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Center for Independence

EIN 91-1577469 · Lakewood, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENCE (CFI) SERVES AS A RESOURCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO FULLY ACCESS AND PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUTREACH, ADVOCACY, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 61%
Employees
26
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$103,610, executive director (resigned)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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)
  1. $1.4 million spent. VETERANS DIRECTED CARECFI PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED, COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES TO VETERANS THROUGH ITS VETERAN DIRECTED CARE AND NEURO-REHABILITATION PROGRAMS. THROUGH VETERAN DIRECTED CARE, CFI SUPPORTS ELIGIBLE VETERANS REFERRED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN DEVELOPING AND MANAGING INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES. THE PROGRAM GIVES VETERANS GREATER CHOICE AND CONTROL OVER THE ASSISTANCE THEY RECEIVE AND SUPPORTS THEIR ABILITY TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. CFI ALSO PROVIDES LONG-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING, AND COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORT TO VETERANS WITH BRAIN INJURIES, SPINAL CORD INJURIES, AND OTHER NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. SERVICES ARE TAILORED TO EACH VETERAN'S NEEDS AND FOCUS ON DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING SKILLS THAT PROMOTE GREATER INDEPENDENCE.
  2. $748,419 spent. CORE INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICESCFI PROVIDES COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE INDEPENDENCE, SELF-DETERMINATION, AND FULL PARTICIPATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. SERVICES INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL AND SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING, AND PEER SUPPORT. CFI ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS IN IDENTIFYING AND ACCESSING COMMUNITY RESOURCES, DEVELOPING SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS, AND ESTABLISHING INDIVIDUAL GOALS RELATED TO INDEPENDENT LIVING. TRAINING AND SUPPORT MAY ADDRESS AREAS SUCH AS HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, BUDGETING, COMMUNICATION, PERSONAL ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY ACCESS, AND OTHER SKILLS BASED ON EACH PARTICIPANT'S INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND GOALS. PEER SUPPORT AND THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE INTEGRAL TO CFI'S SERVICE MODEL.
  3. $211,093 spent. PATHWAYS TO COMMUNITY LIVING AND CONTRACT SERVICESCFI PROVIDES COMMUNITY-BASED TRANSITION AND INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES THROUGH PATHWAYS TO COMMUNITY LIVING AND OTHER CONTRACTED PROGRAMS. CFI ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE TRANSITIONING FROM NURSING HOMES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS BACK INTO COMMUNITY-BASED LIVING ARRANGEMENTS. SERVICES MAY INCLUDE INDIVIDUALIZED PLANNING, COMMUNITY RESOURCE COORDINATION, HOUSING AND BENEFIT ASSISTANCE, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING, AND ADVOCACY TO SUPPORT A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION AND HELP INDIVIDUALS REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY. CFI ALSO PROVIDES ASSESSMENTS, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING, COMMUNITY ACCESS, AND RELATED SERVICES UNDER OTHER CONTRACTED PROGRAMS BASED ON PARTICIPANT NEEDS.
  4. YOUTH TRANSITION SERVICESCFI PROVIDES INDEPENDENT LIVING AND TRANSITION SERVICES TO YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES TO HELP PREPARE THEM FOR ADULT LIFE AND GREATER INDEPENDENCE. SERVICES ARE INDIVIDUALIZED AROUND EACH PARTICIPANT'S GOALS AND MAY INCLUDE PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT OR CONTINUING EDUCATION, COMMUNITY ACCESS, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, SELF-ADVOCACY, AND CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND OTHER SERVICES. CFI ALSO PROVIDES YOUTH-FOCUSED WORKSHOPS AND PEER OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED TO BUILD SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED FOR THE TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 1998.

    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.

  7. 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.