Independence Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 1946, the foundation supports organizations that provide services to people who do not ordinarily have access to them. The organization operates with a staff of 6-7 employees and maintains an active grantmaking program across multiple focus areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$78.1M
+5.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.5M
-3.3% YoY
Grant Count
234
-2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
-0.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Independence Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support organizations that provide services to underserved populations. Current funding priorities include:
- Arts & Culture
- Health Care (with particular emphasis on nurse-managed health care)
- Human Services (including food distribution, housing for the homeless, and services for people with disabilities)
- Legal Aid (public interest legal services)
- Reentry, Recidivism & Restorative Justice
Grantmaking
The foundation made 276 grants in 2023, with total giving of approximately $3.5–$3.7 million annually. Typical grant awards range from $490 to $166,496.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on Philadelphia and surrounding Pennsylvania counties.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $73.8 million
- Total Revenue: $4.15 million
- Total Expenses: $5.98 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $78.1 million
- Total Giving: $3.54 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $78,079,662 | $73,777,166 | $66,571,196 |
| Revenue | $8,171,196 | $4,148,973 | $3,150,026 |
| Expenses | $6,367,509 | $5,978,681 | $6,052,583 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,484,125 | $5,313,640 | $5,328,273 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,370,575 | $3,492,274 | $2,508,995 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,724,154 | $3,401,046 | $3,563,400 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Independence Foundation
Independence Foundation Grant
INDEPENDENCE FOUNDATION
Amount
US $5,000 - US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Senior Attorney Sabbaticals Fellowship Grant
INDEPENDENCE FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $25,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
The Honorable Phyllis W. Beck Public Interest Law Fellowships Grant
INDEPENDENCE FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $67,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Community Legal Services Inc ($91,343), Community Legal Services Inc ($67,000), Center for the Advocacy for the Rights & Interests of the Elderly ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1812 PRODUCTIONS INC PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $12,500 |
| 9TH STREET YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTER CHESTER, PA | FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL CORPS | $1,000 |
| ABORTION LIBERATION FUND OF PA PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,500 UNRESTRICTED, $2,500 TOWARDS LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES DIVISION | $5,000 |
| ACADEMY OF VOCAL ARTS PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| ACHIEVEABILITY PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ACT II PLAYHOUSE LTD AMBLER, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| AIDS LAW PROJECT OF PENNSYLVANIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ALBERT M GREENFIELD HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION INC PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| AL-BUSTAN SEEDS OF CULTURE PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HON PHYLLIS W BECK | BOARD CHAIR | 40 | $249,442 |
| SUSAN E SHERMAN | PRESIDENT, CEO | 40 | $353,472 |
| CATHERINE C CARR | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| DERICK DREHER | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| VIK DEWAN START 62024 | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| LOREE JONES | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| DAVID LOGAN | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| JOYCE WILKERSON | MEMBER | 2 | — |
Contact Information
- Phone: 215-985-4009
- Website: independencefoundation.org
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Independence Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to support organizations that provide services to underserved populations. Current funding priorities include: • **Arts & Culture** • **Health Care** (with particular emphasis on nurse-managed health care) • **Human Services** (including food distribution, housing for the homeless, and services for people with disabilities) • **Legal Aid** (public interest legal services) • **Reentry, Recidivism & Restorative Justice**
How do I apply for a grant from Independence Foundation?
The foundation made 276 grants in 2023, with total giving of approximately $3.5–$3.7 million annually. Typical grant awards range from $490 to $166,496. • Independence Foundation Grant • The Honorable Phyllis W. Beck Public Interest Law Fellowships • Senior Attorney Sabbaticals Fellowship • Fellowships in the Arts The foundation offers peer-led experiences, focused series, and cohort programs in addition to traditional grants.
Where does Independence Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on Philadelphia and surrounding Pennsylvania counties.
What size grants does Independence Foundation award?
In 2024, Independence Foundation awarded 234 grants totaling $3.5M — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Independence Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Independence Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Independence Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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