2026-08-17T13:27:45-05:00 2025-12-31 390974031 WEGNER CPAS LLP 2921 LANDMARK PLACE SUITE 300 MADISON WI 537133074 990 2025-01-01 391343425 INDEPENDENCE FIRST INC INDE 4142917520 540 S 1ST ST MILWAUKEE WI 532041605 MARCIA BOUCHER PRESIDENT/CEO 4142917520 2026-08-05 1 JENNY TARKOWSKI CPA P00634290 6082747020 2026-08-05 2025 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z MARCIA BOUCHER 540 S 1ST ST MILWAUKEE WI 532041605 24392221 0 X WWW.INDEPENDENCEFIRST.ORG X 1979 WI TO EFFECTIVELY FACILITATE EMPOWERMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH THE CORE SERVICES OF: ADVOCACY; INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS; INFORMATION AND REFERRAL; PEER SUPPORT; AND TRANSITION. 13 13 1005 118 8380 0 2011409 2144398 21322142 19819513 560037 661455 98722 20422 23992310 22645788 0 0 0 0 20899615 20217867 0 0 401142 3330133 2505603 24229748 22723470 -237438 -77682 17207756 17332181 3641508 3420316 13566248 13911865 X INDEPENDENCE FIRST IS A NON-PROFIT 501C3 INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER (ILC) DIRECTED AND CONTROLLED BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, PRIMARILY SERVING THE FOUR COUNTY METROPOLITAN MILWAUKEE AREA. THE MISSION OF INDEPENDENCE FIRST, INC. IS TO EFFECTIVELY FACILITATE EMPOWERMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH THE CORE SERVICES OF: ADVOCACY; INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS; INFORMATION AND REFERRAL; PEER SUPPORT; AND TRANSITION. 0 0 15273762 0 19480536 PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES PROVIDE PERSONAL CARE SERVICES AT HOME FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WITH RN SUPERVISION AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR PARTICIPANTS. THESE SERVICES ASSIST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT IN THE COMMUNITY RATHER THAN BE FORCED TO MOVE INTO AN INSTITUTIONAL SETTING. 2152276 0 324942 INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES PROVIDES SKILLS TRAINING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WITH EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO INCREASE THEIR ABILITY TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY. SKILLS TRAINING OFFERED INCLUDE TOPICS OF MONEY, HOME AND TIME MANAGEMENT, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, HOW TO BUILD SELF-ESTEEM, HOW TO SET GOALS AND MAKE GOOD DECISIONS, DEALING WITH CONFLICT AND ANGER, STRESS MANAGEMENT, ASSERTIVENESS, COMPUTER TRAINING, JUST TO NAME A FEW. INDIVIDUALS SET THEIR GOALS AND TRAINING ASSISTS THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN ACHIEVING THEM. 210960 0 0 WISLOAN AND TELEWORK - THIS PROGRAM IS AN ALTERNATIVE LOAN PROGRAM FOR WISCONSIN CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES WHO DESIRE TO PURCHASE ASSISTIVE DEVICES OR SERVICES. 492031 0 14035 OTHER PROGRAMS - THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL KINDS IN ALL AGE GROUPS, AND PROVIDES PROGRAMS ON DISABILITY AWARENESS, EMPLOYMENT TIPS AND ACCESS TO THE GENERAL COMMUNITY. 492031 0 14035 18129029 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 32 0 1005 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 13 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 WI X WENDY HUOT 4142917520 540 S 1ST ST MILWAUKEE WI 53204 BILLIE TORRENT DIRECTOR (FROM JUNE 2025) 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 JACCI BORCHARDT DIRECTOR (FROM JUNE 2025) 1.00 X 0 0 0 MELANIE PARE DIRECTOR (FROM JUNE 2025) 1.00 X 0 0 0 RYAN RAMOS CHAIR 3.00 1.00 X X 0 0 0 BRAD HOLZ VICE-CHAIR 3.00 X X 0 0 0 KAWANZA NEWSON SECRETARY 1.00 X X 0 0 0 KENT WALTERS TREASURER 3.00 1.00 X X 0 0 0 JOHN DZIEWA DIRECTOR (THRU JUNE 2025) 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARK CIESKO DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ERIC DEGROOT DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 WILLIAM CROWLEY DIRECTOR (THRU JUNE 2025) 1.00 X 0 0 0 CHRISTINE BROOKS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 PAUL WIERZBA DIRECTOR 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 EMILY SIIRA DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ANNE SCHWARTZ DIRECTOR (THRU JUNE 2025) 1.00 X 0 0 0 BEVERLY WALKER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JAKEIM JACKSON-BELL DIRECTOR (THRU JUNE 2025) 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARCIA BOUCHER PRESIDENT/CEO 40.00 1.00 X 258710 0 26694 WENDY HUOT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 40.00 1.00 X 209177 0 11742 KATHY ACEVEDO CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 40.00 1.00 X 187850 0 31453 GERALD HAY DIRECTOR OF INDEPENDENT LIVING 40.00 X 108338 0 19108 TRACY THOMAS CONTROLLER 40.00 1.00 X 153987 0 28651 JACOB NOWAK IT DIRECTOR/FACILITIES DIRECTOR 40.00 X 124294 0 49321 SCOTT CURWICK HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR 40.00 3.00 X 112556 0 17818 SAMANTHA HUDSON PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES DIRECTOR 40.00 X 130212 0 26523 1285124 0 211310 8 0 1 0 0 53300 94933 817172 940892 238101 2144398 PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES 624120 19477003 19477003 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY 624120 213586 213586 INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES 624120 96626 96626 ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES 624120 13950 13950 18348 18348 19819513 257996 257996 240209 183230 56979 56979 8380 48599 1926655 1523196 403459 403459 403459 3450 94933 40007 -36557 -36557 22645788 19819513 8380 673497 725626 725626 15826461 13648438 1906196 271827 452882 398189 46763 7930 1879239 1586484 261158 31597 1333659 1101942 209770 21947 33419 33419 63750 63750 1332 1332 30114 30114 391183 161523 229660 198140 8488 186360 3292 232999 192181 37387 3431 264881 198661 39732 26488 362906 227731 131566 3609 55059 44545 8662 1852 14515 14515 1037 857 163 17 158370 105925 50368 2077 262353 196765 39353 26235 CONSUMER ASSISTANCE 196502 196502 BAD DEBT EXPENSE 183989 183989 MEMBERSHIP DUES 25180 20805 3961 414 LICENSES AND FEES 22680 18284 3970 426 7194 7194 22723470 18129029 4193299 401142 86885 28060 641217 440000 202339 223930 2234563 1881538 110094 76938 10313090 5269474 5170790 5043616 8319470 9137489 427522 485734 14876 14876 17207756 17332181 1247969 1166374 66136 0 1039377 554190 1288026 1699752 3641508 3420316 X 10371166 10605557 3195082 3306308 13566248 13911865 17207756 17332181 -77682 423299 0 X 0 1 X 1 1 1 X 1920190 1963627 2562570 2011409 2144398 10602194 1920190 1963627 2562570 2011409 2144398 10602194 10602194 126447 127084 215009 265124 462880 1196544 7301 17329 9525 8380 42535 11841273 112442556 0.89540 X 0.98660 0.01330 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2244 0 0 2244 0 PART II-B, LINE 1: LOBBYING EXPENSES INCLUDE STAFF TIME SPENT IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH LEGISLATORS, THEIR STAFFS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OR A LEGISLATIVE BODY AS WELL AS REGISTERING PAID EMPLOYEES AS LOBBYISTS. 1218000 1218000 6868595 3216511 3652084 1927609 1781770 145839 298886 271193 27693 5043616 ESTIMATED THIRD-PARTY PAS PAYER SETTLEMENTS 20000 DEFERRED COMPENSATION OBLIGATION 403401 LINE OF CREDIT 1109000 REFUNDABLE ADVANCES 67131 LOAN GUARANTEES 100220 1699752 EMPOWER GALA 98383 94933 3450 4500 2208 33299 98383 94933 3450 4500 2208 33299 40007 -36557 X X X 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 MARCIA BOUCHER PRESIDENT/CEO 258710 0 0 0 0 0 13015 0 13679 0 285404 0 0 0 WENDY HUOT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 209177 0 0 0 0 0 10293 0 1449 0 220919 0 0 0 KATHY ACEVEDO CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 187850 0 0 0 0 0 5730 0 25723 0 219303 0 0 0 TRACY THOMAS CONTROLLER 153987 0 0 0 0 0 8182 0 20469 0 182638 0 0 0 JACOB NOWAK IT DIRECTOR/FACILITIES DIRECTOR 124294 0 0 0 0 0 6788 0 42533 0 173615 0 0 0 SAMANTHA HUDSON PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES DIRECTO 130212 0 0 0 0 0 6557 0 19966 0 156735 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 5 25% OF THE PRESIDENT/CEO'S GRADING CRITERIA FOR MERIT INCREASES IS TIED TO COMPANY PERFORMANCE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE PREPARED FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY BEFORE THE RETURN IS FILED WITH THE IRS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C ANNUALLY ALL DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS COMPLETE AND SIGN A STATEMENT THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR INTERESTS AND THOSE OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT COULD GIVE RISE TO CONFLICTS. THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY MAKE DETERMINATIONS OF WHETHER A CONFLICT EXISTS AND REVIEW ACTUAL CONFLICTS. ANY PERSON WITH A CONFLICT IS PROHIBITED FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE GOVERNING BODY'S DELIBERATIONS AND DECISIONS IN THE TRANSACTION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, COMPRISED OF OFFICERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY, REVIEW AND DETERMINE OFFICER AND KEY EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION ANNUALLY. COMPENSATION GUIDES ARE REVIEWED. ALSO, THERE ARE GOALS RELATED TO THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL AND PROGRAM PERFORMANCE THAT ARE REVIEWED. ALL EMPLOYEES ARE REVIEWED ANNUALLY BY THEIR IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION'S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. THE ORGANIZATION'S ANNUAL REPORT WAS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE. INDEPENDENCE FIRST FOUNDATION INC 540 S 1ST ST MILWAUKEE WI 532041605 462941274 SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE FIRST, INC. WI 501(C)(3) LINE 12A, I INDEPENDENCE FIRST INC 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 INDEPENDENCE FIRST FOUNDATION INC C 817172 FACE AMOUNT