INDEPENDENT CENTER
Cite this
Plain text INDEPENDENT CENTER. Strategy Studio, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2023–2024. https://strategystudio.org/org/883103608. Retrieved 2026-10-18.
APA Strategy Studio. (n.d.). INDEPENDENT CENTER [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2023–2024]. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://strategystudio.org/org/883103608
MLA “INDEPENDENT CENTER.” Strategy Studio, tax years 2023–2024, https://strategystudio.org/org/883103608. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.
Retrieved 2026-10-18; covers tax years 2023–2024. Data: Strategy Studio, CC BY 4.0.
2024 · Form 990 · revenue $1.8M · expenses $1.9M · assets $339K
- EIN
- 88-3103608
- Address
- PO BOX 26141, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22313-6141
- Website
- HTTPS://WWW.INDEPENDENTCENTER.ORG
- NTEE code
- R01
- Subsection
- 501(c)(3)
- Ruling year
- 2022
- Cross-check
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Mission
INDEPENDENT CENTER PROMOTES RESEARCH AND PUBLIC POLICY THAT STRENGTHENS THE AMERICAN MERITOCRACY AND EXPANDS CHOICE IN PUBLIC POLICY.
Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).
People paid by the organization
2 people paid across every filing: current people first, then by total pay from this organization. Organizations counts every nonprofit each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Latest year pay | Total pay from here | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Brandon | SENIOR ADVISOR | 2024 | $198,607 | $198,607 | 1 |
| Lura Forcum | PRESIDENT | 2024 | $19,950 | $19,950 | 1 |
Unpaid officers and directors · 4 people
| Name | Latest title | Years | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parissa Sedghi Fornwalt | CHAIRMAN | 2023-2024 | 1 |
| Chris Marston | SECRETARY AND TREASURER | 2023-2024 | 1 |
| Giancomo Fozzati | BOARD MEMBER | 2024 | 1 |
| Doug Rice | BOARD MEMBER | 2024 | 1 |
People by year
2024 · 6 people listed · 2 paid, $219K · 7 employees · 25 volunteers
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADAM BRANDON | SENIOR ADVISOR | 40 | $198,607 | $0 | $0 | $198,607 | 1 |
| LURA FORCUM | PRESIDENT | 40 | $19,950 | $0 | $0 | $19,950 | 1 |
| PARISSA SEDGHI FORNWALT | CHAIRMAN | 2 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| CHRIS MARSTON | SECRETARY AND TREASURER | 2 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| GIANCOMO FOZZATI | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| DOUG RICE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
2023 · 2 people listed · none paid · 0 employees · 0 volunteers
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parissa Sedghi Fornwalt | Chairman | 2 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Chris Marston | Secretary and Treasurer | 2 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
Highest-paid independent contractors
2024 · 1 contractor · $349K
| Name | Location | Service | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE BULLFINCH GROUP LLC | WASHINGTON, DC | CONSULTING SERVICES | $349,170 |
Who gave
Contributor names are not public for this form type.
Public charities filing Form 990 or 990-EZ report large donors on Schedule B, but the IRS withholds their names and addresses from public copies. Private foundations (990-PF) are different: their contributors are public.
Finances
Newest first. Each filing: its name on one row, its figures on the row beneath. Greyed filings are superseded by a later return for the same period and are left out everywhere else on this page.
| Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Net assets | Contributions | Program revenue | Officer pay | Employees | Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $1,786,500 | $1,884,208 | $338,537 | $330,771 | $1,786,500 | $0 | $218,557 | 7 | 25 |
| 2023 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $607,000 | $178,521 | $428,479 | $428,479 | $607,000 | $0 | $0 | 0 | 0 |
Funders of this organization
5 grantors reported grants to this organization, $1,021,000 in all, tax years 2023 to 2024. Exact: the grantor wrote this organization's EIN. Fuzzy: the grantor wrote only a name (foundations' 990-PF has no EIN field), matched to the same or a near-identical name in the same state; the name as filed is shown. From the latest return for each grantor and year, so amended returns aren't counted twice. CSV
| Grantor | Type | Match | Years given | Grants | Total | Latest year | Latest year's amount | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VANGUARD CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT PROGRAM | DAF sponsor | Exact | 2024 | 1 | $400,000 | 2024 | $400,000 | show |
| DONORS TRUST INC | DAF sponsor | Exact | 2023-2024 | 3 | $272,000 | 2024 | $170,000 | show |
| SEARLE FREEDOM TRUST | Private foundation | Fuzzy filed as “INDEPENDENT CENTER” | 2024 | 1 | $250,000 | 2024 | $250,000 | show |
| GS DONOR ADVISED PHILANTHROPY FUND FOR WEALTH MANAGEMENT INC | DAF sponsor | Exact | 2024 | 1 | $50,000 | 2024 | $50,000 | show |
| LAURA AND JOHN ARNOLD FOUNDATION | Private foundation | Fuzzy filed as “INDEPENDENT CENTER” | 2024 | 1 | $49,000 | 2024 | $49,000 | show |
Similar organizations
Ranked without any AI: same NTEE code first, then the same NTEE group; then revenue within 2x, 5x or 10x; then the same state; then similar name and mission text. Same state only · More (100)
| Organization | State | NTEE | Latest revenue | Latest expenses | Top-paid title | Top pay | Why similar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CENTER FOR CIVIC ACTION | NM | R01 | $1,395,338 | $1,275,436 | CEO AND DIRE | $134,079 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| OHIO JUSTICE AND POLICY CENTER | OH | R01 | $1,866,325 | $1,886,383 | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | $200,528 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| ARRIBA LAS VEGAS WORKER CENTER | NV | R01 | $1,051,481 | $1,216,009 | EXECUTIVE DI | $93,500 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| CENTENNIAL STATE PROSPERITY | CO | R01 | $1,724,779 | $1,959,002 | Executive Dir. | $87,200 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| WORKERS CENTER FOR RACIAL JUSTICE NFP | IL | R01 | $2,594,018 | $2,534,856 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD AFFILIATES OF CALIFORNIA INC | CA | R01 | $3,264,344 | $3,035,867 | BOARD MEMBER / PRESIDENT & CEO | $848,046 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| INDIAN AMERICAN IMPACT | PA | R01 | $1,489,942 | $1,755,775 | President | $174,824 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| AFA ACTION INC | MS | R01 | $2,869,952 | $2,846,993 | VICE-PRESIDENT | $73,065 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| ARIZONA DREAM ACT COALITION INC | AZ | R01 | $1,237,048 | $1,147,191 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO FROM 09/01/24 | $38,456 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| STUDENTSFIRST NEW YORK INC | NY | R01 | $1,400,552 | $2,188,958 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $533,128 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| CHESAPEAKE CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK ACTION FUND INC | MD | R01 | $1,976,974 | $1,666,250 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| NORTHERN ILLINOIS RECOVERY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION | IL | R01 | $1,231,973 | $1,186,544 | Executive Director | $171,185 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| ETERNAL VIGILANCE ACTION | GA | R01 | $1,046,367 | $662,790 | CEO Director Key Employee | $150,000 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| KEEP COUNTRY FIRST POLICY ACTION INC | DC | R01 | $1,542,125 | $1,678,817 | DIRECTOR | $131,759 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| THE PATIENTS UNION | NY | R01 | $1,395,462 | $496,604 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $234,930 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION | WA | R01 | $3,115,868 | $4,204,176 | Executive Director | $144,600 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| TRANSGENDER DISTRICT COMPANY | CA | R01 | $1,419,812 | $1,603,986 | CO-EXE. DIR | $130,938 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| QUAD PROJECT INC | IL | R01 | $2,050,100 | $435,876 | President | $157,500 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| NATIONAL DIVERSITY COALITION INC | CA | R01 | $1,431,320 | $1,283,111 | PRESIDENTCEO | $120,023 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| ALL OUT ACTION FUND INC | NY | R01 | $2,559,209 | $2,972,997 | Executive Dir. | $193,894 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| MAINFRAME | ME | R01 | $1,137,000 | $753,450 | BOARD MEMBER | $0 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| REFUGEE CONGRESS | DC | R01 | $1,625,571 | $1,229,088 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $144,500 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| FLORIDA RIGHTS RESTORATION COALITION INC | FL | R01 | $2,663,631 | $5,254,733 | CHIEF OF STAFF | $161,514 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| DIASPORA ALLIANCE INC | NY | R01 | $2,589,254 | $2,044,280 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
| RESCUE THE WEST INC | TX | R01 | $2,188,374 | $2,172,928 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code R01, revenue within 2x |
Who funds organizations like this
Grantors that funded the 100 most similar organizations. Ranked by total given to them. Foundations (990-PF) and donor-advised fund sponsors only. Same matching as Funders above (by EIN, or by name for foundations).
The full list · all similar organizations
Where the money went
Every expense line on each return, biggest first: Form 990 Part IX (with its program, management and fundraising columns), 990-EZ Part I, or 990-PF Part I. Event marks lines the organization itself describes as events. “Events” in each summary adds those lines, conferences and meetings, and the direct costs of fundraising events. Unusual is not the same as improper. Many of these patterns have ordinary explanations. Check the filing.
2024 · Form 990 · $1,884,208 spent · pay $596,165 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fees: other services | $510,214 | $480,214 | - | $30,000 | 27.1% | |
| Office expenses | $486,974 | $480,677 | $6,297 | - | 25.8% | |
| Other salaries and wages | $336,149 | $235,304 | $67,230 | $33,615 | 17.8% | |
| Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees | $218,557 | $152,990 | $43,711 | $21,856 | 11.6% | |
| Advertising and promotion | $174,675 | $174,675 | - | - | 9.3% | |
| Other employee benefits | $41,459 | - | $41,459 | - | 2.2% | |
| Travel | $33,633 | $33,633 | - | - | 1.8% | |
| Fees: legal | $26,845 | $26,845 | - | - | 1.4% | |
| Fees: accounting | $20,581 | - | $20,581 | - | 1.1% | |
| Other (as described) | PROGRAM ACTIVITY | $19,580 | $19,580 | - | - | 1.0% |
| Insurance | $15,541 | - | $15,541 | - | 0.8% | |
| Total | $1,884,208 | 100% |
2023 · Form 990 · $178,521 spent · pay $0 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fees: other services | $108,450 | $108,450 | $0 | $0 | 60.7% | |
| Advertising and promotion | $40,000 | $40,000 | $0 | $0 | 22.4% | |
| Fees: management | $20,000 | $20,000 | $0 | $0 | 11.2% | |
| Fees: accounting | $10,056 | $0 | $10,056 | $0 | 5.6% | |
| Other (as described) | Bank Fees | $15 | $0 | $15 | $0 | 0.0% |
| Total | $178,521 | 100% |