Independence Foundation
Independence Foundation is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It supports nonprofits in Philadelphia and surrounding Pennsylvania counties through unrestricted funding, with focus areas that include arts and culture, health care, human services, legal aid, and reentry, recidivism, and restorative justice.
Independence Foundation at a glance
In short: Independence Foundation gave $4.0M across 223 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 7% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,960,806
- +11.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 223
- -4.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,761
- +17.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $85,496,117
- +9.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (15 of 208, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Independence Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says organizations located in Philadelphia or surrounding Pennsylvania counties that have not previously or recently received funding may submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI); the 2025 filing describes a two-page LOI with organizational background, the amount requested, and a description of the program or services. LOIs are reviewed for consistency with current priorities, and only a very small number are likely to be invited to submit full proposals. The website says returning grantees seeking renewal will be contacted about next steps. The Foundation’s website currently says its 2026 funding has been fully allocated and it is not accepting LOIs.
- Review Cycle
- The Foundation establishes a grant cycle annually and makes decisions in cycle. Its website says LOIs are accepted on a rolling basis when open, with the beginning of the new year generally the best time for possible inclusion in current funding cycles.
- Deadline
- The Foundation establishes a grant cycle annually and makes decisions in cycle.
- Contact
Application contact: Reginald Shuford President Independ
Mailing address: 200 South Broad Street Suite 1101, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: (215) 985-4009
Website: https://independencefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Independence Foundation
Independence Foundation Grant
Independence Foundation
Amount
US $5,000 - US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Senior Attorney Sabbaticals Fellowship Grant
Independence Foundation
Amount
Up to US $25,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
The Honorable Phyllis W. Beck Public Interest Law Fellowships Grant
Independence Foundation
Amount
Up to US $67,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Independence Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Community Legal Services Inc ($255K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($115,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,445 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,360 grants of 1,445 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation says its funding area is Philadelphia and surrounding Pennsylvania counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery. In 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania; the remaining reported shares were 1% to New York and 0% each to North Carolina, Alabama, and Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 223 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Independence Foundation open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 208 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 146% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.5M (2019) to $4.6M (2021). In 2025 it made 223 grants totaling $4.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Association of Non- Profit Organizations Harrisburg, PA | Legal clearinghouse / policy coordination, nonprofit navigatore and operating support | $200,000 |
| Community Legal Services Inc Philadelphia, PA | Public Interest Law Fellowship | $185,318 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $115,000 |
| Philadelphia Foundation Philadelphia, PA | Immigrant and refugee emergency fund, philly gives, regional food fund | $95,000 |
| Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project Philadelphia, PA | Public Interest Law Fellowship | $89,984 |
| Friends of Farmworkers Inc Philadelphia, PA | Public Interest Law Fellowship | $87,468 |
| Planned Parenthood Southeastern PA Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $81,000 |
| Pennsylvania Health Law Project Philadelphia, PA | Public Interest Law Fellowship | $80,928 |
| Pennsylvania Health Access Network Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $75,000 |
| Project Home Philadelphia, PA | Healthcare services at stephen klein wellness center / hub for hope | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Independence Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $85,496,117 | $6,883,106 | $6,199,962 | $3,960,806 | 223 | $5,704,826 | $6,543,442 | $3,902,006 |
| 2024 | $78,079,662 | $8,171,196 | $6,367,509 | $3,538,692 | 234 | $5,484,125 | $7,370,575 | $3,724,154 |
| 2023 | $73,777,166 | $4,148,973 | $5,978,681 | $3,659,419 | 241 | $5,313,640 | $3,492,274 | $3,401,046 |
| 2022 | $66,571,196 | $3,150,026 | $6,052,583 | $3,806,401 | 330 | $5,328,273 | $2,508,995 | $3,563,400 |
| 2021 | $84,695,452 | $5,495,323 | $6,549,256 | $4,572,503 | 417 | $5,928,455 | $4,860,034 | $4,025,614 |
| 2020 | $78,719,217 | $2,815,934 | $5,727,053 | $3,718,211 | 276 | — | $2,206,241 | $3,515,964 |
| 2019 | $76,132,189 | $7,127,628 | $5,689,727 | $3,494,378 | 251 | — | $6,520,690 | $3,484,214 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Independence Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.9M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated vision is for equitable, healthy, and vibrant communities across the Philadelphia region. Its funding initiatives include arts and culture, health care, human services, legal aid, and reentry, recidivism, and restorative justice.
In health care, the Foundation says it focuses on capacity-building projects at existing nurse-managed health centers; programs supporting health policy or infrastructure for nurse-managed and other safety-net providers; health care planning; and clinical, community, or educational programs to improve older adults’ health.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of its grantmaking. Community Legal Services describes its mission as fighting poverty, challenging systems that perpetuate injustice, and providing legal representation. Friends of Farmworkers says it supports low-wage workers pursuing economic and social justice through legal services, education, and advocacy. Project HOME describes its mission as helping adults, children, and families break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 223 grants totaling $3,960,806. Individual grants ranged from $500 to $200,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest listed award was $200,000 to the Pennsylvania Association of Non-Profit Organizations for legal clearinghouse and policy coordination, Nonprofit Navigator, and operating support. Other notable grants included $185,318 to Community Legal Services for a public interest law fellowship; $95,000 to Philadelphia Foundation for the Immigrant and Refugee Emergency Fund, Philly Gives, and Regional Food Fund; and $89,984 to Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project for a public interest law fellowship.
The Foundation also supports fellowship programs. The Honorable Phyllis W. Beck Public Interest Law Fellowships support law school graduates employed by local organizations providing free legal services to underserved communities; the listed award range is up to $67,000. The Senior Attorney Sabbaticals Fellowship offers a two-month sabbatical for senior attorneys in public interest law, with a listed award range up to $25,000. These are fellowship programs, distinct from the Foundation’s grants to nonprofit organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Reginald Shuford as president and CEO, Catherine C. Carr as vice president, and Derick Dreher as secretary. It also lists Vik Dewan, Loree Jones, David Logan, and Joyce Wilkerson as members. Susan E. Sherman Severence is listed as former president and CEO.
Independence Foundation is led by Reginald Shuford, President & CEO on the 2025 filing; 2 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Reginald Shuford
President & CEO
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$226K (2025)
Susan E. Sherman Severence
Former President & CEO
New on the 2025 filing
$178K (2025)
Catherine C. Carr
Vice President
Secretary → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Derick Dreher
Secretary
Assistant Secretary → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Loree Jones
Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Logan
Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joyce Wilkerson
Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vik Dewan
Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Phyllis W. Beck (2019–2024) — Board Chair
- Former: Susan E. Sherman (2019–2024) — President & CEO
- Former: Vik Dewan Start (2024) — Member
- Former: Andre L. Dennis Esquire (2019–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Barton M. Silverman (2019–2022) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $226K, to Reginald Shuford (President, CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Independence Foundation
How much does Independence Foundation give each year?
Independence Foundation gave $4.0M across 223 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.5M across 234 grants.
What is Independence Foundation's typical grant size?
Independence Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,761, across 223 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Independence Foundation that year got $25K on average.
Where does Independence Foundation give grants?
Independence Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (158 grants), West Chester, PA (5 grants), Chester, PA (5 grants) and Norristown, PA (4 grants).
Does Independence Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of Independence Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (167 of 223) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Public Interest Law Fellowship" (8 grants).
Who are Independence Foundation's largest grantees?
Independence Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Community Legal Services Inc ($255,318 across 3 grants), Pennsylvania Association of Non- Profit Organizations ($200,000) and Friends of Farmworkers Inc ($102,468 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($115,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Independence Foundation?
Independence Foundation reported $85.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Independence Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated vision is for equitable, healthy, and vibrant communities across the Philadelphia region. Its funding initiatives include arts and culture, health care, human services, legal aid, and reentry, recidivism, and restorative justice. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Independence Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Independence Foundation's EIN?
Independence Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-1352110. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Independence Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 27, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Independence Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Independence Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/independence-foundation-morg_b6d7999a910844fc96c282185037faf6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_231352110_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Independence Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/independence-foundation-morg_b6d7999a910844fc96c282185037faf6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Independence Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Independence Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?