Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development.
- Income
- $4.2 million
- Spending
- $4.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 8.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 47%
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $193,974, int. ed/dep dir
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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (5)
- $1.8 million spent. Legal Advocacy - DREDF advances the civil rights of people with disabilities through impact litigation and advocacy in courts, legislatures, and administrative agencies.In 2025, DREDF continued major litigation challenging the failure of Kaiser and California regulators to require adequate wheelchair coverage in Affordable Care Actregulated health plans. A settlement with state agencies led to adoption of a new California benchmark plan requiring meaningful wheelchair benefits, scheduled to take effect in 2027 pending federal approval, while DREDF continues to pursue individual claims against Kaiser.DREDF also continued monitoring in Armstrong v. News-om, enforcing disability rights in California prisons, with a focus on safety for people with mobility disabilities during emergencies.In education, DREDF secured an attorney fee award following its successful litigation in C.B. v. Moreno Valley Unified School District, which resulted in damages, district-wide reforms, and a precedent-setting ruling protecting disabled students from discriminatory discipline.DREDF led enforcement of Californias prohibition on discrimination against Section 8 voucher holders, filing suit against 30 Los Angeles housing providers for refusing to rent to a disabled voucher participant.DREDF educated communities on emerging threats to civil rights protections, provided statewide training and technical assistance to legal aid programs as an IOLTA Support Center, and filed 17 amicably briefs in state and federal appellate courts in FY2025.
- $557,168 spent. Child and Family Advocacy - DREDFs Parent Training and Information Center provides technical assistance and training on the rights of families and children with disabilities in special education to parents, advocates and professionals. In FY 2025, our education advocates made 2,865 contacts to families across 30 counties in Northern California, directly helping parents and students navigate the special education system and learn their rights in the IEP process. DREDFs education advocates also presented 36 trainings and conducted outreach at 19 events across Northern California. Notably, DREDF kicked off a new, recorded training series, Special Education Academy, that walks attendees through the special education process and can be accessed on DREDFs YouTube channel afterward. The topics of DREDFs additional trainings ranged from supporting foster youth in special education, supporting tribal children with IEPs, learning the basics of special education rights and the IEP process, understanding disability accommodations in post-secondary education, and supporting related professionals as experts in the IEP process. The education advocates also attended several county educational fairs and resource fairs aimed at special education families to increase awareness of DREDFs resources and support for families across Northern California who seek assistance in understanding their rights under special education law.
- $506,962 spent. National Disability Policy and Research - DREDF conducts research, monitors public policy, and provides technical assistance on issues affecting people with disabilities. We advocate for disability civil and human rights in coalition with disability, civil rights, and community organizations, particularly where disability intersects with race, ethnicity, gender, LGBTQ+ status, and immigration status.In 2025, DREDF was deeply engaged in defending federal programs critical to people with disabilities, including Medicaid, health insurance, food assistance, special education, fair housing, accessible transportation and infrastructure, and civil rights enforcement. We issued public alerts and plain-language guidance, mobilized constituents, amplified partner advocacy, submitted comments to Congress, and participated in Hill visits to protect funding and inclusive policies relied on by Californians with disabilities.DREDF also produced policy papers on key issues, including source-of-income discrimination in housing, emerging strategies in Olmsted litigation to expand accessible housing, and the safety and accessibility needs of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled communities in autonomous vehicle transportation.Our advocacy continued on reproductive justice and family integrity for people with disabilities, including protecting the right to marry, raise children, and retain access to health care and community supports. We also expanded work on artificial intelligence and disability bias, tracking federal efforts to preempt state regulation and engaging advocates and people with disabilities to develop strategies to identify and address discriminatory impacts of AI, and to equip legal services and community advocates to respond effectively.
- $102,147 spent. Media - DREDF continues to expand its strategic communications efforts to enhance outreach across traditional and social media, elevating disability civil rights. This year, DREDF responded to over 80 press inquiries. In February 2025, DREDF experienced a massive increase in page views and followers due to its coverage of a case that threatened Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. DREDF has over 43,000 followers on social media, over 18,000 subscribers to its email list, and its website averages 1,000 daily page views. During FY 2025, the website had 920,000 views.
- $71,438 spent. Public Education & Technical Assistance - DREDF continues to prioritize theaccessibility of its materials when it amplifies key disability issues through itspartnership with the California Office of Community Partnerships and StrategicCommunications (OCPSC). DREDF serves as a trusted messenger of OCPSC to Californianswith disabilities. DREDF conducted trainings and provided technical assistance ondisability access and inclusion to community-based organizations throughoutCalifornia, building the capacity of over 600 community workers to effectivelyserve and support disabled people and their families.
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
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 September 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 February 1981.
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.