Human Services (P80Z) IRS Verified DX Registered 990 on File

INDEPENDENCE FIRST INC

EIN: 39-1343425 · MILWAUKEE, WI 53204-1605 · United States · FY 2024 Data

3 out of 5 58 / 100 Based on 2+ years of filings

Financial strength (30%) 74/100

Reliability (20%) 55/100

Effectiveness (25%) 100/100

Impact (25%) No data yet

Financial data: FY 2024 · Scored 9/13/2026

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Mission Statement

IndependenceFirst has been the primary non-profit resource on access and independent living by and for people with disabilities in the four-county metro Milwaukee area since 1979. Our mission is to empower individuals with disabilities through education, advocacy, independent living services and coalition building. We believe that people with disabilities should have the freedom to control their own lives, and we are committed to their full inclusion in every aspect of our community.

Financial Overview — FY 2024

$24.0M

Total Revenue

$24.2M

Total Expenses

$13.6M

Net Assets

1028

Employees

Revenue Sources

Expense Breakdown

Program Expense Ratio 81.0%

Fundraising Efficiency 682.7%

Operating Reserve 6.72x

Liability-to-Asset 21.2%

Revenue Diversification 88.9%

Executive Compensation $683K

Compared with Peers

FY 2024

Compared with 2,032 similar organizations (United States, Human Services, $10M–$100M in expenses), FY 2024.

This organization Middle half of peers (P25–P75) Peer median

Ratio	This org	Peer median	Position (P10 → P90)
Program expense ratio Program expenses / total expenses · higher is better	81.0%	87.5%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Admin expense ratio Management and general / total expenses · lower is better	16.8%	11.1%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expenses / total expenses · lower is better	2.2%	0.2%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Fundraising efficiency Fundraising expenses / gross fundraising income · lower is better	682.7%	423.7%	P10P90	Below median
Operating reserve Months of expenses covered by net assets · higher is better	6.7 mo	6.6 mo	P10P90	Above median
Liabilities to assets Total liabilities / total assets · lower is better	21.2%	32.8%	P10P90	Above median
Revenue concentration Share of revenue from the largest source · lower is better	88.9%	92.7%	P10P90	Above median
Revenue growth Year over year revenue growth	-4.8%	7.6%	P10P90
Expense growth Year over year expense growth	-2.8%	6.9%	P10P90
Surplus margin Surplus as a share of revenue	-1.0%	1.6%	P10P90

Financial History

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Net Assets	Program %	Staff
2024	$24.0M	$24.2M	$13.6M	81.0%	1028
2023	$25.2M	$24.9M	$13.5M	82.3%	1134
2022	$26.2M	$25.8M	$12.4M	84.9%	1266
2021	$27.0M	$25.3M	N/A	—	1410
2020	$33.4M	$27.5M	N/A	—	1575

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Organization Details

EIN: 39-1343425
State: WI
City: MILWAUKEE
ZIP: 53204-1605
Classification: P80Z
Category: Human Services
Rating: 3★
Coverage: A
Last Updated: Aug 2026
IRS Ruling Year: 1979
Foundation Code: 15
Form 990: On File

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CharityAI™ rates charities from 0 to 100 using public filings (IRS Form 990 and the equivalent registries outside the US) together with the information the charity itself provides on DonationX. Ratings are recalculated every quarter, without human bias, and shown as stars.

Four pillars

Financial strength30%

Program expense ratio, fundraising efficiency, operating reserves, liabilities and revenue diversification, compared with similar organizations.

Reliability20%

Standing with the registry, filing history, verification and how complete the profile is.

Effectiveness25%

How much goes to programs and how consistently the organization delivers them.

Impact25%

The outcomes the charity reports on DonationX: people served, cost per service and results.

Stars

★★★★★ 80–100 ★★★★☆ 60–79 ★★★☆☆ 40–59 ★★☆☆☆ 20–39 ★☆☆☆☆ 1–19

A pillar with no data counts as zero. Without impact metrics the score is capped at 59 (three stars): only the charity can supply that data.
The coverage grade (A to D) says how much filing data the score rests on; NONE means there is not enough to rate.
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