Finger Lakes Independence Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO EMPOWER ALL PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHILE CREATING AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY THROUGH THE ELIMINATION OF SOCIAL AND ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS.
- Income
- $5.7 million
- Spending
- $5.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 14.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 93%
- Employees
- 331
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $113,438, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $588,511 spent. FLIC PROVIDES SERVICES TO EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO ACHIEVE THEIR PERSONAL MAXIMUM INDEPENDENCE, AND ARE INCLUDED IN THEIR COMMUNITY. TO ACHIEVE EMPOWERMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, WE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILY: 1. INDIVIDUAL AND SELF-ADVOCACY2. INFORMATION AND REFERRAL3. PEER COUNSELING;4. HIGH SCHOOL TRANSITION5. TRANSITION FROM NURSING HOME TO COMMUNITY LIVING6. INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS GUIDANCE7. EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE8. WORK INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS PLANNING9. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANNING10. HOME EXTERIOR RAMP INSTALLATIONS11. LOAN OF ASSISTIVE DEVICES AND DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT12. ASSISTANCE MATCHING NEEDS WITH HOME BASED ASSISTANCE
- $4.4 million spent. THE CENTER IS COMMITTED TO THE GOALS OF THE CONSUMER DIRECTED PERSONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, INCLUDING EMPOWERMENT OF THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL AND INDEPENDENTLY RECRUIT, HIRE, TRAIN, SUPERVISE AND (IF NEED BE) TERMINATE THE PERSONAL ASSISTANTS WITH WHOM THEY CHOOSE TO WORK. THE CENTER WORKS IN A LIMITED ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY WITH THE CONSUMER AND HIS OR HER PERSONAL ASSISTANTS, ACTING ONLY AS THE STATUTORY FISCAL INTERMEDIARY TO PROVIDE NECESSARY MANAGEMENT OF PERSONNEL AND PAYROLL FUNCTIONS AS REQUIRED BY 18 NYCRR 505.28. PERSONAL ASSISTANTS ARE PROVIDED ONLY STATUTORY BENEFITS AND ARE NOT, AND NEVER HAVE BEEN, SUBJECT TO THE GENERAL PERSONNEL/EMPLOYMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF THE AGENCY. THE CENTER DOES NOT CONSIDER PERSONAL ASSISTANTS TO BE EMPLOYEES OF THE AGENCY. ALSO ACTS AS THE FISCAL INTERMEDIARY FOR THE CONSUMER DIRECTED PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES (CDPAS) PROGRAM IN TOMPKINS AND TIOGA COUNTIES, PROVIDING MEDICAID SPONSORED PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES NEEDING HOME HEALTH CARE WITH THE ABILITY TO HIRE AND MANAGE THEIR OWN CARE ATTENDANTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1992.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.