Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL OHIO IS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES, PROMOTE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ENCOURAGE A LIFETIME OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME.
- Income
- $5.7 million
- Spending
- $5.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 6.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 69%
- Employees
- 25
- Volunteers
- 606
- Highest pay
- $131,856, vp
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 88 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 92 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $4.7 million spent. THE DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL OHIO IS THE LEADING SOURCE OF INFORMATION, SUPPORT, AND REFERRAL ASSISTANCE TO OVER 5,000 MEMBERS THROUGHOUT 23 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL OHIO. OUR SERVICES CAN BE DIVIDED INTO THREE CORE AREAS: SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK WITH THEM. SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS INCLUDE SCHOLARSHIPS THAT PROMOTE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SUMMER LEARNING ACADEMY, AND ICAN BIKE CAMP. FAMILIES BENEFIT FROM FIRST CONNECT, DSACO'S PARENT MENTORING PROGRAM, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY RESOURCE GROUPS, WORKSHOPS AND SOCIAL EVENTS. COMMUNITY PROFESSIONALS ARE PROVIDED EDUCATION AND MEDICAL MATERIALS THROUGH DSACO'S DS MEDICAL EDGE PROGRAM THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR INCLUSION BEST-PRACTICES. DSACO ALSO PROVIDES LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY AND WORKS TO STRENGTHEN LAWS THAT PROTECT THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. THE DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL OHIO IS THE LEADING SOURCE OF INFORMATION, SUPPORT, AND REFERRAL ASSISTANCE TO OVER 5,000 MEMBERS THROUGHOUT 23 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL OHIO. OUR SERVICES CAN BE DIVIDED INTO THREE CORE AREAS: SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK WITH THEM. SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS INCLUDE SCHOLARSHIPS THAT PROMOTE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SUMMER LEARNING ACADEMY, AND ICAN BIKE CAMP. FAMILIES BENEFIT FROM FIRST CONNECT, DSACO'S PARENT MENTORING PROGRAM, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY RESOURCE GROUPS, WORKSHOPS AND SOCIAL EVENTS. COMMUNITY PROFESSIONALS ARE PROVIDED EDUCATION AND MEDICAL MATERIALS THROUGH DSACO'S DS MEDICAL EDGE PROGRAM THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR INCLUSION BEST-PRACTICES. DSACO ALSO PROVIDES LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY AND WORKS TO STRENGTHEN LAWS THAT PROTECT THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1990.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
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