Nonprofit · EIN 52-1891697
INDEPENDENCE NOW INC
Tax-exempt · SILVER SPRING, MD 20904
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2025 | 990 | $1,679,419 | $1,684,358 | -$4,939 | $1,522,012 | $230,649 | $1,291,363 |
| September 30, 2024 | 990 | $1,712,553 | $1,616,279 | $96,274 | $1,662,747 | $346,263 | $1,316,484 |
| September 30, 2023 | 990 | $1,502,909 | $1,486,316 | $16,593 | $1,542,194 | $364,664 | $1,177,530 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $1,203,002
- of which government grants
- $1,156,516
- Program service revenue
- $408,501
- Investment income
- $67,840
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $44,625
- Other revenue
- $76
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $47,554
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $135,235
- Other salaries and wages
- $890,655
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,150,475
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $3,971
- Accounting fees
- $137,239
- Occupancy
- $120,043
- Travel
- $27,113
- Depreciation
- $4,469
- Program services (functional)
- $1,331,923
- Management and general (functional)
- $352,435
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $1,662,747
- Total assets, end of year
- $1,522,012
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $230,649
- Net assets, end of year
- $1,291,363
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $4,650
- Publicly traded securities
- $830,091
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $1,263,386
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $27,977
- Gross receipts
- $1,784,794
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 8
- Year formed
- 1994
- State of legal domicile
- MD
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 September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diane Palmer | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $38,349 | $4,957 |
| Jamie Freeny | President Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Cindy Buddington | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Donna Herring | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Kim Allen | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Joe Aukward | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Miriam Ruttenberg | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Kisha Stover | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Robert Watson | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Basehart | Executive Director (Oct-Dec) Officer | 40 | $104,873 | $7,676 |
| Jamie Freeny | President Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Cindy Buddington | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Donna Herring | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Kim Allen | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Joe Aukward | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Tyree Brown | Member (Left Sept 2024) Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Reggie Pratt | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Kisha Stover | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Robert Watson | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Mary Schor | Member (Left Sept 2024) Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Diane Palmer | Executive Director (Aug-Present) Officer | 40 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 10 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SARAH BASEHART | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $101,980 | $7,430 |
| ROBERT WATSON | MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CINDY BUDDINGTON | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DONNA HERRING | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMIE FREENY | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JOE AUKWARD | MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| KISHA STOVER | MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY SCHOR | MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| REGGIE PRATT | MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TYREE BROWN | MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 12301 OLD COLUMBIA PIKE STE 101, SILVER SPRING, MD 20904-1659
- In care of
- % NANCY/TODD/LARISA
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Diane Palmer, 12301 Old Columbia Pike 101, Silver Spring, MD 20904
- Signed the 990
- Diane Palmer, Executive Director
- Phone
- (301) 277-2839
- Website
- http//www.innow.org
- Return prepared by
- Aprio Advisory Group LLC
Mission
See Schedule O for DetailsIndependence Now is a Center for Independent Living serving people with disabilities throughout Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, Maryland. Our mission is to empower people with disabilities to live independently, exercise self-determination, and fully participate in community life. Staffed and governed by a majority of people with disabilities, we advance disability rights and inclusion through advocacy, independent living skills training, peer support, information and referral services, transition assistance, assistive technology, youth leadership development, and community-based supports.
Program accomplishments
- See Schedule O for DetailsDuring fiscal year 2025, Independence Now provided services and supports to 183 consumers with disabilities in Montgomery County and 210 in Prince George's County. A total of 20 cases were closed in Montgomery County, and 18 cases were closed in Prince George's County. The top three services across our service area were Information and Referral (5,802 inquiries handled), Peer counseling (236 consumers), and Independent Living skills training (173 consumers).Independent Living and Community Integration Services:Independence Now delivered information and referral services, independent living skills training, personalized assistance designed to help people with disabilities achieve greater independence and community participation. Services supported individuals in obtaining housing, employment, transportation, healthcare, assistive technology, and community resources.Transition and Supports Planning Services:The organization assisted individuals transitioning from nursing facilities and other institutional settings into community-based living arrangements. Staff provided person-centered planning, resource coordination, housing guidance, and advocacy to help individuals successfully move to and remain in the community. The Supports Planning Agency served 189 consumers. Assistive Technology and Accessibility:Through partnerships and direct service programs, Independence Now helped individuals obtain assistive technology and accessibility-related supports that increased independence at home, work, school, and in the community. Services included technology assessments, device acquisition assistance, training, and accessibility modifications.Youth Leadership and Pre-Employment Transition Services:The organization provided leadership development, independent living skills training, self-advocacy education, and transition-to-adulthood programming for youth and young adults with disabilities. These services helped participants prepare for post-secondary education, employment, community engagement, and independent living.Employment and Benefits Counseling:Independence Now provided benefits counseling and work incentive planning to 785 consumers receiving Social Security disability benefits. Services helped participants understand the impact of employment on benefits, increase financial self-sufficiency, and make informed decisions regarding education and career opportunities.Advocacy and Systems Change:As a disability-led organization, Independence Now engaged in individual and systems advocacy to improve access, equity, and inclusion for people with disabilities. The organization worked collaboratively with youth and adult consumers, government agencies, community organizations, and policymakers to promote civil rights, accessibility, and opportunities for independent living.Expenses $1,331,923 · grants $47,554 · revenue $408,501
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 September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 30, 2026 | February 15, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | September 30, 2025 | February 16, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | September 30, 2024 | February 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 52-1891697
- 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
- 1994
- Accounting year ends
- September
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Civil rights, social action and advocacy (R30)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1,522,012
- Income (IRS master file)
- $1,784,794
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | September 2025 | $1,679,419 | $1,684,358 | $1,522,012 | XML |
| 990 | September 2024 | $1,712,553 | $1,616,279 | $1,662,747 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2023 | $1,502,909 | $1,486,316 | $1,542,194 | XML |
| 990 | September 2022 | $1,446,585 | $1,454,444 | $1,276,926 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
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 52-1891697).
Questions about INDEPENDENCE NOW INC
- What is the EIN of INDEPENDENCE NOW INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of INDEPENDENCE NOW INC is 52-1891697.
- Is INDEPENDENCE NOW INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1994.
- Are donations to INDEPENDENCE NOW INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does INDEPENDENCE NOW INC 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 INDEPENDENCE NOW INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did INDEPENDENCE NOW INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of INDEPENDENCE NOW INC?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names Diane Palmer.
- Who are the officers and directors of INDEPENDENCE NOW INC?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 9 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $38,349 (Diane Palmer, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does INDEPENDENCE NOW INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,679,419, expenses of $1,684,358 and total assets of $1,522,012 at year end.
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