Official 501(c)(3) Non-Profit • Tax-Deductible Contributions • EIN 45-3658600
Our Story

About the Charity

A New Canaan public charity built on neighbor-to-neighbor care, IRS accountability, and steady support for women and families navigating life after traumatic brain injury.

Origin & History

Founded in New Canaan, Connecticut

INDEPENDENT WOMENS TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY CHARITY grew from kitchen-table conversations among neighbors who saw how sudden medical crisis—especially traumatic brain injury—could unravel a household’s finances, caregiving routines, and sense of dignity overnight. Volunteers began coordinating emergency counseling calls, meal deliveries, and quiet referrals long before the organization carried a formal name.

On May 15, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service recognized the organization as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The determination letter confirming that recognition is dated August 11, 2014 (view scanned Letter 947). From that point forward, every contribution meeting IRS guidelines has been tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Today the charity remains rooted at 24 Country Club Road in New Canaan, CT, with Principal Officer Richard Lindquist guiding mission execution, public-charity compliance, and alliances that keep relief close to the people who need it. Our motto—Recover. Empower. Thrive.—is not a slogan layered on top of the work; it is the sequence we see when a family steadies, finds practical tools, and returns to daily life with support still within reach.

Archival community gathering representing the charity’s founding era in New Canaan, CT
Archival Field Note

Early community gatherings in the New Canaan corridor shaped the charity’s preference for direct aid, clear records, and public reporting over distant campaign rhetoric.

Strategic Impact Timeline

Milestones, 2020–2026

Four measured steps that expanded capacity without abandoning the neighborhood scale of our earliest meal lines and counseling calls.

2020

Crisis Response Scale-Up

Pandemic hardship pushed emergency counseling and grocery coordination into a structured intake model, documenting every voucher and follow-up call for donor and IRS review.

2022

Skills Workshops Formalized

Weekend digital-skills labs and employer introductions became standing programs, giving caregivers and laid-off workers a reliable path back to paid work.

2024

Decade of Exemption Marked

Ten years after the May 15, 2014 IRS exemption effective date, the board restated stewardship goals: 88% program spend and public Form 990 inspection under IRC 6104.

2026

Transparency & Outreach Deepened

Leadership published clearer governance disclosures, expanded youth and senior care outreach, and strengthened alliances with food banks and first-responder liaisons across Fairfield County.

How We Work

Core Values

Five commitments that govern intake decisions, board minutes, and how we speak publicly about the people we serve.

Compassion

We meet families in crisis without judgment—whether the trigger is job loss, medical shock, or the long aftermath of a brain injury.

Integrity

Records, filings, and donor communications stay accurate. What we report to the IRS matches what we tell neighbors who fund the work.

Direct Impact

Dollars and volunteer hours prefer groceries, counseling seats, and workshop materials over administrative flourish.

Radical Transparency

EIN, principal officer, determination history, and Form 990 inspection rights are published in plain language on this site.

Community First

Program design starts with New Canaan households and local partners—not with distant marketing campaigns.

Module 1 · Financial Stewardship

Where Every Dollar Goes

We publish a simple allocation picture so donors see the work, not the fog. Form 990 returns are available for public inspection under IRC Section 6104 upon written request to admin@iwtbicharity.org.

Direct Mission Programs88%
General & Administrative8%
Fundraising4%

Targets reflect board-approved stewardship goals for the current operating year and are reviewed with Treasurer Gregory R. Patel prior to each Form 990 filing cycle. Under IRC Section 6104, our Form 990 returns are open to public inspection; request copies in writing via admin@iwtbicharity.org.

Accountability

501(c)(3) Legal Transparency

INDEPENDENT WOMENS TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY CHARITY is a United States public charity recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). The following disclosures are provided for donors, partners, and the general public:

  • Employer Identification Number (EIN): 45-3658600
  • Principal Officer: Richard Lindquist
  • Official Email: admin@iwtbicharity.org
  • Registered Address: 24 Country Club Road, New Canaan, CT 06840, USA
  • IRS Exemption Effective Date: May 15, 2014
  • Determination Letter Date: August 11, 2014 — the letter confirming 501(c)(3) status is retained in organizational records and may be referenced upon reasonable request to the principal officer.
  • Form 990 Public Inspection: Annual information returns are available for public inspection under IRC Section 6104 upon written request to admin@iwtbicharity.org.

Contributions to the charity are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donors should retain receipts for their records and consult a qualified tax advisor regarding their individual circumstances.

Next Step

Meet the People Who Steward This Work

Our board publishes roles, biographies, and governance commitments so the public can see who signs filings, watches the budget, and directs frontline programs.

View Leadership & Governance