Advocating Change Together Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHER'S (ACT) MISSION IS TO ADVANCE "SELF ADVOCACY" WHICH, AS ITS NAME SUGGESTS, ENGAGES PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO BE IN CHARGE OF THEIR OWN DECISIONS AND TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. ACT DESCRIBES SELF-ADVOCACY AS A THREE-LEGGED STOOL. THE FIRST LEG IS THE PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT THAT SOMEONE GROWS INTO, WHERE THEY CAN SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES ADN GO FOR WHAT THEY WANT. THE SECOND LED IS UNDERSTANDING DISABILITY NOT AS A PHYSCIAL PROBLEM WITHIN THE PERSON, BUT AS A DISCRIMINATION PROBLEM WITHIN SOCIETY. THE THIRD LEG IS THE SOCIAL CHANGE MOVEMENT, WHERE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES JOIN TOGETHER (ORGANIZE) TO GET THE POWER TO CHANGE SOCIETY.
- Income
- $983,313
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 93%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $85,000, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 94% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 June 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)
- $904,841 spent. 2025 HAS BEEN A YEAR OF GROWTH, ACTION, AND SUPPORT FOR ADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHER (ACT). AS WE CONTINUE BUILDING MOMENTUM TOWARD ACT'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2029, WE REFLECT ON THE INCREDIBLE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE IN PROMOTING SELF-ADVOCACY, DISABILITY LEADERSHIP, AND COMMUNITY INCLUSION. THIS YEAR, ACT STRENGTHENED ITS COMMITMENT TO DISABILITY JUSTICE, EXPANDED THE SELF-ADVOCATES MINNESOTA (SAM) NETWORK, AND TRAINED NEW LEADERS THROUGH THE ACT OLMSTEAD ACADEMY. ONE OF OUR PROUDEST MOMENTS THIS YEAR WAS HOSTING THE 2ND ANNUAL DISABILITY PRIDE FESTIVAL IN JULY. THIS FESTIVAL BROUGHT TOGETHER SELF-ADVOCATES, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND ALLIES TO CELEBRATE DISABILITY CULTURE, AMPLIFY DISABLED VOICES, AND CONTINUE PUSHING FOR EQUITY AND INCLUSION. THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION REAFFIRMED THE POWER OF OUR MOVEMENT. IN ADDITION TO CELEBRATING OUR SUCCESSES, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN STRATEGICALLY PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE. THROUGHOUT 2025, ACT ENGAGED IN A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR OUR NEXT FIVE YEARS. THE ACT FORWARD 2025-2029 STRATEGIC PLAN OUTLINES KEY PRIORITIES, INCLUDING EXPANDING THE SELF-ADVOCACY MOVEMENT, STRENGTHENING OUR ORGANIZATIONAL FOUNDATION, AND SECURING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. THIS PLAN WILL GUIDE OUR EFFORTS AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD A STRONG, DISABILITY-LED MOVEMENT THAT WILL CARRY US INTO OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND BEYOND. AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, OUR WORK REMAINS VITAL. THE ACT TEAM AND OUR DEDICATED NETWORK OF SELF-ADVOCATES CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR POLICY CHANGE, SYSTEMIC IMPROVEMENTS, AND STRONGER COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. WE ARE PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER AND ARE EXCITED FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER IN OUR MOVEMENT. 2025 HAS BEEN A YEAR OF GROWTH, ACTION, AND SUPPORT FOR ADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHER (ACT). AS WE CONTINUE BUILDING MOMENTUM TOWARD ACT'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2029, WE REFLECT ON THE INCREDIBLE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE IN PROMOTING SELF-ADVOCACY, DISABILITY LEADERSHIP, AND COMMUNITY INCLUSION. THIS YEAR, ACT STRENGTHENED ITS COMMITMENT TO DISABILITY JUSTICE, EXPANDED THE SELF-ADVOCATES MINNESOTA (SAM) NETWORK, AND TRAINED NEW LEADERS THROUGH THE ACT OLMSTEAD ACADEMY. ONE OF OUR PROUDEST MOMENTS THIS YEAR WAS HOSTING THE 2ND ANNUAL DISABILITY PRIDE FESTIVAL IN JULY. THIS FESTIVAL BROUGHT TOGETHER SELF-ADVOCATES, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND ALLIES TO CELEBRATE DISABILITY CULTURE, AMPLIFY DISABLED VOICES, AND CONTINUE PUSHING FOR EQUITY AND INCLUSION. THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION REAFFIRMED THE POWER OF OUR MOVEMENT. IN ADDITION TO CELEBRATING OUR SUCCESSES, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN STRATEGICALLY PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE. THROUGHOUT 2025, ACT ENGAGED IN A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR OUR NEXT FIVE YEARS. THE ACT FORWARD 2025-2029 STRATEGIC PLAN OUTLINES KEY PRIORITIES, INCLUDING EXPANDING THE SELF-ADVOCACY MOVEMENT, STRENGTHENING OUR ORGANIZATIONAL FOUNDATION, AND SECURING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. THIS PLAN WILL GUIDE OUR EFFORTS AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD A STRONG, DISABILITY-LED MOVEMENT THAT WILL CARRY US INTO OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND BEYOND. AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, OUR WORK REMAINS VITAL. THE ACT TEAM AND OUR DEDICATED NETWORK OF SELF-ADVOCATES CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR POLICY CHANGE, SYSTEMIC IMPROVEMENTS, AND STRONGER COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. WE ARE PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER AND ARE EXCITED FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER IN OUR MOVEMENT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1980.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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