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Disability Voices United

EIN 82-1243094 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Disability Voices United is directed by and for people with disabilities and their family members. We advocate for choice and control over our lives, meaningful outcomes that matter to us, and systems that are equitable and accountable to us.

Income
$949,572
Spending
$962,660
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 43%
Employees
17
Volunteers
50

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 73 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2024, 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. $426,094 spent. Education and TrainingIN 2024, DISABILITY VOICES UNITED TRAINED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES,FAMILY MEMBERS AND PROFESSIONALS ON A RANGE OF TOPICS. DVU LED THE EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM TO TRAIN SELF-ADVOCATES AND FAMILY MEMBERS, PARTICULARLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, ON LEADERSHIP AND SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY SKILLS. DVU TRAINED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON CALIFORNIA'S SELF-DETERMINATION PROGRAM THROUGH BI-MONTHLY MEETINGS AND SUPPORT GROUPS. DVU ALSO LED MONTHLY MEETINGS AROUND ENSURING ACCESS TO COMMUNICATION SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE WITH COMMUNICATION DISABILITIES. FINALLY, DVU CREATED THE SUPPORTED DECISION-MAKING TRAINING AND INFORMATION CENTER.
  2. $163,760 spent. Movement BuildingIN 2024, DISABILITY VOICES UNITED ORGANIZED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND FAMILYMEMBERS AND LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR BUILDING A DISABILITY RIGHTS AND JUSTICE MOVEMENT IN CALIFORNIA. DVU LAUNCHED OUR AMBASSADOR PROGRAM AND RECRUITED DOZENS OF SELF-ADVOCATES AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO HELP PROVIDER OVERSIGHT OF REGIONAL CENTERS. DVU SPOKE AT VARIOUS COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS' MEETINGS AND ASSEMBLED DIVERSE COALITIONS REPRESENTING THE BROAD RANGE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY DISCRIMINATION AND DISPARITIES.
  3. $157,468 spent. AdvocacyIN 2024, DISABILITY VOICES UNITED EDUCATED THE PUBLIC AND ADVOCATED FOR SYSTEMICCHANGES, INCLUDING IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY IN THE REGIONAL CENTER SYSTEM. DVU SUCCESSFULLY MADE REGIONAL CENTERS SUBJECT TO THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS ACT. DVU ALSO ADVOCATED FOR ELIMINATION OF PERSISTENT RACIALAND GEOGRAPHIC DISPARITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SYSTEM AND INCREASED OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY OVER SYSTEMS THAT SERVE PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. DVU TESTIFIED BEFORE VARIOUS POLICY COMMITTEES TO CALL FOR EQUITY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
  4. $94,431 spent. Narrative ChangeIN 2024, DISABILITY VOICES UNITED LED EFFORTS TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND A RANGE OF DISABILITY ISSUES AND ELIMINATE SOCIETAL ABLEISM. DVU WORKED TO CHANGE THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF DISABILITY THROUGH OUR SELF-ADVOCATES SPEAKERS BUREAU MADE UP OF OVER 150 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHOM WE HAVE TRAINED IN PRESENTATION SKILLS. DVU ALSO APPEARED EXTENSIVELY IN THE MEDIA ON A RANGE OFDISABILITY ISSUES WITH EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE RACIAL, ETHNIC AND GEOGRAPHICDISPARITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 2017.

    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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