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Northwestern Illinois Center for Independent Living

EIN 36-3401384 · Sterling, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF NICIL IS THE EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. NICIL WILL PROMOTE AND PRACTICE INDEPENDENT LIVING PHILOSOPHY THROUGHOUT ALL OF ITS ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMING. THE CENTER WILL PROVIDE DIRECT & INDIRECT SERVICES TO AND ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. NICIL WILL PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF ISSUES FACING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Income
$485,504
Spending
$456,034
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
11.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 75%
Employees
7
Volunteers
0

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: 88 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% 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: 91 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $333,649 spent. INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM- THIS IS AN ONGOING PROGRAM AND SERVED OVER 400 PEOPLE. THERE ARE FOUR CORE SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH THE INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM: 1) ADVOCACY - INVOLVES THE EMPOWERMENT OF INDIVIDUALS AND THE EDUCATION OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. NICIL ENCOURAGES THE ADOPTION OF PUBLIC POLICIES WHICH WORK ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS AND PROMOTE THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND ADVANCEMENT AS CITIZENS. 2) PEER SUPPORT - PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO SHARE EXPERIENCES, CONCERNS, STRATEGIES, AND PROBLEM SOLVING TECHNIQUES. PEERS ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WHICH ALLOWS THE MORE EXPERIENCED PERSON TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT AND SERVE AS A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL TO THE PERSON WHOSE DISABILITY IS MORE RECENT. 3) INFORMATION ON REFERRAL - NICIL IS AVAILABLE TO RESPOND TO SPECIFIC DISABILITY RELATED QUESTIONS AND TO INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DISABIIITY ISSUES AND RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY. A COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE LIBRARY IS MAINTAINED AND MATERIALS CAN BE UTILIZED BY THE PUBLIC. 4) INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING - TRAINING IS PROVIDED TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ENABLING THEM TO GAIN SKILLS THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY. A WIDE VARIETY OF AREAS ARE COVERED SUCH AS, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, SEXUALITY, HOUSING, EDUCATION, SELF-ADVOCACY, PERSONAL ASSISTANT MANAGEMENT, TRANSPORTATION, AND SELF CARE. TRAINING IS OFFERED TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AS THEY IDENTIFY AREAS IN WHICH THEY FEEL A NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT AND IS PROVIDED INDIVIDUALLY OR THROUGH GROUP WORKSHOPS.
  2. $17,246 spent. EDUCATION/OUTREACH - PROVIDE EDUCATION TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES REGARDING PUBLIC HEALTH, HEATH AND WELLNESS EDUCATION AND INFORMATION, COUNSELING, ASSISTANCE WITH ACCESSING HEALTH CARE SERVICES
  3. $54,530 spent. PERSONAL ASSISTANT PROGRAM - THIS IS AN ONGOING PROGRAM AND SERVED OVER 200 PEOPLE. A PERSONAL ASSISTANT IS SOMEONE WHO WORKS FOR A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY, A CONSUMER, WITH THE PURPOSE OF EMPOWERING THAT PERSON TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY. THE PERSONAL ASSISTANT'S ROLE IS TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER IN COMPLETING ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING BASED ON HIS OR HER INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. NICIL TRAINS & MAINTAINS A LIST OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BECOME PERSONAL ASSISTANTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. NICIL'S PERSONAL ASSISTANT COORDINATOR CONDUCTS INITIAL INTERVIEWS OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE POSITION AND HOSTS AN ORIENTATION THAT ALL PERSONAL ASSISTANTS MUST ATTENT PRIOR TO BEING PLACED ON NICIL'S REFERRAL LIST. A COMPUTER DATABASE IS MAINTAINED DAILY AND USED TO GENERATE THE REFERRAL LISTS OF PERSONAL ASSISTANTS TO GIVE TO CONSUMERS UPON REQUEST. THE PERSONAL ASSISTANT COORDINATOR ALSO PROVIDES FURTHER TRAINING TO PERSONAL ASSISTANTS AND OFFERS ASSISTANCE TO CONSUMERS WITH INTERVIEWING, HIRING, AND COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY WITH HIS OR HER PERSONAL ASSISTANT.

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 October 13, 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 May 1986.

    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 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.