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Living Alternatives for the Developmentally Disabled Inc

EIN 38-2213535 · Dowagiac, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE ALL LEVELS OF SUPPORT TO PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISABILITIES IN THE COMMUNITY. ALWAYS STRIVING TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL THAT WE SERVE. TO TREAT ALL PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL, MENTAL, OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WHO SUFFER FROM DEBILITATING ILLNESSES THAT PREVENT INDIVIDUALS FROM FUNCTIONING INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR GOAL IS TO OFFER THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SUPPORT SERVICES AND PROVIDE THE WIDEST RANGE OF MEANINGFUL LIFE AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

Income
$30.6 million
Spending
$29.9 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
798
Volunteers
1
Highest pay
$286,243, exec. director, pres. & se

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    1 of 3 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 September 30, 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)
  1. $25.9 million spent. DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LIVING ALTERNATIVES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED, INC. (LADD) EXERCISED OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE THE CONSISTENT DELIVERY OF HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES ACROSS ALL ORGANIZATIONAL PROGRAM SITES, INCLUDING MULTIPLE LOCATIONS REQUIRING CONTINUOUS 24-HOUR STAFFING. LADD OPERATED 66 COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE SITES AND PROVIDED SUPPORTS TO APPROXIMATELY 366 INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND MENTAL ILLNESS ACROSS FOUR COUNTIES. THE ORGANIZATION EMPLOYED AN AVERAGE OF 535 STAFF MEMBERS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD. LADD CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF DIRECT CARE WORKERS. IN RESPONSE, THE ORGANIZATION IMPLEMENTED A RANGE OF TARGETED RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STRATEGIES DESIGNED TO STABILIZE STAFFING LEVELS, REDUCE THE NUMBER OF OPEN POSITIONS, AND LIMIT THE USE OF OVERTIME. THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR, LADD MAINTAINED STRONG PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES AND HIGH LEVELS OF SATISFACTION FROM INDIVIDUALS SERVED AND THEIR LEGAL GUARDIANS. THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE RESULTS OF 49 AUDITS CONDUCTED BY EXTERNAL REGULATORY AND OVERSIGHT AGENCIES, ALL OF WHICH CONCLUDED WITH EXCELLENT OUTCOMES. IN ADDITION, ALL ORGANIZATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS REQUIRED FOR STAFF WERE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE STATEWIDE TRAINING GUIDELINE WORKGROUP (STGW), AN ENTITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN RESPONSIBLE FOR EVALUATING AND RECOMMENDING TRAINING STANDARDS FOR DIRECT SUPPORT PERSONNEL STATEWIDE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1981.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.

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