Avenues to Independence FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Park Ridge, IL501(c)(3)Since 1953EmploymentEIN 36-6008710Revenue $6.0M in FY2021

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.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$146K 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

FY2021 · 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
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$146K
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Concern: 0.2 months of spending in cash; under 2 weeks.
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
$405K
26% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 26% 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
$6.0M
+7% vs prior year
Spent
$6.0M
To programs
83%
Net assets
$1.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$6.0M
FY2021▲ +7%
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
$6.0M
FY2021▲ +6%
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
FY2021▼ -0.6%
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 FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 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

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $5.0M Management & general 10% · $604K Fundraising 7% · $402K

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

25 people listed on the 990; $146K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
CEO Retired
$120,523Pt VII · Sec A
$25,923Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
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 · $4.3M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Palwaukee Development Training

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

$1.8Mprogram expense
02

Community Integrated Living Arrangements

Residences designed for mildly disabled adults. Approximately 30 served.

$1.8Mprogram expense
03

Clifton house is a community living facility.

$685Kprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K
Grants paid · 2 grants · $1.1M · 2023–2024

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$6.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.8M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$96K
Money outPt IX
$6.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$5.0M
Managementcol C$604K
Fundraisingcol D$402K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$83K
Total assetsLn 16$1.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$405K
PeoplePt VI, VII
25
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a22
IndependentVI 1b22
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$3.5M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$11K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$96K
Total revenueLn 12$6.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$83K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$83K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.1M
Other assetsLn 15$31K
Total assetsLn 16$1.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$405K
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$640K$83K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.1M$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$2.2M$1.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.0M$405K
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$26K$22K$2K$2K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.6M$3.0M$315K$292K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$454K$355K$61K$38K
Payroll taxesLn 10$386K$312K$38K$37K
Legal feesLn 11b$2K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$33K$32K$359
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$396K$360K$29K$8K
OccupancyLn 16$278K$229K$46K$3K
TravelLn 17$180K$175K$5K$97
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$7K$4K$2K$24
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$112K$112K
InsuranceLn 23$43K$26K$16K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$378K$319K$41K$18K
All other expensesLn 24e$42K$27K$14K$916
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.0M$5.0M$604K$402K

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 Viewing $6.0M$6.0M−$7K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $5.5M$5.6M−$71K$1.2M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,960,525 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,491,394$4,784,181
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,027,733$1,080,776
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $29,885$95,568
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,549,012$5,960,525
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 $4,276,350$4,496,737
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,343,870$1,470,822
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,620,220$5,967,559
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$71,208−$7,034
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 $5,960,525 across 7 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $65,671 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$3,507,678
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,276,503
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$11,125
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,784,181
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,080,776$1,080,776
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $29,897$29,897
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,110,673 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $65,671$5,960,525
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $5,967,559 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $21,584 · Management $2,252 · Fundraising $2,087$25,923
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $3,022,936 · Management $315,363 · Fundraising $292,345$3,630,644
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $354,954 · Management $60,620 · Fundraising $38,291$453,865
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $311,575 · Management $37,972 · Fundraising $36,758$386,305
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $2,500$2,500
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $32,177 · Fundraising $359$32,536
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $359,826 · Management $28,964 · Fundraising $7,601$396,391
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $228,746 · Management $46,229 · Fundraising $2,642$277,617
IX-17 TravelPrograms $174,840 · Management $4,933 · Fundraising $97$179,870
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $4,257 · Management $2,281 · Fundraising $24$6,562
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $112,061$112,061
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $25,632 · Management $15,577 · Fundraising $2,110$43,319
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $319,244 · Management $40,623 · Fundraising $18,498$378,365
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $26,635 · Management $14,050 · Fundraising $916$41,601
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,962,290 · Management $603,541 · Fundraising $401,728$5,967,559
Part X · Balance sheet $1,564,674 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $640,000$82,822
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $363,783$372,613
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,149,582$1,078,384
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $53,566$30,855
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,206,931$1,564,674
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $350,371$402,648
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,858$1,858
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,039,729$404,506
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,133,915$1,120,006
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $33,287$40,162
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,167,202$1,160,168
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,206,931$1,564,674
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,160,168 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,960,525
XI-2 Total expenses$5,967,559
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$7,034
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,167,202
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,160,168

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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