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS NATIONWIDE. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, INDEPENDENT SECTOR:- BUILT A COORDINATED NATIONAL PLATFORM FOR NONPROFIT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS PAID, STIPEND-SUPPORTED, AND VOLUNTEER ROLES. - STRENGTHENED LEADERSHIP PIPELINES AND PROFESSIONAL READINESS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE NONPROFIT LEADERS. - ADVANCED SECTOR-WIDE LEARNING AND ALIGNMENT AROUND WORKFORCE PRACTICES THAT SUPPORT EQUITY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND SUSTAINABILITY. BY INVESTING IN WORKFORCE LEADERSHIP, VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT AT A NATIONAL SCALE, THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON THE NONPROFIT WORKFORCE ADVANCES INDEPENDENT SECTOR'S MISSION TO STRENGTHEN THE CHARITABLE SECTOR AS A RESILIENT ECOSYSTEM CAPABLE OF MEETING COMMUNITY NEEDS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

  Expenses $2,178,101 · Revenue $352,014

• 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, RELEASED IN DECEMBER 2025, AND USED TO INFORM POLICY AND PRACTICE INTERVENTIONS THAT STRENGTHEN THE SECTOR. IN 2025, INDEPENDENT SECTOR CONDUCTED ITS SIXTH ANNUAL SURVEY ON PUBLIC TRUST IN NONPROFITS AND PHILANTHROPY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EDELMAN DATA & INTELLIGENCE. THE SURVEY FOUND THAT NONPROFITS REMAIN THE MOST TRUSTED SECTOR IN AMERICAN SOCIETY, EVEN AS TRUST IN OTHER SECTORS HAS DECLINED.IN APRIL DURING NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK, INDEPENDENT SECTOR AND THE DO GOOD INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND ANNOUNCED THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF VOLUNTEER HOUR. THE 2025 VALUE OF VOLUNTEER TIME, BASED ON 2024 DATA, WAS $34.79 PER HOUR.WHILE THE ESTIMATED VALUE IN NO WAY REFLECTS THE MANY INTANGIBLE BENEFITS PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEERS, IT ILLUSTRATES THE VALUABLE AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS VOLUNTEERS MAKE 365 DAYS A YEAR TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES.

  Expenses $1,528,761

• COMMUNICATIONS:COMMUNICATIONS AT INDEPENDENT SECTOR FOCUSES ON INCREASING AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF OUR MISSION TO STRENGTHEN AND PRESERVE A CHARITABLE SECTOR THAT IS HEALTHY, TRUSTED, AND EQUITABLE, AND CAPABLE OF HELPING ALL PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES THRIVE. GUIDED BY DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS, OUR COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES ARE DESIGNED TO REACH BROAD AND DIVERSE AUDIENCES WHILE EXPANDING INDEPENDENT SECTOR'S VISIBILITY, INFLUENCE, MEDIA REACH, AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT. THROUGH STRATEGIC PROMOTION OF OUR PUBLIC POLICY, RESEARCH, PROGRAMS, AND MEMBERSHIP INITIATIVES, WE HELP MEMBERS, PARTNERS, AND POLICYMAKERS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE VALUE AND IMPACT OF THE NONPROFIT SECTOR. ANALYTICS AND AUDIENCE INSIGHTS INFORM OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS, ENABLING US TO COMMUNICATE MORE EFFECTIVELY HOW INDEPENDENT SECTOR'S WORK SUPPORTS ORGANIZATIONS IN ADVANCING THEIR MISSIONS AND INCREASING THEIR IMPACT.

  Expenses $1,591,382

• MEMBERSHIP:MEMBERSHIP AT INDEPENDENT SECTOR PROVIDES FULL ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET, COLLABORATE WITH, AND LEARN FROM FELLOW CHANGEMAKERS AND THOUGHT LEADERS THROUGH INDEPENDENT SECTOR EVENTS AND CONVENINGS; VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON. MEMBERS HEAR DIRECTLY FROM POLICY AND OTHER CHARITABLE SECTOR EXPERTS ON ISSUES IMPACTING THE SECTOR AND INCREASE INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THROUGH WEBINARS AND WORKSHOPS. THE IS MASTERCLASS SERIES, MEMBER PORTAL, MEMBER HUDDLES, MONTHLY POLICY UPDATE, AND CURATED VIRTUAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WERE DESIGNED TO AMPLIFY THE IMPACT OF INDIVIDUAL NONPROFITS AND FOUNDATIONS THROUGH SHARED CONCEPTS AND BEST PRACTICES. THIS "VITAL MEETING GROUND" PROPELLED THE COLLABORATIVE VALUE CREATION (CVC) FRAMEWORK HELPING ORGANIZATIONS MOVE BEYOND SIMPLE COOPERATION AND CONCEPT TO ACHIEVE SYSTEMIC, LARGE-SCALE IMPACT AS ACTIVE ADVOCATES WHO ARE TRUSTED AND WELL GOVERNED, FINANCIALLY ROBUST WITH A THRIVING WORKFORCE. UNDER THE REVISED ENGAGEMENT CONTINUUM 29% MORE IS MEMBERS HAVE MOVED FROM PROMOTING (VALIDATORS OF ASSOCIATION CONTENT AND MISSION) TO ACTIVELY CREATING (E.G. SESSION PROPOSALS AND SURVEYS) AND EVEN SERVING (AD-HOC, MICRO, COMMITTEE OR TASK FORCE ASSIGNMENTS) IN THE MEMBER JOURNEY AND THEIR IMPACT TO CIVIL SOCIETY.

  Expenses $477,520

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here. A text marked withheld matched a screen for wording that may name a private individual, such as an honorific or "in memory of". Most of what it withholds names no one; it is withheld so that what does is never shown.

Officers and directors · 2025

As listed in Part VII of the 2025 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

The first 25 listed. 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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2025

  Revenue

  $11,075,060

  Expenses

  $11,026,617

  Contributions

  $9,769,463

  Grants paid

  $25,000

• 2023

  Revenue

  $5,511,238

  Expenses

  $9,265,562

  Contributions

  $5,107,014

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2022

  Revenue

  $5,491,808

  Expenses

  $9,873,211

  Contributions

  $4,963,916

  Grants paid

  $100

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2025 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2023 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2022 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $7,811,230

  Expenses

  $9,185,988

  Assets (EOY)

  $43,964,742

• 2021 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $15,271,435

  Expenses

  $8,405,354

  Assets (EOY)

  $46,005,638

• 2020 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $8,244,296

  Expenses

  $9,411,493

  Assets (EOY)

  $39,594,883

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $8,823,477

  Expenses

  $9,817,056

  Assets (EOY)

  $40,191,068

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $11,251,120

  Expenses

  $8,621,594

  Assets (EOY)

  $42,169,856

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

• UNITED PHILANTHROPY FORUM

  $20,000

  2025 · FOUNDATIONS ON THE HILL CO LEAD AND SPONSOR

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $500,500

  2024 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• THE NEW YORK COMMUNITY TRUST

  $150,000

  2024 · FOR PROGRAM SUPPORT.

• BURTON FAMILY FOUNDATION

  $75,000

  2024 · DESIGNATED TO SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE FOR THE STRATEGIC VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT ARIZONA PILOT PROJECT

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $55,000

  2022 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS

  $50,000

  2022 · THIS GRANT IS DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL SUPPORT.

• THE DALLAS FOUNDATION

  $50,000

  2023 · GENERAL SUPPORT

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $50,000

  2023 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION

  $32,500

  2022 · PROGRAM - TO SUPPORT THE UPSWELL SUMMIT. PROGRAM - FOR GENERAL SUPPORT

• THE NEW YORK COMMUNITY TRUST

  $25,000

  2024 · FOR PROGRAM SUPPORT.

• CALIFORNIA HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION

  $25,000

  2022 · JANUARY 2023-DECEMBER 2024 MEMBERSHIP

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Taxable family

From Schedule R Parts I, III and IV: entities that legally are the filer, and taxable partnerships, corporations and trusts it is related to. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money.

Other IRS files