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Activating Change Inc

EIN 88-0922290 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO END VICTIMIZATION, CRIMINALIZATION, INCARCERATION, AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND DEAF PEOPLE. ACTIVATING CHANGE FOSTERS ALIGNMENT, BUILDS CAPACITY, AND SUPPORTS GREATER COORDINATION ACROSS SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS TO REALIZE ITS GOALS OF FREEDOM AND HEALING - NOT HARM AND PUNISHMENT - FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND DEAF PEOPLE.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 75%
Employees
30
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$663,165, chair

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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 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 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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. $1.7 million spent. CREATING PATHWAYS TO HEALING: THIS YEAR, WE SUPPORTED 40 MULTIDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY PROVIDING SUSTAINED ASSISTANCE TO REDESIGN LOCAL RESPONSES TO SURVIVORS WITH DISABILITIES. WE TRAINED 2,830 PROFESSIONALS AND DELIVERED 832 HIGH-TOUCH CONSULTATIONS TO HELP FRONTLINE ADVOCATES RESPOND TO SURVIVORS' COMPLEX NEEDS. WE ALSO DEVELOPED TRAUMA-INFORMED TOOLS AND GUIDANCE ON FORENSIC INTERVIEWING, TRAFFICKING, AND BARRIER REMOVAL. THIS BODY OF WORK IS SHIFTING HOW THE FIELD UNDERSTANDS AND RESPONDS TO SURVIVORS WITH DISABILITIES.
  2. $982,817 spent. EXPANDING DEAF SERVICES AND ADVOCACY: WE TRAINED 291 DEAF ADVOCATES AND DELIVERED 128 TAILORED CONSULTATIONS ROOTED IN LANGUAGE JUSTICE AND HEALING. WE SUPPORTED 116 HEARING PROVIDERS TO BECOME MORE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND TRAUMA INFORMED. MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, WE FACILITATED ASL INTERPRETATION FOR MORE THAN 80 VICTIM SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS REMOVING A CRITICAL ACCESS BARRIER AND EXPANDING DEAF SURVIVORS' ABILITY TO RECEIVE SERVICES. WE ALSO LAID THE FOUNDATION BOTH IN DESIGN AND PARTNERSHIPS TO ESTABLISH A NEW, NATIONAL "FOR DEAF, BY DEAF" VICTIM SERVICES PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE VIRTUAL CRISIS INTERVENTION AND LONG-TERM ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT TO DEAF VICTIMS WHO LIVE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IN COMMUNITIES WITHOUT IN-PERSON DEAF SERVICES.
  3. $633,749 spent. ENDING CRIMINALIZATION AND INCARCERATION: THROUGH OUR DEFENDING ACCESS INITIATIVE, WE EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS AND DEEPENED ENGAGEMENT IN THE PUBLIC DEFENSE SPACE. WE PRESENTED AT TWO IN-PERSON NATIONAL CONFERENCES, DELIVERED 13 TRAININGS ACROSS FOUR STATES REACHING OVER 400 JUSTICE SYSTEM PROFESSIONALS, AND HOSTED A VIRTUAL EVENT ALONGSIDE THE RELEASE OF A CO-AUTHORED WHITE PAPER ON THE OVERREPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND DEAF PEOPLE IN LOCAL CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEMS. IN SUMMER 2025, WE RELEASED TWO PRACTICAL TOOLKITS, DEFENDING ACCESS AND SUPPORTING ACCESS, PROVIDING POLICY CONSIDERATIONS TO GET STARTED, STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE, AND SAMPLE ACCOMMODATIONS, MODIFICATIONS, AND ADJUSTMENTS FOR ATTORNEYS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. WE ESTABLISHED A DIRECTLY IMPACTED ADVISORY COUNCIL COMPOSED OF SYSTEM-IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO GUIDE THIS WORK.
  4. $69,860 spent. HEALING BEHIND AND BEYOND BARSWE CONTINUED OUR LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT AND WORK TO PROMOTE SEXUAL SAFETY BEHIND BARS. OUR WORK ENCOMPASSED MULTIPLE EFFORTS AND STRATEGIES TO ENSURE MEANINGFUL COMPLIANCE WITH THE PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT (PREA) STANDARDS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SUPPORTING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS FOR INCARCERATED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND DEAF PEOPLE. WE PROVIDED SITE-BASED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND COACHING SUPPORT TO 7 LOCAL CONFINEMENT FACILITIES (ADULT JAILS, LOCKUPS, AND COMMUNITY CONFINEMENT FACILITIES). WE ALSO DEVELOPED RESOURCES AND PROVIDED TRAINING TO CORRECTIONS PRACTITIONERS WORKING IN ADULT PRISONS AND JAILS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2023.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.