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Avenues to Independence FY2020 filing

Tax-deductible

Park Ridge, IL501(c)(3)Since 1953EmploymentEIN 36-6008710Revenue $5.5M in FY2020

On file with the IRSavenuestoindependence.org515 Busse Hwy, 60068-3154 · Park Ridge, ILTax-exempt since Mar 1954School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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Avenues to Independence empowers adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live the lives they choose through personalized support, advocacy, and community engagement.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
86¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$161K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $232K a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
86%
of spending
Looks good: 86% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$161K
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.4 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $10K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.0M
47% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 47% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
22
of 22 voting members
Looks good: 22 of 22 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$5.5M
Spent
$5.6M
To programs
86%
Net assets
$1.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$5.5M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$5.5M
FY2021$6.0M
FY2022$7.2M
FY2023$7.4M
FY2024$8.8M
FY2025$10.2M
Expenses
$5.6M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$5.6M
FY2021$6.0M
FY2022$7.8M
FY2023$6.9M
FY2024$7.9M
FY2025$9.5M
Net assets
$1.2M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.2M
FY2021$1.2M
FY2022$510K
FY2023$1.1M
FY2024$2.0M
FY2025$2.7M

From the FY2020 Form 990 (year ending June 2020) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 1954.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

86 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 86% · $4.8M Management & general 8% · $475K Fundraising 5% · $305K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

24 people listed on the 990; $161K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2019); the FY2020 filing did not itemize Part VII
$95,399Pt VII · Sec A
Cathy McCarthy
Finance Director
$65,475Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Eric Johnson
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Peg O'Herron
Past Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Linda Buggy
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Jill Liska
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Stephen Kray’s $137K as President and CEO is at the 10th percentile of top reported officer pay among 414 $10–100M employment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Stephen Kray$137,331$91,559————
Joan Kraft$116,752$133,031$100,955———
Robert Okazaki————$120,523$95,399
Jason Clark——$118,998$119,608$25,923—
Cathy McCarthy—————$65,475

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Offers work and housing to help people with disabilities live independently.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $4.1M · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

Palwaukee Development Training

This program assists individuals with learning and improving everyday life and work skills. Approximately 125 served.

$1.9Mprogram expense
02

Community Integrated Living Arrangements

Residences designed for mildly disabled adults. Approximately 30 served.

$1.6Mprogram expense
03

Clifton house is a community living facility.

$593Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
T Rowe Price Program for Charitable Giving INCFY2025$10K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K
Grants paid · 2 grants · $1.1M · 2023–2024
Avenues to Independence FoundationIL · FY2024$873,328
Avenues to Independence FoundationIL · FY2023$272,945

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$30K
Money outPt IX
$5.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.8M
Managementcol C$475K
Fundraisingcol D$305K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$640K
Total assetsLn 16$2.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.0M
PeoplePt VI, VII
24
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a22
IndependentVI 1b22
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.9M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$35K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$30K
Total revenueLn 12$5.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$640K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$640K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.1M
Other assetsLn 15$54K
Total assetsLn 16$2.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.0M
Net assetsLn 32$1.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5117
VolunteersI 6130
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$55K$640K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.2M$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$1.6M$2.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$379K$1.0M
Net assetsLn 32$1.2M$1.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$161K$32K$91K$38K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.3M$2.9M$179K$187K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$467K$401K$30K$36K
Payroll taxesLn 10$344K$278K$34K$32K
Legal feesLn 11b$2K$107$2K$100
Accounting feesLn 11c$31K$2K$28K$2K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$194K$188K$6K$361
Office expensesLn 13$53K$35K$16K$2K
OccupancyLn 16$302K$247K$53K$2K
TravelLn 17$193K$183K$10K$360
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$18K$13K$5K$54
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$117K$117K
InsuranceLn 23$47K$45K$86$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$373K$352K$19K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$13K$12K$1K$94
Total functional expensesLn 25$5.6M$4.8M$475K$305K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $10.2M$9.5M$670K$2.7M 990 PDF
FY2024 $8.8M$7.9M$914K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $7.4M$6.9M$538K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $7.2M$7.8M−$650K$510K 990 PDF
FY2021 $6.0M$6.0M−$7K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $5.5M$5.6M−$71K$1.2M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,549,012 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,685,811$4,491,394
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $910,796$1,027,733
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $517,778$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $71,740$29,885
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,186,125$5,549,012
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $4,012,702$4,276,350
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,423,676$1,343,870
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,436,378$5,620,220
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$250,253−$71,208
Part VI · Governance 22 of 22 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body22
VI-1b Independent voting members22
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $5,549,012 across 7 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $28,421 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$2,875,794
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,615,600
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$35,252
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,491,394
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,027,733$1,027,733
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $1,464$1,464
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,027,733 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $29,885$5,549,012
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $5,620,220 across 15 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $31,800 · Management $90,727 · Fundraising $38,348$160,875
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,937,835 · Management $178,872 · Fundraising $187,495$3,304,202
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $400,867 · Management $30,307 · Fundraising $36,224$467,398
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $278,085 · Management $34,068 · Fundraising $31,722$343,875
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $107 · Management $1,778 · Fundraising $100$1,985
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $1,686 · Management $28,108 · Fundraising $1,578$31,372
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $187,749 · Management $6,184 · Fundraising $361$194,294
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $35,038 · Management $16,182 · Fundraising $2,000$53,220
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $246,683 · Management $53,312 · Fundraising $2,356$302,351
IX-17 TravelPrograms $182,564 · Management $10,323 · Fundraising $360$193,247
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $12,918 · Management $4,919 · Fundraising $54$17,891
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $116,775$116,775
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $44,839 · Management $86 · Fundraising $1,939$46,864
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $351,814 · Management $18,788 · Fundraising $2,174$372,776
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $11,553 · Management $1,448 · Fundraising $94$13,095
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,840,313 · Management $475,102 · Fundraising $304,805$5,620,220
Part X · Balance sheet $2,206,931 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $55,055$640,000
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $344,900$363,783
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,207,017$1,149,582
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $10,041$53,566
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,617,013$2,206,931
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $376,745$350,371
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payable$687,500
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,858$1,858
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $378,603$1,039,729
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,232,863$1,133,915
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $5,547$33,287
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,238,410$1,167,202
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,617,013$2,206,931
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,167,202 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,549,012
XI-2 Total expenses$5,620,220
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$71,208
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,238,410
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,167,202

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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