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Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

EIN 36-3379124 · Chicago, IL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE PROVIDES HOPE, HELP, SUPPORT AND EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE WITH MOOD DISORDERS.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
9.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
23
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$338,072, chief executive officer - ceo (until 12/31/25)

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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (2)
  1. $583,334 spent. EDUCATION AND INFORMATION - DBSA IS COMMITTED TO CREATING POWERFUL AND IMPACTFUL COMMUNITIES OF SHARED EXPERIENCES AND SUPPORT. WE FOCUS OUR EDUCATION EFFORTSON DISMANTLING STEREOTYPES, ENDING DISCRIMINATION, AND CHANGING THE WAY INDIVIDUALS COMMUNICATE ABOUT MOOD DISORDERS. DBSA REACHES NEARLY 2 MILLION INDIVIDUALS WITH SUPPORT, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND TOOLS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MOOD DISORDERS LEAD PRODUCTIVE AND FULFILLING LIVES. DBSA RECOGNIZES THAT THERE ARE MANY PATHS TO WELLNESS AND PROMOTES NUMEROUS TREATMENT COMPONENTS THAT ARE BENEFICIAL FOR INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF RECOVERY. PERSONAL WELLNESS TOOLS INCLUDE A WELLNESS WHEEL, WELLNESS TRACKER, AND MOOD CREW. THROUGH DBSA'S WEBSITE, OVER 1.4 MILLION INDIVIDUALS ACCESSED OUR PROGRAMS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES.
  2. $1.3 million spent. GRASS ROOTS AND PEER SERVICES - THROUGH ADVOCACY EFFORTS, DBSA AMPLIFIES THE VOICES OF THOSE LIVING WITH MOOD DISORDERS AND WORKS TOWARD SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN THE DELIVERY AND QUALITY OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE. DBSA WORKS WITH70+ AFFILIATE CHAPTERS ACROSS THE NATION, OFFERING NEARLY 400 WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS AND OTHER VITAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES. DBSA ALSO HOSTS MORE THAN 30 NATIONAL ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS WEEKLY, WITH 83% OF POST-MEETING PARTICIPANTS FEELING MORE HOPEFUL AND 81% LEARNING NEW STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING THEIR MOOD DISORDER. DBSA OPERATES A PEER SPECIALIST COURSE TO TRAIN INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MOOD DISORDERS TO PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT SERVICES AND PURSUE STATE CERTIFICATION OR CREDENTIALING. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES STRUCTURED INSTRUCTION ALIGNED WITH SAMHSA AND VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION PEER SUPPORT STANDARDS, INCLUDING ACTIVE LISTENING, MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING, AND RECOVERY ORIENTED SUPPORT. SINCE INCEPTION, MORE THAN 1,000 INDIVIDUALS HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM, STRENGTHENING THE PEER SPECIALIST WORKFORCE AND SUPPORTING ACCESS TO RECOVERY ORIENTED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

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

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 7, 2026.

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