Independence Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 69 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF INDEPENDENCE CENTER IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENT FUNCTIONING, AND TO FACILITATE PERSONAL GROWTH FOR ADULTS WITH A HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS. TO ACHIEVE THIS, INDEPENDENCE CENTER PROVIDES ONGOING SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
- Income
- $3.1 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- -2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 95%
- Employees
- 57
- Volunteers
- 3
- Highest pay
- $140,108, 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
Weak: 32 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 58% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 69 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: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (5)
- $976,689 spent. LIVING ROOM: THE LIVING ROOM WELLNESS CENTER AT THE INDEPENDENCE CENTER PROVIDES A SAFE COMFORTABLE, INVITING ENVIRONMENT WHERE SKILLED CERTIFIED RECOVERY SUPPORT SPECIALISTS (CRSS) PROVIDE CRISIS INTERVENTION REFERRALS AND OTHER NEEDED SERVICES FOR GUESTS EXPERIENCING A CRISIS. THE LIVING ROOM IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR GUESTS WITH INCREASED SYMPTOMS OR NEAR A CRISIS. THE PURPOSE IS TO: - OFFER A SAFE AND POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE GUESTS CAN GO TO FOR SUPPORT AND COMFORT. - ASSIST GUESTS WITH DEVELOPING THEIR COPING SKILLS FOR ENHANCED INTERPERSONAL AND SOCIAL SKILLS. - HELP GUESTS MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGES IN THEIR LIVES. - SUPPORT GUESTS AS THEY SEEK TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A MODERATE LIVING LIFESTYLE.
- $414,298 spent. SUPPORTED LIVING: INDEPENDENCE CENTER ESTABLISHED ITS FIRST SUPPORTED HOUSING COMPLEX IN 1999 THROUGH THE ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (IHDA). THE ELIZA T. DAVIES BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED FROM THE GROUND UP AND ACCOMMODATED 19 RESIDENTS. SINCE THEN, INDEPENDENCE CENTER HAS EXPANDED ITS HOUSING PROGRAM WITH A MIXTURE OF FUNDING FROM IHDA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD), THE LATTER OF WHICH BEGAN FUNDING IN 2002. THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY HAS THE CAPACITY TO HOUSE UP TO 45 MEMBERS IN OUR FOUR HOUSING FACILITIES AT ANY GIVEN TIME. WE MAINTAIN/MANAGE FIVE LOCAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, PROVIDING HOUSING WITH 24-HOUR CRISIS RESPONSE AND ON-SITE CASE MANAGEMENT. WE ARE ALSO DEDICATED TO OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL HOUSING AUTHORITIES AND PROVIDERS, WHICH OFFER ADDITIONAL HOUSING OPTIONS. WE COACH MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND HOUSING RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH INCLUDES BUDGET MANAGEMENT.
- $343,712 spent. ADULT OUTPATIENT SERVICES: PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING/THERAPY INCLUDING DIALECTICAL BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, MENTAL ILLNESS/SUBSTANCE ABUSE THERAPY (MISA), RELAXATION AND COPING SKILLS, SYMPTOM AND MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, WELLNESS RECOVERY ACTION PLANNING (WRAP) AND OTHER WELLNESS/LIFESTYLE ASSISTANCE FOR EVERYDAY FUNCTIONALITY.
- $379,350 spent. COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION: INDEPENDENCE CENTER HAS CONTINUED TO WORK WITH THE LAKE COUNTY NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL FOR MANY YEARS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS. STAFF MEMBERS SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR NAMI AND OFTEN ARE PRESENTERS AT MONTHLY EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS. INDEPENDENCE CENTER USES ITS FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS OF LAKE COUNTY ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AND PROVIDE AN ENTRANCE TO THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM. STAFF MEMBERS HAVE ADDRESSED SCHOOL GROUPS, CHURCHES, CHAMBERS, SERVICE CLUBS, AND LOCAL COMPANIES ABOUT SERVICES THAT FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS COULD ACCESS. NURSING STUDENTS FROM THE COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY, POLICE DEPARTMENTS, MEMBERS OF CHURCH GROUPS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS HAVE ALL BEEN EDUCATED ABOUT THE CENTER, ITS SERVICES, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND THE NEEDS OF OUR MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
- $337,739 spent. "VOCATIONAL SERVICES: THIS WORK-STUDY PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP MEMBERS WITH EVERY STEP OF FINDING, OBTAINING AND MAINTAINING LONG-TERM AND MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT THROUGH ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS AND INDIVIDUALIZED VOCATIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS PROVIDING SUPPORT TO PARTNERING EMPLOYMENT COMPANIES & HR DEPARTMENTS.SERVICES INCLUDE A VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT TO HELP ESTABLISH CAREER GOALS; INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING FOCUSED ON CAREER EDUCATION AND JOB RETENTION, WEEKLY TRAINING GROUPS TO ENSURE JOB READINESS FOR ALL LEVELS OF THE EMPLOYMENT PROCESS, DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF COMMUNITY-INTEGRATED BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND ADVOCACY OR INTERVENTION AS NEEDED FOR ACCOMMODATION NEEDS. "
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 November 6, 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 December 1987.
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 November 4, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Center for Elders Independence (Oakland, CA), EIN 94-3123446. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.