Minnesota Independence College and Community
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE SEE AND HONOR THE PERSONHOOD AND AUTONOMY OF AUTISTIC AND NEURODIVERGENT INDIVIDUALS. WE WORK EVERY DAY TO EDUCATE AND GUIDE MICC PARTICIPANTS IN CREATING AND SUSTAINING THE LIVES THEY WANT TO LIVE.
- Income
- $7.5 million
- Spending
- $6.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 5.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 55%
- Employees
- 90
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $204,630, chief executive officer
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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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 (4)
- $2.3 million spent. THE COLLEGE PROGRAM TEACHES THE CORE SKILLS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE ESSENTIAL TO LIVING INDEPENDENTLY WITHIN A COMMUNITY. USING A HOLISTIC, STRENGTH-BASED EDUCATION MODEL, WE TEACH AND SUPPORT INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, EMPLOYMENT SKILLS, AND SOCIAL SKILLS. THE COLLEGE PROGRAM PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO AUTISTIC OR NEURODIVERGENT PARTICIPANTS. SINCE 1996, MICC'S PROGRAM MODEL OF TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD HAS ENCOMPASSED AN IMMERSIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE WHERE COLLEGE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS LIVE IN APARTMENTS ON OUR CAMPUS, WHICH ALLOWS INSTRUCTORS TO TEACH INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS IN THEIR OWN HOME, WHICH SUPPORTS THEIR TRANSITION UPON GRADUATION FROM THE THREE-YEAR PROGRAM. THE SKILLS WE TEACH RANGE FROM BASIC COOKING, CLEANING AND ORGANIZATION TO BUDGETING, MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, TRANSPORTATION AND ROOMMATE DYNAMICS. OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR PARTICIPANTS HAVE DEVELOPED THE SKILLS AND PERSONALIZED SUPPORTS NEEDED TO SUSTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE. WITHIN THE COLLEGE PROGRAM, MICC ALSO OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A GREATER IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY BY OFFERING OUR SUMMER PROGRAM. OUR SUMMER PROGRAM SUPPORTED YOUNG ADULTS TO DEVELOP VALUABLE INTRODUCTORY INDEPENDENCE SKILLS. SKILLS COVERED INCLUDE JOB SEEKING SKILLS; CAREER EXPLORATION THROUGH GUEST SPEAKERS AND INTEREST INVENTORIES; SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND FUN ACTIVITIES; PRACTICING INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS; HEALTHY HABITS AND WELLNESS ROUTINES.
- $1.1 million spent. THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM IS A LIFELONG SUPPORT PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR PARTICIPANTS THAT HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE COLLEGE PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR OWN APARTMENTS OR HOMES, INDEPENDENTLY NAVIGATE THE COMMUNITY AND ARE EMPLOYED COMPETITIVELY IN THE COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM PROVIDES ONGOING SOCIAL PROGRAMMING AND PERSON-CENTERED INDEPENDENT LIVING SUPPORT TO HELP PARTICIPANTS BUILD AND MAINTAIN LASTING FRIENDSHIPS AND FOSTER POSITIVE, SAFE, AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES. ADDITIONALLY, PARTICIPANTS RETAIN ACCESS TO THE CAREERS PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES ONGOING SUPPORT TO PARTICIPANTS AT WORK OR WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT STEP IN THEIR CAREER. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2005, THIS PROGRAM HAS STEADILY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS BEING SERVED. THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY SERVING 115 ADULTS, PLUS THEIR IMMEDIATE AND EXTENDED FAMILIES, AND WE ANTICIPATE CONTINUED GROWTH WITH EACH NEW COLLEGE GRADUATING CLASS.
- $938,915 spent. THE ABILITY TO LIVE AND WORK INDEPENDENTLY IS AT THE HEART OF OUR PROGRAM. THE CAREERS PROGRAM ASSISTS PARTICIPANTS THROUGH AN INDIVIDUALIZED PERSON-CENTERED APPROACH TO OBTAIN ACCESS TO VOCATIONAL SERVICES, SUPPORTS, AND RESOURCES OF THEIR CHOICE TO ACHIEVE THEIR DESIRED OUTCOMES. WE HELP PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP THE SKILLS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE JOB SEARCH PROCESS, OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT, AND DEMONSTRATE THE BEHAVIORS THAT WILL HELP THEM GET AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. CAREER EXPLORATION RESULTS ARE COMBINED WITH JOB DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO HELP PARTICIPANTS FIND THE BEST EMPLOYMENT FIT FOR THEIR SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND INTERESTS. THE SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM IS AN ADDITIONAL COMPONENT OF OUR CAREERS PROGRAM THAT IS ENDORSED BY CENTURY COLLEGE. THERE ARE THREE CHOICES FOR TRAINING: DIGITAL CAREERS, FOOD SERVICE/HOSPITALITY, AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. IT INCLUDES BOTH AN IN-CLASS LEARNING PORTION AND A PRACTICUM PORTION THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM ASSISTS PARTICIPANTS IN THE COLLEGE PROGRAM TO PREPARE TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT AND BUILD THE FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. IN 2025, MICC PILOTED A STANDALONE VERSION OF THIS PROGRAM THAT DID NOT REQUIRE ENROLLMENT IN THE COLLEGE PROGRAM. THE CAREERS PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE WORKFORCE NEEDS IDENTIFIED BY EMPLOYERS WITHIN INDUSTRY SECTORS. LOCAL EMPLOYERS UNDERSTAND THE POSITIVE IMPACT REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE CAN PROVIDE, AND THE ON-SITE INSTRUCTORS PROVIDED BY MICC HELP PARTICIPANTS POSITIVELY NAVIGATE WORK EXPERIENCES IN REAL TIME. WE MEASURE OUR SUCCESS BY THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE EMPLOYED AND LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY. AT THE END OF THE 20242025 PROGRAM YEAR, 91% OF ELIGIBLE COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS RECEIVING CAREER SERVICES WORKED IN THE COMMUNITY.
- $855,261 spent. MICC'S SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM EXPOSES OUR PARTICIPANTS IN BOTH THE COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS TO NEW EXPERIENCES, FRIENDSHIPS, AND HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND PREVENT SOCIAL ISOLATION. THE PROGRAM FOSTERS A FUN AND INCLUSIVE SOCIAL CENTER WITH COMMUNITY INTEGRATION OPPORTUNITIES WHERE OUR PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP AND EXPAND THEIR SENSE OF BELONGING AND ARE ACCEPTED FOR BEING THEIR AUTHENTIC SELF. OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE THE LEADERS WITHIN THEIR SOCIAL COMMUNITY BY DRIVING PROGRAM DECISIONS AND BEING MENTORS FOR THEIR PEERS, LEADING PEER-LED CLUBS, AND ESTABLISHING A PARTICIPANT COUNCIL TO FURTHER INCREASE THEIR CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM. THE SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES HOBBY-BASED ELECTIVE COURSES, WEEKLY COMMUNITY ACTIVITY OPPORTUNITIES, AND MONTHLY EXCURSIONS THROUGHOUT THE METRO AREA. WE ARE CONTINUALLY STRIVING TO CREATE A WELCOMING COMMUNITY WHERE OUR PARTICIPANTS CAN CREATE LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS AND MEMORIES
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 February 1996.
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.
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