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Society for Disability Studies

EIN 93-0880109 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak20 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SOCIETY FOR DISABILITY STUDIES (SDS) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES THE STUDY OF DISABILITY IN SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND POLITICAL CONTEXTS. DISABILITY STUDIES RECOGNIZE THAT DISABILITY IS A KEY ASPECT OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE. THE STUDY OF DISABILITY HAS IMPORTANT POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, INCLUDING BOTH DISABLED AND NON-DISABLED PEOPLE. THROUGH RESEARCH, ARTISTIC PRODUCTION, TEACHING, AND ACTIVISM, THE SOCIETY FOR DISABILITY STUDIES SEEKS TO AUGMENT UNDERSTANDING OF DISABILITY IN ALL CULTURES AND HISTORICAL PERIODS, PROMOTE GREATER AWARENESS OF THE EXPERIENCES OF DISABLED PEOPLE, AND TO ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE.

Income
$34,101
Spending
$54,026
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 58% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (4)
  1. $19,100 spent. DSQ - DSQ IS DISABILITY STUDIES QUARTERLY, AND ACADEMIC JOURNAL. THE SDS SUPPORTS THE EDITORS AND ASSISTANT EDITORS OF THE JOURNAL WITH AN ANNUAL STIPEND. THE JOURNAL IS OPEN ACCESS TO THE SCHOLARLY AND NON-SCHOLARLY COMMUNITY.
  2. $6,000 spent. WEBSITE - WEBSITE COVERS THE PAYMENTS TO OUR WEBSITE COORDINATOR, WHO MAINTAINS, UPDATES, AND PROTECTS THE PAGES ON THE SDS WEBSITE.
  3. $1,300 spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE - ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS THE SOCIETY'S ACADEMIC MEETING. COSTS COVER INTERPRETERS (SIGN LANGUAGE) AND CAPTIONING FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED.
  4. $359 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS - GENERAL PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2020 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2020.

    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 December 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 September 2021.

    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.