Independent Sector

Analysis

Independent Sector is a registered charity in United States, based in Washington, DC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in August 1977, 49 years ago. Its declared purposes cover philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking foundations, which this site groups under grant-making and general purposes. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Independent Sector reported income of $5.5m and spending of $9.3m, spending 168% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $8.2m to $5.5m (-33%), an average of -9.6% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2020, when income rose by 85%. Over the whole period it spent 109% of the income it received.

Among 19,413 United States charities whose main cause is grant-making and general purposes and that reported income, Independent Sector sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 93rd percentile, and in the 81st percentile within DC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Philanthropy Massachusetts Inc ($5.5m), Mount Dora Community Trust ($5.5m) and The Jewish Community Foundation of the West ($5.5m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 93% and program service revenue 3.5% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $1.3m (14% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $2.5m. At year end it held assets of $26.4m against liabilities of $8.9m, net assets of $17.5m. It reported 39 employees.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.