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California Foundation for Independent Living Centers

EIN 94-2838242 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CALIFORNIA FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER'S MISSION IS TO INCREASE ACCESS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BY BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF INDEPENDENT LIVNG CENTERS.

Income
$6.9 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
19
Volunteers
24
Highest pay
$152,208, executive director

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 69% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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 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 (5)
  1. $1.2 million spent. ABILITY TOOLS IS DEDICATED TO EXPANDING THE AVAILABILITY OF TOOLS, RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY THAT INCREASES INDEPENDENCE, IMPROVES PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY AND ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF CALIFORNIANS WITH DISABILITIES. WE SUPPORT DEVICE LENDING LIBRARIES, REUSE CENTERS, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. WE PROVIDE FUNDING, TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO A NETWORK OF OVER 1,600 ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS. WE DEVELOPED THE FREEDOMTECH ALTERNATIVE FINANCING PROGRAM TO PROVIDE LOW-INTEREST LOANS TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE SEEKING LOANS FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND HOME OR VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS. THIS CATEGORY INCLUDES FUNDING FROM THE DEPT OF REHABILITATION ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY GRANT, AT CARRYFORWARD CONTRACT; FREEDOMTECH LOAN PROGRAM AND OTHER FUNDING RELATED TO ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY.
  2. $98,036 spent. THE DONETWORK CALLS TO ACTION THE CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITIES AND ALLIES, THROUGH COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND COALITION BUILDING TO EFFECT SYSTEMS CHANGE IN LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL ISSUES. THE CFILC DISABILITY ORGANIZING NETWORK IS A STATEWIDE DISABILITY ADVOCACY NETWORK OF 28 INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. IN EACH CENTER THERE IS A FULL-TIME STAFF PERSON DEVOTED TO INCREASING CIVIC PARTICIPATION THROUGH COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY AROUND ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE DISABILITY COMMUNITIES. DEPT OF REHABILITATION SYSTEM CHANGE NETWORK TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS ARE INCLUDED IN DONETWORK CATEGORY.
  3. $5.1 million spent. DISABILITY DISASTER ACCESS AND RESOURCES ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND OLDER ADULTS IN DISASTER READINESS AND RECOVERY. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS WITH INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE, DISASTER READINESS TRAINING, BACKUP ELECTRICITY SUPPORT, PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS PLANNING ASSISTANCE, PUBLIC AWARENESS, AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT REUSE AND LOAN CLOSET REFERRALS; BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER A DISASTER OR ELECTRICITY SHUT-OFF. THIS CATEGORY INCLUDES FUNDING EXPENSE FROM PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO., SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON, AND OTHER FUNDING AND DONATIONS RELATED TO EMERGENCY SERVICES, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND DISABILITY DISASTER ACCESS AND RESOURCE CENTERS.
  4. $15,928 spent. YOUTH ORGANIZING (YO!) DEVELOPS COMMUNITY ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES TO BUILD A POWER BASE AMONG YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES SO THAT WE CAN EFFECTIVELY WORK FOR CHANGE. WE ENGAGE YOUTH TO LEARN ABOUT OUR HISTORY, THE DISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT, DISABILITY PRIDE, ORGANIZING AND ADVOCACY. YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES BUILD COMMUNITY WITH EACH OTHER, DEVELOP A SENSE OF LEADERSHIP, A POSITIVE DISABILITY IDENTITY AND ORGANIZE AND MOBILIZE EACH OTHER ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR LIVES. WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES, RESOURCES, AND INFORMATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES. DISABLED YOUTH ARE ABLE TO VOLUNTEER WITH LOCAL INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS, WORK ON ADVOCACY ISSUES AND CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM AND FIND MENTORS WITHIN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. YO! WORKS WITH TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES AGES 16 TO 28. THIS PROGRAM OF CFILC RECEIVES FUNDING FROM GOVERNMENT, FOUNDATION, CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUALS.
  5. $6,157 spent. MEMBERSHIP: CFILC STARTED AS A PEER SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF THE FLEDGLING INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS IN CALIFORNIA (ILC) IN 1976. ORIGINALLY THE DIRECTORS WERE THE USUAL REPRESENTATIVES WHO WENT TO SACRAMENTO TO EDUCATE PUBLIC POLICY MAKERS ON ISSUES AFFECTING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. SINCE 1978, CFILC MEMBERS HAVE BEEN MEETING TO DETERMINE HOW BEST TO PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES, AND ADVOCATE FOR FREEDOM, CHOICE AND EQUALITY. BUILDING STRONG AND SUSTAINABLE INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS IS ONE WAY WE HAVE PROVEN OUR STRENGTH. CFILC MODERATES A SERIES OF COMMUNICATION LISTSERVS FOR ILC EXECUTIVES, MANAGEMENT AND STAFF SO THAT THEY MAY ACCESS AND SHARE INFORMATION AND EXPERTISE QUICKLY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE. ILCS REGULARLY SHARE RESOURCES, MATERIALS AND "KNOW HOW," WHICH FOSTERS COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION. CFILC PRODUCES STATEWIDE MEETINGS FOR MEMBERS TO DEVELOP OUR PUBLIC POLICY AGENDA AND ACTIONS PLAN FOR SYSTEMS AND SOCIAL CHANGE. OUR MEETINGS INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS FROM FUNDERS, FOUNDATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND ILC EXECUTIVES SHARING EXPERTISE, BEST PRACTICES AND RESOURCES.

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 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 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 October 1982.

    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.