Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Disability Rights Iowa

EIN 42-1235407 · Des Moines, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE THROUGH ALL RESOURCES THE HUMAN AND LEGAL RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. DISABILITY RIGHTS IOWA PROVIDES FREE LEGAL AND NON-LEGAL ADVOCACY ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, DISABILITIES AND CERTAIN SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARIES.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 75%
Employees
23
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$135,812, executive director

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

Good: 83 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 (10)
  1. $436,999 spent. DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES - PROVIDES ADVOCACY TO REMEDY ABUSE OR NEGLECT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND ASSISTANCE ACCESSING ENTITLEMENTS AND SERVICES (E.G., SPECIAL EDUCATION, DAY PROGRAMS, AND RESIDENTIAL SERVICES). A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY IS A SEVERE PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, OR EMOTIONAL IMPAIRMENT THAT BEGINS BEFORE AGE 22, LIKELY TO CONTINUE INDEFINITELY, AND INTERFERES WITH THREE OR MORE MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITIES.
  2. $375,641 spent. MENTAL HEALTH - PROVIDES ADVOCACY TO REMEDY ABUSE OR NEGLECT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF CERTAIN CARE AND TREATMENT FACILITIES (E.G., MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTES, NURSING FACILITIES, COMMUNITY HOSPITALS, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, AND MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN) OR IN HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED SETTINGS. LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO PROTECT RIGHTS AND ADVOCATE FOR SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, LIVING IN FACILITIES OR THE COMMUNITY AND EVEN IN THEIR HOMES.
  3. $237,558 spent. WORK INCENTIVES PLANNING AND ASSISTANCE (WIPA) - THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA) TO PROVIDE BENEFITS PLANNING AND ASSISTANCE TO SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARIES
  4. $230,936 spent. PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE THE PROGRAM WAS FORMED TO MITIGATE THE RISK OF ORGANIZATIONAL FRAUD AND ABUSE TO BENEFICIARIES WHOSE REPRESENTATIVE PAYEES ARE ALSO THEIR EMPLOYERS BY CONDUCTING SITE REVIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE ORGANIZATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.
  5. $167,013 spent. PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS PROVIDES ADVOCACY TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PROGRAMS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND WHO REQUIRE ADVOCACY ASSISTANCE TO OVERCOME DISCRIMINATION OR BARRIERS TO LIVING INDEPENDENTLY.
  6. $121,649 spent. PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR BENEFICIARIES OF SOCIAL SECURITY THE PROGRAM ASSISTS SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARIES WHO ARE TRYING TO OBTAIN, MAINTAIN, OR REGAIN EMPLOYMENT AND PROVIDES LEGAL AND ADVOCACY ASSISTANCE WITH TICKET TO WORK ISSUES.
  7. $107,160 spent. PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY OF VOTING ACCESS FUNDED BY THE HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT OF 2002, THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO ADVANCE THE PARTICIPATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. EACH STATE MUST USE THEIR ALLOTTED MONEY BY MEANS OF TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND ASSISTANCE WITH VOTER RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, REGISTRATION, AND ELECTION DAY PROCESS.
  8. $51,615 spent. PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SERVICES TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES WITH DISABILITIES IN THE ACQUISITION, UTILIZATION OR MAINTENANCE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES OR DEVICES.
  9. $48,037 spent. PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY FUNDED BY THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH ACT OF 2000, THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. SERVICES MAY INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF (1) INFORMATION, REFERRALS, AND ADVICE; (2) INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY ADVOCACY; (3) LEGAL REPRESENTATION; AND (4) SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE IN SELF-ADVOCACY.
  10. $60,567 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, ANY ADVOCACY SERVICES THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES THAT DO NOT FALL INTO ONE PARTICULAR FEDERAL GRANT AS OUTLINED IN THE OTHER PROGRAMS ABOVE.

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 April 1985.

    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.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.