Upstream Access
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Upstream Access is a crossdisability community committed to supporting the resilience of fellow disabled people in Oregon and Southwest Washington. We celebrate disability as a culture and source of creative strength. We invest our collective wisdom to advocate for positive change. We partner with allies who share our vision of equity and access in all landscapes. PROGRAM 2: Prepability Cohorts The Prepability Cohort Program is a pilot program that wll address health equity and the lack of accessible and equitable emergency preparedness trainings and resources facilitated for disabled people in a meaningful way throughout the Portland Metro area. For three months, UA wll host these community monthlyevening meetups. For consistency within communities, all three monthly meetings will have the same topic and structure:Month 1 Basic preparedness Month 2 Power planning and the importance of solarpowered for climate justice Month 3 Podmapping, stress management, and resilience. At these Prep
- Income
- $482,328
- Spending
- $346,423
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 5.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 51%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $88,623, dir of advocacy
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 251% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 258 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 December 31, 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)
- $270,411 spent. Program Descriptions Reflecting Current Year ActivityProgram: Mindful Moments-Dedicate 15 minutes to a virtual break every Monday at 7 pm, allowing yourself to breathe deeply, center your thoughts, and embrace mindfulness. This brief pause helps restore your energy and bring a sense of calm and focus to the rest of your week.Emergency Preparedness and Community Building:Program: ReadySetConnectThis is a monthly virtual meet-up for disabled people to learn how to prepare for emergencies and share resources with each other. Registered people receive an accessible resource list for all topics, articles, and resources shared during and after the virtual meet-up.Programs: Disability Resilience Collective: Building Emergency Readiness TogetherThis is a new monthly virtual statewide meet-up where organizations can come together and share resources, brainstorm new ideas, and discuss ways to strengthen emergency preparedness within the disability community. This collaborative space will focus on fostering resilience, mutual support, and proactive planning for access and inclusion before, during, and after emergencies. Together, we can buildcollective strategies to ensure the needs of disabled individuals are met in all stages of emergency readiness.Program: P-CEP ProgramUpstream Access provides Person-Centered Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) programming to help disabled people and older adults identify their individual strengths, support needs, and resources before an emergency. Through workshops, community events, and one-on-one sessions with trained P-CEP Peer Facilitators, participants develop personalized preparedness strategies based on their own lives andpriorities. The program strengthens individual and collective resilience while building social connections and increasing access to practical emergency preparedness resources.Program: Backup & Solar Power ProgramUpstream Access works to increase access to backup power and portable solar and rechargeable devices for disabled people and others who rely on electricity for health, safety, communication, mobility, and independence. The program provides individualized backup power solutions and devices such as solar or rechargeable lights, emergency radios, fans, phone chargers, and other preparedness equipment based on each persons needs. Participants receive education and hands-on support to safely use their equipment, recognizing that access to power is access to life and helping people remain safer, connected, and more independent during power outages and emergencies.Program: Statewide Emergency ResponseUpstream Access provides disability-inclusive emergency response across Oregon, working with community partners to reach disabled people and others who may face barriers accessing traditional disaster resources. During wildfires, extreme weather, power outages, and other emergencies, we mobilize supplies such as cooling and hygiene items, emergency radios, backup power, charging devices, sensoryand mental health supports, and other resources based on community needs. Our response prioritizes accessibility and individual choice, allowing people to identify the supplies and support that work best for them rather than relying on one-size-fits-all kits. We also build relationships with local organizations andemergency response partners so communities are better connected before, during, and after disasters.Program: Seasonal Preparedness & Mental Health WorkshopsUpstream Access provides seasonal preparedness and mental health resilience workshops that help disabled people prepare for extreme heat, cold weather, wildfire smoke, power outages, and other emergencies. Workshops provide practical preparedness information while creating opportunities for participants to build social connections and identify strategies that support their emotional well-beingduring stressful situations. Participants can personalize cooling, seasonal preparedness, sensory, or mental health resilience kits by choosing items that work best for their individual needs. These workshops combine practical preparedness with social connectedness to strengthen both individual and collective resilience.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2021.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.