Independence Rising

What Independence Rising does

Independence Rising is a private nonprofit organization headquartered in Grand Island, Nebraska, designated as one of only two federally funded Independent Living Centers (ILCs) in the state. The organization, originally founded in 1993 and formerly known as the Center for Independent Living of Central Nebraska, delivers disability services across a 50-county service territory in central and western Nebraska. It serves persons with disabilities across the age span and any type of disabling condition, employing a peer-delivered model in which credentialed staff and individuals with lived disability experience provide direct support. The organization also operates specialized programs for families involved with child protective services, individuals transitioning from institutional settings, youth in transition, and families navigating behavioral health systems in Regions 1 & 2.

The service portfolio is organized into three tiers. The federally funded core comprises Living Skills Training, Advocacy, Information and Referral, Peer Mentoring and Networking, and Transition Services — the statutory ILC service set. A second tier consists of fee-for-service programs including Peer Link, Nebraska Lifespan Respite (capped at $125/client/month), FAME/Family Peer Support, Home Again Services, Equipment Rental Loan Program, Independence at Home Caregiver Services, Family Support Program Services, and Back On Track Youth Probation Family Support. Current initiatives include the Classroom to Courtroom transition program and a Functional Family Facilitator service line. Service delivery occurs across six physical office locations (Grand Island, Scottsbluff, Kearney, North Platte, Gothenburg, Chadron), in-home visits, and community-based settings.

The revenue model is a hybrid of federal grant funding (Title VII Independent Living grants), state government contracts (primarily with Nebraska DHHS for Medicaid Waiver coordination, child welfare services, and the statewide Lifespan Respite Network), fee-for-service programs, and donations. Services are offered free of charge, on a sliding fee scale, or on a fee-for-service basis depending on consumer circumstances. The organization does not have disclosed revenue, has not raised institutional capital, and operates as a community-based social services nonprofit rather than a venture-backed or equity-financed entity.

Name

Independence Rising

Legal name

Independence Rising

Website

https://irnebraska.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Independence Rising is a Nebraska-based nonprofit operating as one of two federally funded Independent Living Centers, delivering disability services, peer support, and family support programs across 50 central and western Nebraska counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Independent Living Skills Training (ADLs/IADLs) (EDAKANAG), Self-Advocacy & Self-Determination Training (EDAKANAI), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK)

Keywords

• Disability services
• Independent living
• Accessibility services
• Peer support
• Community living

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Federal Independent Living Grant Funding: Federally funded services available for persons with disabilities through Independent Living Grant funding. One of two federally funded independent living centers in Nebraska.
2. Fee-for-Service Programs: Fee-for-service programs including Peer Link, Nebraska Lifespan Respite, FAME/Family Peer Support, Home Again Services, Equipment Rental Loan Program, Independence at Home Caregiver Services, Family Support Program Services, and Back On Track Youth Probation Family Support.
3. Sliding Fee Scale Services: Services offered free of charge, on a sliding fee scale, or fee for service depending on each person's situation.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Independence Rising is a non-profit organization that provides independent living services, employment support, and accessibility services to individuals with disabilities and their families. As one of two federally funded Centers for Independent Living in Nebraska, it offers IL services, in-home supports, FAME employment assistance, peer support, and a Durable Medical Equipment loan program across central and western Nebraska.

Product overview

Independence Rising is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of disability services across 50 counties in central and western Nebraska. The organization operates two service tiers: federally funded Independent Living Grant-Funded Services (Living Skills Training, Advocacy, Information and Referral, Peer Mentoring and Networking, and Transition Services) that form the core of their mission, combined with fee-for-service programs including Peer Link, Nebraska Lifespan Respite, FAME/Family Peer Support, Home Again Services, Equipment Rental Loan Program, Independence at Home Caregiver Services, Family Support Program Services, and Back On Track Youth Probation Family Support. Additionally, they operate current initiatives like Classroom to Courtroom and a Functional Family Facilitator program. Services are provided free of charge, on a sliding fee scale, or fee-for-service depending on each individual's situation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Independent Living (IL) Services Core services provided by a federally funded Center for Independent Living, including independent living skills training, advocacy, information and referral, peer support, and transition services for individuals with disabilities and their families across central and western Nebraska.
• Minor Children Services Fee-for-service program supporting minor children with disabilities.
• In-Home Supports Fee-for-service in-home support services for individuals with disabilities who need assistance in their home environment.
• Sign Language Interpreting Fee-for-service Sign Language Interpreting services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• FAME Program Employment assistance program for individuals with disabilities, providing support to help participants find and maintain employment.
• Durable Medical Equipment Loan Program Program providing loaner durable medical equipment to individuals with disabilities in need of accessibility items.
• Functional Family Facilitator Services Family-focused disability services facilitated by Functional Family Facilitators to support families of individuals with disabilities.
• Peer Support Services Peer support services provided by Independent Living Specialists to individuals with disabilities, leveraging shared lived experience to support community living goals.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal contract with DHHS to provide services to families working with child protective services, including family support services, supervision at parent/child visitations, drug testing, and parent education. Also contracts for Aged and Disabled Medicaid Waiver services coordination.
• Nebraska Lifespan Respite NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide program administered in partnership with DHHS, providing respite care services to family caregivers. The program pays for respite services to give family caregivers a break, with services provided in the care receiver's home or caregiver-approved location.
• Home Again ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContracted provider for Home Again Services, which provides funding to consumers transitioning from institutions to community-based living for household establishment items including furnishings, dishes, beds, and deposits.
• Regional West Medical CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Acute Rehabilitation Unit at Regional West Medical Center through patient advisory council involvement, supporting seamless transitions for patients with disabilities.
• FAME - Family Peer Support ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes families in Behavioral Health Regions 1 & 2, providing peer support services to families raising children with mental health or behavioral challenges. Works collaboratively with schools, healthcare providers, and other agencies in these regions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals Nebraska: Established Nebraska nonprofit providing disability and community-based services including independent living support, vocational, and family programs. Directly comparable to Independence Rising in mission and service mix, but operates statewide and as part of the national Easterseals network, giving it greater scale and brand recognition.
• Goodwill Industries of Nebraska: Nonprofit operating employment and disability services across Nebraska, including vocational rehabilitation, job coaching, and community-based supports. Comparable in employment-focused transition services for persons with disabilities and overlapping DHHS contracting relationships.
• Envision (formerly Outlook Nebraska): Nebraska-based nonprofit serving persons who are blind or visually impaired with rehabilitation, employment, and independent living services. Comparable mission and federally funded disability service structure, with overlap in independent living skills training and transition support.
• Ability360 (Arizona): Large Center for Independent Living providing independent living, vocational, and advocacy services across a wide service area. Comparable as a federally funded CIL with a diversified service portfolio and FFS programs that Independence Rising is positioned to mirror at smaller scale.

Direct peers

• Disability Rights Nebraska: Nebraska's federally designated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system for persons with disabilities. Direct comparable in the systems advocacy and individual advocacy domains where Independence Rising competes for the same referrals and policy mandate.
• The Arc of Nebraska: Statewide disability advocacy and family support organization serving Nebraskans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable in advocacy, family support, and transition services, with overlapping referral sources from DHHS and schools.

Others

• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL): National membership organization representing Centers for Independent Living and persons with disabilities. Independence Rising participates in NCIL; comparable as the industry body that sets policy direction, advocacy priorities, and federal funding strategy for the entire CIL sector.
• Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS): State agency that is Independence Rising's largest contracting partner for Family Support, Medicaid Waiver coordination, and Lifespan Respite. Comparable as the dominant payer/funder shaping demand, contract terms, and reimbursement rates for the entire disability services ecosystem in Nebraska.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IndependenceRis
• Facebookfacebook.com/IndependenceRising
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-independent-living-of-central-nebraska

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Independence Rising