Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Disability Rights Mississippi

EIN 64-0666919 · Jackson, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE, PROTECT AND ADVOCATE FOR THE LEGAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND TO ASSIST THEM WITH FULL INCLUSION IN HOME, COMMUNITY, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 99%
Employees
26
Volunteers
24
Highest pay
$112,503, 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

Weak: 48 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 87% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

    12 of 12 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 (4)
  1. $420,166 spent. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, DISABILITY RIGHTS MISSISSIPPI (DRMS) BROADENED ITS INDIVIDUAL CASEWORK, STRENGTHENED SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ENHANCED OUTREACH AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND EXPANDED COLLABORATION WITH DISABILITY ADVOCACY AND SERVICE PARTNERS TO ADVANCE ITS MISSION OF PROTECTING AND PROMOTING THE RIGHTS OF MISSISSIPPIANS WITH DISABILITIES. DRMS REPRESENTED CLIENTS ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF DISABILITIES AND LEGAL ISSUES, HANDLING 159 INDIVIDUAL CASES, CONDUCTING 78 REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE REVIEWS, AND COMPLETING 450 BENEFICIARY INTERVIEWS. THE AGENCY ALSO PROVIDED DISABILITY RIGHTS INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO 662 INDIVIDUALS AND ENGAGED IN OVER 20 PROJECTS, INCLUDING COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION, TRAININGS, OUTREACH, AND SYSTEMS ADVOCACY. IN ADDITION, DRMS CONDUCTED IN-DEPTH REVIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVE PAYEES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.FISCAL YEAR 2025 WAS MARKED BY UNPRECEDENTED FUNDING CHALLENGES. AGENCY APPROPRIATIONS WERE WITHHELD FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, REQUIRING DIFFICULT OPERATIONAL DECISIONS. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DRMS HISTORY, ALL PROGRAMS TEMPORARILY CEASED ACCEPTING NEW CASES. FUNDING LIMITATIONS ALSO NECESSITATED A PAUSE IN TRAVEL, REDUCING MONITORING FREQUENCY, AND FORCED DRMS TO CLOSE OR DECLINE LITIGATION IN SEVERAL INSTANCES. DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES, THE AGENCY MAINTAINED RESPECTABLE CASE NUMBERS COMPARED TO PRIOR YEARS.THE DRMS BOARD REMAINED ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN BUDGETARY AND POLICY OVERSIGHT AND APPROVED PRIORITIES FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. THE AGENCY WELCOMED NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND SEVERAL NEW STAFF MEMBERS. DRMS EXPANDED ITS REACH THROUGH DIGITAL PLATFORMS, WITH THE WEBSITE RECEIVING 22,016 VISITS AND ITS FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND YOUTUBE CHANNELS REACHING A COMBINED 4,232 FOLLOWERS AND SUBSCRIBERS. STAFF CONDUCTED OUTREACH AS CAPACITY ALLOWED AND DISTRIBUTED APPROXIMATELY 6,000 PROMOTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. DRMS EXHIBITED AT SEVERAL CONFERENCES, SHARING INFORMATION ON AGENCY SERVICES, VOTING RIGHTS, AND SELF-ADVOCACY. STAFF PARTICIPATED IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. NOTABLY, DRMS PRESENTED A SESSION ON RIGHTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION AT THE MISSISSIPPI DISABILITY MEGACONFERENCE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 300 PARTICIPANTS.PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (PADD): - HANDLED 53 INDIVIDUAL CASES. - REPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO TRANSITION FROM FACILITIES TO THE COMMUNITY. - CONTINUED TO VISIT STATE AND PRIVATE FACILITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TO MONITOR CONDITIONS, INVESTIGATE CONCERNS, AND ASSIST WITH TRANSITIONS TO LESS RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENTS. - CONDUCTED INVESTIGATIONS OF ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT INVOLVING PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. - INVESTIGATED SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN A FACILITY.
  2. $390,167 spent. PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS (PAIMI): - HANDLED 39 INDIVIDUAL CASES. - CONTINUED TO MONITOR CONDITIONS IN STATE PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES. - SOLVED PROBLEMS AND INVESTIGATED ALLEGATIONS OF MISTREATMENT OR RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. - INVESTIGATED UNLICENSED PERSONAL CARE HOMES HOUSING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. - PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES INCARCERATED IN JAILS OR PRISONS.
  3. $277,820 spent. REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE PROGRAM: - INVESTIGATED REPRESENTATIVE PAYEES AS ASSIGNED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. - COMPLETED 78 PAYEE REVIEWS AND 450 BENEFICIARY INTERVIEWS. DURING THE COURSE OF FY2025 THE TEAM WENT BEYOND THEIR TARGETED GOAL AND COMPLETED 108% OF REVIEWS ASSIGNED.
  4. $561,555 spent. PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS (PAIR): - HANDLED 66 INDIVIDUAL CASES. - ASSISTED SEVERAL STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION TO GET CLASSROOM ACCOMMODATIONS.PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY (PAAT): - PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION AND REFERRAL PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE IN NEED OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGYPROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR BENEFICIARIES OF SOCIAL SECURITY (PABSS): - HANDLED 12 INDIVIDUAL CASES. - ADVOCATED FOR THE RIGHTS OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARIES SEEKING TO OBTAIN OR MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. - PROVIDED OUTREACH AND TRAINING ABOUT THE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE STATE, WITH A FOCUS ON WIN JOB CENTERS.PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (PATBI) - HANDLED 6 INDIVIDUAL CASES. - ADVOCATED FOR THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH TBI TO RECEIVE SERVICES IN A MORE INTEGRATED SETTING. - COLLABORATED WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION AND OTHERS WHO SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH TBI.PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR VOTING RIGHTS (PAVA) - HANDLED 1 INDIVIDUAL CASE. - INCORPORATED EDUCATION ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS AND ISSUES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGHOUT ALL OTHER WORK, INCLUDING EDUCATION TRANSITION, OUTREACH TO FACILITY RESIDENTS, AND PEOPLE IN THE GENERAL COMMUNITY. - MAINTAINED A HOTLINE NUMBER DURING ELECTIONS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO CITIZENS WHO HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VOTING PROCESS, AND CONDUCTED VOTER REGISTRATION ACTIVITIES.

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 1983.

    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.