2024-01-26T06:28:59-08:00 2023-06-30 200473113 FRANKLIN & FRANKLIN PA 3320 Siskey Parkway Suite 102 Matthews NC 28105 990 2022-07-01 260322088 The Independence Fund Inc INDE 8888517966 412 LOUISE AVENUE CHARLOTTE NC 28204 Sarah Verardo CEO 8888517966 2024-01-11 true Sarah Verardo XXX-XX-XXXX true JOHN A FRANKLIN CPA P00475967 7048451195 2024-01-26 3 AAL1 IAL1 FAL1 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z X Sarah Verardo 412 LOUISE AVENUE CHARLOTTE NC 28204 12475650 false X www.independencefund.org X 2007 NC The Independence Fund's mission is to support our injured and wounded veterans with the tools to achieve their independence in thanks for the freedoms they have fought so hard to preserve by providing them with the mobility and adaptive devices, funding for those veterans and their caregivers to receive medical care and therapies, and advocating with other veteran's organization to obtain continuing services and support. 6 5 54 190 0 0 8361774 11592596 0 182262 819755 23074 63299 8567110 12475650 984394 1178662 0 2273077 4169057 0 1002462 4842795 7959938 8100266 13307657 466844 -832007 7812789 7609215 538006 1062983 7274783 6546232 X The Independence Fund's mission is to support our injured and wounded veterans with the tools to achieve their independence in thanks for the freedoms they have fought so hard to preserve by providing them with the mobility and adaptive devices, funding for those veterans and their caregivers to receive medical care and therapies, and advocating with other veteran's organization to obtain continuing services and support. false true 10037538 1178662 0 See Schedule O 10037538 true true false true false false false false false false true false false false true false true false false false false false false false false false false false true true false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false true 0 0 true 54 true false false false false false false false false false false false false X 6 5 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false FL NC SC X DENA LECOMPTE 8888517996 412 LOUISE AVENUE Charlotte NC 28204 Arthur Pue Chairman 5.00 X X 0 0 0 Keita Franklin Secretary 5.00 X X 0 0 0 Alea Nadeem Director 5.00 X 0 0 0 Rich Gross Director 5.00 X 0 0 0 Mike Lenhart Director 5.00 X 0 0 0 Cheryl Mason Director 5.00 X 0 0 0 Jennifer Korn Director 5.00 X 0 0 0 Sarah Verardo CEO 60.00 X X 265000 0 4376 Bob Carey EVP-Advocacy 60.00 X X 118300 0 0 Samuel Johnson EVP-Operations 60.00 X X 181200 0 0 Daniel T Elkins Senior Advisor 40.00 X 105038 0 20000 669538 0 24376 4 true true false 1500000 10092596 11592596 819755 0 819755 Other 999999 63299 0 0 63299 63299 12475650 0 0 883054 1178662 1178662 3279916 2351699 564146 364071 637639 457186 109675 70778 251502 180327 43258 27917 358724 89681 269043 0 25000 6250 18750 0 2823917 1849782 749904 224231 318502 302713 0 15789 635580 279343 267931 88306 413131 320068 63152 29911 1655001 1400246 122888 131867 32706 23843 6368 2495 240509 175331 46827 18351 50661 50661 0 0 Client-specific assistance 1373423 1357994 0 15429 Banking fees and other 32784 13752 5715 13317 13307657 10037538 2267657 1002462 2786447 2805832 128661 67 50135 0 24951 17495 1263851 613654 167900 650197 4625126 3764638 29569 370986 7812789 7609215 302508 595236 149748 467747 85750 0 538006 1062983 X 7241582 6546232 33201 7274783 6546232 7812789 7609215 -832007 103456 X false true X true false X 0 6288692 5573814 7689344 8361774 11592596 39506220 0 0 6288692 5573814 7689344 8361774 11592596 39506220 5552035 33954185 168367 69029 184737 182261 819755 1424149 0 736 2882 10526 23074 63299 100517 41030886 0.82750 0.90300 X 0 0 0 Pt II Ln 10 Other Income Part II, Line 10 Description: Other Income 2018: 736. 2019: 2882. 2020: 10526. 2021: 23074. 2022: 63299. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 9923 255913 265836 13063005 13328841 816442 204111 0 0 398638 431616 570451 816442 2217147 3325721 18325 102139 221245 265836 607545 99659 107924 142613 204111 554307 831461 15000 69655 23783 9923 118361 0 0 51021 28093 22928 1212830 585561 627269 650197 Payroll liabilities 0 0 12497222 21572 21572 12475650 12475650 13329229 21572 21572 13307657 13307657 Other Line 2b for Part XI and Line 2a for part XII relate to donated public service announcements which have been accumulated by an independent advertising agency. Generally accepted accounting principles require the accounting as revenue and expense in financial statements the fair market value of donated broadcast media public service announcements, but they are not counted as revenue or expenses for Form 990 purposes. true X true true true false false false false false false false false Sarah Verardo 265000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4376 0 269376 0 0 0 Bob Carey 118300 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 118300 0 0 0 Samuel Johnson 81195 0 0 0 100005 0 0 0 0 0 181200 0 0 0 Pt I Line 4a SEVERANCE FOR SAM JOHNSON false true false Other Other:Form 990, Part III, Line 4a- Program Service Accomplishments Other ADVOCACY PROGRAM - For Veterans returning with the scars of war, the fight doesn't end upon their arrival home. Unfortunately, some of the biggest battles are with the very institutions that are supposed to be on their side; whether it be the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or Congress, when they simply don't understand the challenges the Veterans face, or when they turn a deaf ear. The Independence Fund's Advocacy team assists where the needs are greatest right now; amplifying the voices of those who fought for us. ALLIES PROGRAM - In July 2021, in advance of the withdrawal of all American troops from Afghanistan, The Independence Fund became the first VSO to open programming eligibility to Afghan combat interpreters living in or being resettled in the United States, ensuring that wartime Allies would be recognized as key members of the Veteran community. In September, following the fall of Afghanistan, the Allies program began providing financial stipends to Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders and SIV-pending Allies in the US, as well as connecting all resettled Afghans with proper resources, appropriate partner organizations, interpretation services, healthcare, and more nationwide. CAREGIVER PROGRAM - The Independence Fund is proud to serve Caregivers of all eras. By providing small group retreats, military Caregivers are provided not only with an opportunity for respite, but a chance to receive resources, support, and empowerment in a peer-to-peer environment. The Independence Fund was the first VSO to host a national retreat for male Caregivers: fathers, husbands, and brothers of our nation's wounded. the Independence Fund has been able to support 2,015 Caregivers through peer support, training, and comradery. CASEWORK PROGRAM - The Independence Fund's Casework team supports Veterans and caregivers as they navigate the challenges that accompany post-military benefits and Veterans Administration (VA) resources. Our Casework team specializes in: Service-connected Benefits, VA Medical Eligibility, Caregiver Assistance, Upgrading Your Discharge, Status Community, Resources, Medical Referrals, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unresolved Medical Issues, Access to Medical Care, and Legal Resources. Since inception, the Independence Fund has served 2003 cases through the Casework program. FAMILY PROGRAM - The Independence Fund's Family Program, open to families of catastrophically wounded Veterans, focuses on art therapy, respite, and comprehensive individual aftercare. With the understanding that true independence can only be reached through total family care. The Independence Fund tailors its family program to provide aftercare that is specifically created for each family and partners families facing similar post-military concerns. The Independence Fund has assisted 281 families through the Family program. MOBILITY PROGRAM - The Independence Fund's hallmark program provides catastrophically wounded Veterans the chance to regain their independence through the use of specialized all-terrain trackchairs. The program is open to Veterans of all eras who have undergone a severe loss of mobility from a service-connected catastrophic injury or illness. The Independence Fund has provided 2,659 all-terrain trackchairs and awared 2,144 adaptie grants since our founding. INDEPENDENCE@HOME - Independence@Home provides direct support to catastrophically disabled Veterans, Caregivers, and families with physical and emergent needs including housing, utilities, childcare, and transportation services. Independence@Home has supported 2,999 Veterans and Caregivers. Our Feeding Independence events provide Veterans with groceries and supplies through contact-less, drive-thru events at local Veteran Administration (VA) medical centers throughout the country. 7,360 Veterans have been supported through Feeding Independence. OPERATION RESILIENCY - Operation RESILIENCY reunites post-9/11 military units who survived traumatic experiences together during their deployment and have been affected by Veteran suicide once home. Relying on the trust and brotherhood forged in combat, military units gather to address their next, and most important mission on the home front: Preventing Veteran suicide. Together, Veterans engage in peer-to-peer support, physical activity, and social connectedness to build resiliency skills. Since 2019, the Independence Fund has been proud to include the unit's combat interpreter Allies in reunions, as they served alongside our Veterans shoulder-to-shoulder in combat and now fight alongside our Veterans on the home front. OpRES attendees participate in a four-day retreat and leave with tools and resources to use when the load gets too heavy. The Independence Fund has been able to support 543 Veterans through the OpRES program. TIF TACTICAL - Our TIF Tactical adaptive shooting program provides opportunities for our nation's catastrophically wounded, injured, or ill Veterans to re-engage with hunting and shooting sports. TIF Tactical provides Veterans with unforgettable opportunities nationwide through partner ranges and hunting locations. 164 Veterans have been engaged through TIF Tactical. VETERANS JUSTICE INITIATIVE - With a goal of confronting deeply-rooted mental health and substance abuse issues within the Veteran community, the Independence Fund's Sarah Verardo founded the Veterans Justice Initiative (VJI). Compelled by the experience of her husband's battle buddies facing mental and legal crises, Sarah, with the support of the State of North Carolina, launched VJI in 2022. The innovative program connects Veterans and law enforcement with shared experiences, training, and resources. The Veterans Justice Initiative assists law enforcement agencies, first reponders and frontline workers to understand the nuances and true scope of Veterans' mental health obstacles once they return home from service. Early intervention and casework is critical to Veteran mental wholeness. 2,094 officers and first respnders have been trained through Veterans Justice Initiative. Pt VI, Line 11b The draft Form 990 is reviewed in detail by management and then given to the entire board to review prior to filing. Pt VI, Line 12c Board members are required to review the Conflict of Interest Policy and sign a document stating that they have reviewed, understand, and are in compliance with the Conflict of Interest Policy on an annual basis. In addition, there is a Conflict of Interest clause in the Employee Handbook. All staff members receive the handbook upon hiring and must acknowledge via signature page that they have received, reviewed, and comply with the policies in the handbook. Pt VI, Line 15a The BOD approves the fiscal year budget annually which includes a listing of salaries by authorized position, including the CEO and COO positions. Pt VI, Line 15b The CEO fill positions according to the budget, with the CEO making the final decision as to staff salaries. The BOD Executive Committee makes determination on the CEO salary,based upon a salary study. Pt VI, Line 19 Available upon request. Pt III, Line 3 Adaptive Sports is now considered part of the mobility program and not tracked as a separate program. Pt VI, Line 12c A Conflict of Interest policy was maintained and all employees were briefed on the policy during the fiscal year. Pt III, Line 2 In addition to moving Adaptive Sports under Mobility and forgoing having it as a stand alone program, we started Independence @ Home. Providing assistance to Veterans, Caregivers, and families in need that have been directly impacted by Covid-19.