Center For Independence
Center For Independence (CFI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, federally designated Independent Living Center serving people with disabilities ages 14+ across eight Washington counties. It delivers free core services (advocacy, peer support, skills training, transition support) plus specialized veteran, youth, deinstitutionalization, and emergency preparedness programs funded primarily by federal ACL grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersLakewood, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Center For Independence does
Center For Independence (CFI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1981 and headquartered in Lakewood, Washington. It is federally designated as an Independent Living Center through the US Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living (ACL), serving people with disabilities ages 14 and up across eight Washington counties: Thurston, Pierce, South King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island, and San Juan. The organization operates a community-based service model in which at least 51% of board members are individuals with disabilities, applying the "Nothing About Us Without Us" principle of the national Independent Living Movement.
CFI's product surface is a service portfolio rather than a technology stack. Core offerings include Information & Referral, Independent Living Skills Training, Peer Support, Individual & Systemic Advocacy, and Transition Services. Specialized programs layer on top: Youth Transition (ages 14–24, including school-based classes), Veterans Services (long-term case management via VA and Neuro-Rehab Management referrals), Pathways to Community Living (a fee-for-service deinstitutionalization program based on the federal Money Follows the Person Medicaid model), Out & About Peer Support Groups in four cities, and an Emergency Preparedness program operated in advisory capacity with FEMA, Red Cross, and Portlight. Service delivery is one-on-one with participants, in person at offices, virtually, through school partnerships, and via community events. Technology inputs are described as generic rather than proprietary.
The revenue model is a hybrid of public funding, fee-for-service contracts, and private donations. The primary stream is recurring federal ACL grants tied to two designated service territories. Secondary streams include fee-for-service billings through the Pathways to Community Living program and tax-deductible donations from individuals and businesses. Core services are provided free of charge to qualifying participants; the organization notes it may serve counties outside its eight-county federal designation on a fee-for-service basis. The Marysville physical office closed in 2026, with North Sound services continuing via virtual, satellite, and community-based channels.
Center For Independence firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Center For Independence
- Legal name
- Center for Independence
- Website
- https://cfi-wa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Center For Independence (CFI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, federally designated Independent Living Center serving people with disabilities ages 14+ across eight Washington counties. It delivers free core services (advocacy, peer support, skills training, transition support) plus specialized veteran, youth, deinstitutionalization, and emergency preparedness programs funded primarily by federal ACL grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Center For Independence industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability and Independent Living Services
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Self-Advocacy & Self-Determination Training (EDAKANAI), College Readiness & Disability Services Transition Support (EDAKANAB), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Benefits Counseling & Financial Literacy for Transition-Age Youth (EDAKANAJ)
Keywords
Where Center For Independence is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lakewood
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Center For Independence business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Federal Government Grants: Primary funding from US Department of Health and Human Services through Administration of Community Living (ACL)
- Individual and Business Donations: Donations from individuals and businesses in communities served; 100% tax deductible
- Fee-for-Service Programs: Pathways to Community Living (PCL) program operates on fee-for-service basis for deinstitutionalization services
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free Services for Individuals with Disabilities |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Center For Independence product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Center For Independence (CFI) provides free independent living services, peer support, advocacy, and skills training to people with disabilities ages 14 and up across eight Washington State counties. Its core offerings include Information & Referral, Independent Living Skills Training, Peer Support, Individual & Systemic Advocacy, and Transition Services (Youth Transition and Deinstitutionalization), supplemented by specialized programs for veterans, emergency preparedness, and attendant care services.
Product overview
Center For Independence (CFI) is a non-profit social services organization, NOT a technology product company. It operates a unified service model focused on independent living support for people with disabilities. The organization offers Core Services (Information & Referral, Independent Living Skills Training, Peer Support, Advocacy, and Transition Services) augmented by specialized programs including Youth Transition, Veterans Services, Emergency Preparedness, Pathways to Community Living, Out & About Peer Groups, and COVID-19 Support. These services are provided free to individuals with disabilities across eight Washington State counties through federal grants and donations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Core Services Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully helped individuals transition from nursing homes to independent living
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Center For Independence
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Center For Independence technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Center For Independence partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Neuro-Rehab ManagementcoreCFI receives referrals from Neuro-Rehab Management to serve veterans who need long-term case management and independent living skills training.
- Veterans Affairs (VA)coreCFI receives referrals from the VA for veterans wanting to participate in the Veteran Directed Care program.
- FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)majorCFI serves as a disability integration advisor for FEMA, promoting emergency preparedness for people with disabilities for over 10 years.
- Red CrossmajorCFI serves as a disability integration advisor for the Red Cross, providing expertise on emergency preparedness for people with disabilities.
- PortlightminorCFI serves as a disability integration advisor for Portlight, a nonprofit focused on disaster relief for people with disabilities.
- Washington Statewide Independent Living Council (WASILC)majorCFI participates in WASILC community surveys and State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) engagement sessions to shape statewide disability policy.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Center For Independence competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Access Living: A federally designated Center for Independent Living serving the Chicago metropolitan area with independent living skills training, advocacy, and youth transition services — directly comparable to CFI's service mix and funding model.
- Community Resources for Independent Living (CRIL): An Alameda County, CA CIL delivering independent living skills training, peer support, benefits counseling, and youth transition services — closely aligned with CFI's core service portfolio and CIL funding model.
- The Independence Center: A St. Louis, MO-based CIL providing independent living skills, peer support, advocacy, and transition services for people with disabilities — directly comparable CIL serving a multi-county region through federal and state funding.
- Topeka Independent Living Resource Center (TILRC): A Kansas CIL offering independent living skills, youth transition, advocacy, and benefits navigation — directly comparable service mix and federal CIL funding structure.
- Maine Center on Independent Living (MCIL): A statewide Maine CIL providing core independent living services, advocacy, peer support, and transition programs — directly comparable scope to CFI with regional multi-county coverage funded through ACL.
- ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia: A Northern Virginia CIL providing independent living services, advocacy, and transition programs for people with disabilities — similar CIL service portfolio and regional multi-county operating model.
- Ability360: A large Arizona-based CIL operating core independent living services, youth transition programs, and disability advocacy — closely mirrors CFI's multi-program service model and federal grant structure.
Broad incumbents
- The Arc of the United States: A national nonprofit federation serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy, services, and family support; operates broader than CILs and overlaps with CFI's deinstitutionalization and independent living mission.
- National Council on Independent Living (NCIL): The national membership organization for CILs and independent living advocates; sits one level above CFI in the CIL ecosystem and influences federal policy that governs ACL funding for all CILs including CFI.
Regional players
- Disability Rights Washington: Washington State's federally funded Protection and Advocacy organization for people with disabilities; while focused on legal advocacy rather than direct services, it operates in the same Washington geography and shares participant referrals with CFI.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Center For Independence social profiles
Digital presenceCenter For Independence financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Center For Independence leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Center For Independence funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Center For Independence M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Center For Independence
What does Center For Independence do?
Center For Independence (CFI) provides free independent living services, peer support, advocacy, and skills training to people with disabilities ages 14 and up across eight Washington State counties. Its core offerings include Information & Referral, Independent Living Skills Training, Peer Support, Individual & Systemic Advocacy, and Transition Services (Youth Transition and Deinstitutionalization), supplemented by specialized programs for veterans, emergency preparedness, and attendant care services.
Is Center For Independence a public or private company?
Center For Independence is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Center For Independence founded?
Center For Independence was founded in 1981. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Center For Independence based?
Center For Independence is headquartered in Lakewood, United States, in the North America region.
How does Center For Independence make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Federal Government Grants are the primary driver. The others are individual and Business Donations and fee-for-Service Programs.
Who are Center For Independence's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Access Living, Community Resources for Independent Living (CRIL), The Independence Center, Topeka Independent Living Resource Center (TILRC), Maine Center on Independent Living (MCIL), ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia and Ability360. Broad incumbents are The Arc of the United States and National Council on Independent Living (NCIL). Disability Rights Washington is listed as a regional player.
Does Center For Independence have an API?
No public API is recorded for Center For Independence.
What industry is Center For Independence in?
Center For Independence's product category is Disability and Independent Living Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support, with a secondary code of BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support. Its NAICS code is 624120 and its SIC code is 8090.