INDEPENDENT SECTOR

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

1602 L ST NW STE 900, WASHINGTON, DC 20036-5682

In care of

% ROB WATKINS

Principal officer (990 for 2025)

DR AKILAH WATKINS, 1602 L STREET NW 900, WASHINGTON, DC 20036

Signed the 990

RICK ROBINSON, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Phone

(202) 467-6100

Website

WWW.INDEPENDENTSECTOR.ORG

Return prepared by

RSM US LLP

Mission

WE UNITE NONPROFITS AND PHILANTHROPY TO STRENGTHEN THE CHARITABLE SECTOR, IDENTIFYING STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES AND MOBILIZING THE SECTOR AROUND POLICY AND PRACTICE SOLUTIONS.

Program accomplishments

• PUBLIC POLICY:INDEPENDENT SECTOR WORKS WITH NONPROFITS, PHILANTHROPIES, CORPORATE-GIVING PROGRAMS, AND LAWMAKERS TO SHAPE AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICY SOLUTIONS AND LEGISLATION THAT ADVANCE THE COMMON GOOD, ENCOURAGE ORGANIZATIONS TO BECOME BETTER ADVOCATES, AND CREATE HEALTHY, EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES WHERE EVERYONE THRIVES.INDEPENDENT SECTOR PRESIDENT AND CEO DR. AKILAH WATKINS SHARED OUR 2025 TAX POLICY AGENDA WITH HOUSE AND SENATE BUDGET LEADERS, URGING LAWMAKERS TO STRENGTHEN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR'S FINANCIAL RESOURCES, WORKFORCE, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND PUBLIC TRUST. THROUGHOUT THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS, INDEPENDENT SECTOR TRACKED PROVISIONS AFFECTING NONPROFITS AND PARTNERED WITH COUNCIL ON FOUNDATIONS, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NONPROFITS, AND UNITED PHILANTHROPY FORUM TO RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT HARMFUL PROPOSALS IN THE HOUSE BILL. TOGETHER, THE ORGANIZATIONS LED A SIGN-ON LETTER FROM MORE THAN 2,000 NONPROFITS IN ALL 50 STATES URGING CONGRESS TO REMOVE PROVISIONS THAT WOULD HARM NONPROFITS AND PHILANTHROPY.INDEPENDENT SECTOR ALSO COMMISSIONED RESEARCH ON TWO PROPOSED LIMITS TO CHARITABLE GIVING INCENTIVES A 35% CAP ON ITEMIZED DEDUCTIONS FOR HIGH-INCOME TAXPAYERS AND A 1% FLOOR ON CORPORATE CHARITABLE DEDUCTIONS. THE ANALYSIS FOUND BOTH POLICIES WOULD REDUCE CHARITABLE GIVING FAR MORE THAN THEY WOULD GENERATE IN FEDERAL REVENUE. WHILE INDEPENDENT SECTOR OPPOSED THE FINAL LEGISLATION, ADVOCACY EFFORTS HELPED PREVENT SEVERAL DAMAGING PROVISIONS FROM BECOMING LAW, INCLUDING AN INCREASE TO THE PRIVATE FOUNDATION EXCISE TAX, THE RETURN OF THE "PARKING LOT TAX, AND LANGUAGE ALLOWING THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT TO REVOKE NONPROFIT TAX-EXEMPT STATUS WITHOUT ADEQUATE TRANSPARENCY OR DUE PROCESS.NONPROFITS CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE ECONOMY AND PAY AN ESTIMATED $75 BILLION ANNUALLY IN FEDERAL PAYROLL TAXES, YET THEY ARE EXCLUDED FROM MANY EMPLOYER TAX INCENTIVES AVAILABLE TO FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES. IN JULY 2025, INDEPENDENT SECTOR WORKED WITH BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO INTRODUCE THE SMALL NONPROFIT RETIREMENT SECURITY ACT, WHICH WOULD EXTEND RETIREMENT-PLAN TAX CREDITS TO SMALL NONPROFIT EMPLOYERS. "NONPROFIT WORKERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN SERVING A MISSION-ORIENTED ORGANIZATION AND SECURING THEIR OWN RETIREMENT," DR. WATKINS SAID. "YOUR LEGISLATION WOULD STRENGTHEN THE NONPROFIT WORKFORCE NOW AND IN THE YEARS TO COME."INDEPENDENT SECTOR CONTINUED TO EQUIP NONPROFITS WITH TOOLS, RESEARCH, AND DATA TO STRENGTHEN ADVOCACY AND ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS. IN 2025, WE EXPANDED OUR POLICY TRACKERS COVERING FEDERAL LEGISLATION, LITIGATION, AND EXECUTIVE ACTIONS; SUPPORTED COLLABORATION THROUGH THE NONPROFIT COALITION CONNECTION; AND ENHANCED OUR NONPROFIT STATE PROFILES WITH NEW DATA ON GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND WORKFORCE FINANCIAL INSECURITY. THE PROFILES PROVIDE STATE-BY-STATE DATA FROM THE IRS, BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, CENSUS BUREAU, AMERICORPS, AND INDEPENDENT SECTOR RESEARCH TO HELP ORGANIZATIONS DEMONSTRATE THE NONPROFIT SECTOR'S IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES AND THE U.S. ECONOMY.
  Expenses $2,694,182 · grants $25,000
• CAPACITY BUILDING:IN 2025, INDEPENDENT SECTOR ESTABLISHED THE NATION'S FIRST CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON THE NONPROFIT WORKFORCE TO STRENGTHEN THE EFFECTIVENESS, SUSTAINABILITY, AND EQUITY OF THE CHARITABLE SECTOR. THE CENTER WAS CREATED TO SUPPORT THE NATION'S 1.9 MILLION CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND APPROXIMATELY 13 MILLION NONPROFIT EMPLOYEES, RECOGNIZING THAT A STRONG WORKFORCE INCLUDING SALARIED STAFF, STIPEND-SUPPORTED LEADERS, AND VOLUNTEERS IS ESSENTIAL TO MISSION DELIVERY AND PUBLIC TRUST.THE CENTER WILL ADVANCE INDEPENDENT SECTOR'S MISSION BY BUILDING NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WORKFORCE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, LEARNING, AND COLLABORATION ACROSS THE CHARITABLE SECTOR. ITS WORK WILL FOCUS ON IMPROVING WORKFORCE CAPACITY, LEADERSHIP READINESS, AND LONG-TERM SECTOR RESILIENCE.IN ITS INAUGURAL YEAR, THE CENTER LAUNCHED PILOT INITIATIVES ACROSS THREE WORKFORCE SEGMENTS SALARIED STAFF, STIPENDED LEADERS, AND VOLUNTEERS SERVING CURRENT AND EMERGING LEADERS AT MULTIPLE CAREER STAGES. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDED:- LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE THAT STRENGTHENED PEER LEARNING, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND CROSS-ORGANIZATIONAL COLLABORATION AMONG NONPROFIT PROFESSIONALS. - THE STUDENT LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, WHICH SUPPORTS STUDENTS PURSUING NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP CREDENTIALS WHILE STRENGTHENING THE SECTOR'S FUTURE TALENT PIPELINE. - THE FIRST NATIONAL STRATEGIC VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT ADVISORY BOARD, ELEVATING VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP AS A CORE WORKFORCE STRATEGY AND ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES FOR ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS NATIONWIDE. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, INDEPENDENT SECTOR:- BUILT A COORDINATED NATIONAL PLATFORM FOR NONPROFIT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS PAID, STIPEND-SUPPORTED, AND VOLUNTEER ROLES. - STRENGTHENED LEADERSHIP PIPELINES AND PROFESSIONAL READINESS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE NONPROFIT LEADERS. - ADVANCED SECTOR-WIDE LEARNING AND ALIGNMENT AROUND WORKFORCE PRACTICES THAT SUPPORT EQUITY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND SUSTAINABILITY. BY INVESTING IN WORKFORCE LEADERSHIP, VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT AT A NATIONAL SCALE, THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON THE NONPROFIT WORKFORCE ADVANCES INDEPENDENT SECTOR'S MISSION TO STRENGTHEN THE CHARITABLE SECTOR AS A RESILIENT ECOSYSTEM CAPABLE OF MEETING COMMUNITY NEEDS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
  Expenses $2,178,101 · revenue $352,014
• RESEARCH:INDEPENDENT SECTOR IDENTIFIES AND INFORMS SECTOR ISSUES THROUGH RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, CROSS-SECTOR DIALOGUE, AND COMMUNICATION. OUR RESEARCH IS THE FOUNDATION TO DRIVE STRUCTURAL CHANGE THROUGH THE FEDERAL POLICYMAKING PROCESS, AND TO DEVELOP STANDARDS OF PRACTICE, TOOLS AND TRAINING TO EMPOWER ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR LEADERS. INDEPENDENT SECTOR ANALYZES AND SHARES INSIGHTS ON FOUR CORE DIMENSIONS OF THE CHARITABLE SECTOR'S HEALTH: FINANCES, WORKFORCE, PUBLIC TRUST AND GOVERNANCE, AND POLICY ADVOCACY. THESE FINDINGS ARE COMPILED IN THE ANNUAL HEALTH OF THE U.S. NONPROFIT SECTOR REPORT, RELEASED IN DECEMBER 2025, AND USED TO INFORM POLICY AND PRACTICE INTERVENTIONS THAT STRENGTHEN THE SECTOR. IN 2025, INDEPENDENT SECTOR CONDUCTED ITS SIXTH ANNUAL SURVEY ON PUBLIC TRUST IN NONPROFITS AND PHILANTHROPY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EDELMAN DATA & INTELLIGENCE. THE SURVEY FOUND THAT NONPROFITS REMAIN THE MOST TRUSTED SECTOR IN AMERICAN SOCIETY, EVEN AS TRUST IN OTHER SECTORS HAS DECLINED.IN APRIL DURING NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK, INDEPENDENT SECTOR AND THE DO GOOD INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND ANNOUNCED THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF VOLUNTEER HOUR. THE 2025 VALUE OF VOLUNTEER TIME, BASED ON 2024 DATA, WAS $34.79 PER HOUR.WHILE THE ESTIMATED VALUE IN NO WAY REFLECTS THE MANY INTANGIBLE BENEFITS PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEERS, IT ILLUSTRATES THE VALUABLE AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS VOLUNTEERS MAKE 365 DAYS A YEAR TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES.
  Expenses $1,528,761
• COMMUNICATIONS:COMMUNICATIONS AT INDEPENDENT SECTOR FOCUSES ON INCREASING AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF OUR MISSION TO STRENGTHEN AND PRESERVE A CHARITABLE SECTOR THAT IS HEALTHY, TRUSTED, AND EQUITABLE, AND CAPABLE OF HELPING ALL PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES THRIVE. GUIDED BY DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS, OUR COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES ARE DESIGNED TO REACH BROAD AND DIVERSE AUDIENCES WHILE EXPANDING INDEPENDENT SECTOR'S VISIBILITY, INFLUENCE, MEDIA REACH, AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT. THROUGH STRATEGIC PROMOTION OF OUR PUBLIC POLICY, RESEARCH, PROGRAMS, AND MEMBERSHIP INITIATIVES, WE HELP MEMBERS, PARTNERS, AND POLICYMAKERS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE VALUE AND IMPACT OF THE NONPROFIT SECTOR. ANALYTICS AND AUDIENCE INSIGHTS INFORM OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS, ENABLING US TO COMMUNICATE MORE EFFECTIVELY HOW INDEPENDENT SECTOR'S WORK SUPPORTS ORGANIZATIONS IN ADVANCING THEIR MISSIONS AND INCREASING THEIR IMPACT.
  Expenses $1,591,382
• MEMBERSHIP:MEMBERSHIP AT INDEPENDENT SECTOR PROVIDES FULL ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET, COLLABORATE WITH, AND LEARN FROM FELLOW CHANGEMAKERS AND THOUGHT LEADERS THROUGH INDEPENDENT SECTOR EVENTS AND CONVENINGS; VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON. MEMBERS HEAR DIRECTLY FROM POLICY AND OTHER CHARITABLE SECTOR EXPERTS ON ISSUES IMPACTING THE SECTOR AND INCREASE INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THROUGH WEBINARS AND WORKSHOPS. THE IS MASTERCLASS SERIES, MEMBER PORTAL, MEMBER HUDDLES, MONTHLY POLICY UPDATE, AND CURATED VIRTUAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WERE DESIGNED TO AMPLIFY THE IMPACT OF INDIVIDUAL NONPROFITS AND FOUNDATIONS THROUGH SHARED CONCEPTS AND BEST PRACTICES. THIS "VITAL MEETING GROUND" PROPELLED THE COLLABORATIVE VALUE CREATION (CVC) FRAMEWORK HELPING ORGANIZATIONS MOVE BEYOND SIMPLE COOPERATION AND CONCEPT TO ACHIEVE SYSTEMIC, LARGE-SCALE IMPACT AS ACTIVE ADVOCATES WHO ARE TRUSTED AND WELL GOVERNED, FINANCIALLY ROBUST WITH A THRIVING WORKFORCE. UNDER THE REVISED ENGAGEMENT CONTINUUM 29% MORE IS MEMBERS HAVE MOVED FROM PROMOTING (VALIDATORS OF ASSOCIATION CONTENT AND MISSION) TO ACTIVELY CREATING (E.G. SESSION PROPOSALS AND SURVEYS) AND EVEN SERVING (AD-HOC, MICRO, COMMITTEE OR TASK FORCE ASSIGNMENTS) IN THE MEMBER JOURNEY AND THEIR IMPACT TO CIVIL SOCIETY.
  Expenses $477,520

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

52-1081024

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

1977

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking foundations (T500)

Assets (IRS master file)

$22,152,555

Income (IRS master file)

$11,985,784

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 52-1081024).

Questions about INDEPENDENT SECTOR

What is the EIN of INDEPENDENT SECTOR?

The employer identification number (EIN) of INDEPENDENT SECTOR is 52-1081024.

Is INDEPENDENT SECTOR tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1977.

Are donations to INDEPENDENT SECTOR tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does INDEPENDENT SECTOR file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of INDEPENDENT SECTOR due?

The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did INDEPENDENT SECTOR last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.

Who is the principal officer of INDEPENDENT SECTOR?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names DR AKILAH WATKINS.

Who are the officers and directors of INDEPENDENT SECTOR?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 25 people; 11 received compensation from the organization, the highest $694,133 (AKILAH WATKINS, PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER).

How much revenue does INDEPENDENT SECTOR have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $11,075,060, expenses of $11,026,617 and total assets of $22,152,555 at year end.

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