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Voices for Independence

EIN 25-1727199 · Erie, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF VOICES FOR INDEPENDENCE IS TO EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, IMPROVE THE QUALITY, INDEPENDENCE, DIGNITY, AND CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES, AS WELL AS TO PROMOTE A PHILOSOPHY OF INDEPENDENT LIVING, INCLUDING A PHILOSOPHY OF CONSUMER CONTROL, PEER SUPPORT, SELF-HELP, SELF- DETERMINATION, EQUAL ACCESS, AND INDIVIDUAL AND SYSTEMS ADVOCACY, AS WELL AS THE INTEGRATION AND FULL INCLUSION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH CROSS DISABILITIES INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF AMERICAN SOCIETY.

Income
$20.0 million
Spending
$18.5 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 91%
Employees
198
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$236,367, ceo

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • 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

    5 of 5

    Keeps 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 (5)
  1. $2.4 million spent. PERSONAL ASSISTANTS SERVICES PROGRAM - VFI PROVIDED HOME CARE SERVICES UNDER THE CONSUMER-EMPLOYER DELEGATED MODEL EMPOWERING PROGRAM RECIPIENTS TO ASSIST IN THE HIRING AND MANAGING OF THEIR DIRECT CARE GIVERS. SUPPORT INCLUDED PROVIDING BILLING, PAYROLL AND PAYROLL TAX SERVICES TO OVER 400 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS UNDER VARIOUS PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $9.6 million spent. HOME MODIFICATIONS & ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS -SUPPORT PROVIDED TO OVER 300 INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES BY MANAGING PHYSICAL ADAPTATION CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS & PROVIDING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES TOTALLING APPROXIMATELY 8,600,000 OF COSTS FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS. VFI OFFERS A VARIETY OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN ACHIEVING GREATER INDEPENDENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE OPERATING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY RESOURCE CENTERS; PROVIDING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING ASSISTANCE; AND PARTICIPATING IN AN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LENDING LIBRARY.
  3. $1.6 million spent. VFI PROVIDED A NURSING HOME TRANSITION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED TO IDENTIFY AND TRANSITION INDIVIDUALS FROM NURSING HOMES. SERVICES INCLUDED IDENTIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE NURSING HOME RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY PLANNING WITH FAMILY AND SUPPORT NETWORKS, IDENTIFICATION AND PREPARATION OF HOUSING RESOURCES, THE PROVISION OF TANGIBLE ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO ACCOMPLISH THE RELOCATION TO COMMUNITY, LINKAGE TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAMS, NON-MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, AND FOLLOW UP. APPROXIMATELY 300 INDIVIDUALS WERE PROVIDED WITH NURSING HOME TRANSITION SERVICES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.
  4. $605,470 spent. INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAMS - VFI OPERATES A CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY TO EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, IMPROVE THE QUALITY, INDEPENDENCE, DIGNITY, AND CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES, AS WELL AS TO PROMOTE A PHILOSOPHY OF INDEPENDENT LIVING, INCLUDING A PHILOSOPHY OF CONSUMER CONTROL, PEER SUPPORT, SELF-HELP, SELF- DETERMINATION, EQUAL ACCESS, AND INDIVIDUAL AND SYSTEMS ADVOCACY. FUNDING IS RECEIVED FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION. A
  5. INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAMS - VFI OPERATES A CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY TO EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, IMPROVE THE QUALITY, INDEPENDENCE, DIGNITY, AND CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES, AS WELL AS TO PROMOTE A PHILOSOPHY OF INDEPENDENT LIVING, INCLUDING A PHILOSOPHY OF CONSUMER CONTROL, PEER SUPPORT, SELF-HELP, SELF- DETERMINATION, EQUAL ACCESS, AND INDIVIDUAL AND SYSTEMS ADVOCACY. FUNDING IS RECEIVED FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION. A

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1996.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.