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Center for Independent Living

EIN 23-7175191 · Berkeley, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING (CIL) PROVIDES SERVICES, SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY TO ENHANCE THE RIGHTS AND ABILITIES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND TO LIVE SELF-DETERMINED LIVES.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$4.4 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
14.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 81%
Employees
54
Volunteers
56
Highest pay
$128,750, finance 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

Good: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $1.9 million spent. CORE CONSUMER SERVICES: HOUSING ACCESS, REFERRAL & ASSISTING TECHNOLOGY RECEIVING ONE-ON-ONE, PEER BASED, TAILORED TRAINING IN NECESSARY SKILLS SUCH AS MONEY AND TIME MANAGEMENT, HEALTH AND MEDICATION MAINTENANCE, SOCIAL AND SAFETY SKILLS. SPECIALISTS MATCHED INDIVIDUALS WITH THE RIGHT ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TO ALLOW THEM TO WORK OR LIVE AT HOME, AND CONSUMERS RECEIVED SPECIALIZED HOME MODIFICATIONS (RAMPS, GRAB BARS, LIFTS) THAT ENABLE THEM TO CONTINUE TO LIVE SAFELY. A PROGRAM TO TRANSITION INDIVIDUALS FROM INSTITUTIONS INTO THE COMMUNITY WAS CONTINUED.
  2. $456,366 spent. INDEPENDENT LIVING & QUALITY OF LIFE - INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING IN HEALTH AND SAFETY, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, MEAL PLANNING AND NUTRITION, SELF-ADVOCACY, SEXUAL AWARENESS, PERSONAL ASSISTANT MANAGEMENT, HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT, RECREATION AND LEISURE, AND MONEY MANAGEMENT. MORE THAN 100 SENIORS PER YEAR PARTICIPATE IN THE SUCCESSFUL "LIVING WELL WITH A DISABILITY" CURRICULM, LEARNING HOW TO MANAGE AND THRIVE WITH AGE-RELATED DISABILITIES, OVERCOMING ISOLATION AND DEPRESSION AS WELL AS NEW PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS, CIL ENTERED INTO A COUNTY-WIDE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARE AGENCY ON AGING (AAA) AND THE HAYWARD ILC TO EXPAND RESOURCES FOR SENIORS.
  3. $367,098 spent. MOBILITY MATTERS!-TRAVEL TRAINING & TRANSIT ACCESS-CIL TRAVEL TRAINING PROGRAMS HAVE BECOME THE BAY AREA MODEL FOR TEACHING PEOPLE WITH ALL TYPES OF DISABILITIES HOW TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO, QUICKLY AND AFFORDABLY. PARTNERSHIPS WITH ACTC, MTC AND OTHER BAY AREA CITIES HAVE EXPANDED EXPONENTIALLY SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM. 40+ PEOPLE WERE TRAINED ONE-ON-ONE TO GET WHERE THEY WANT TO THIS YEAR AND THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO REACH MORE PEOPLE. A PARTNERSHIP WITH BART RESULTED IN MAKING THEIR WEB SITE MORE ACCESSIBLE, GETTING TRAIN AND TRANSIT INFORMATION TO ALL THEIR RIDERS WITH DISABILITIES (VISION, HEARING & PHYSICAL). CIL JOINED OTHER DISABILITY ADVOCATES TO ENSURE THAT THE PLANNED NEW BART CARS BE BUILT WITH ACCESS FOR RIDERS WITH VISUAL, HEARING AND PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS ALONGSIDE OTHER RIDERS.

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

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1972.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 7, 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.