Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MADD BELIEVES IN A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE IS SAFE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY. WE ARE A MOVEMENT OF CARING INDIVIDUALS WITH A SHARED PURPOSE TO END THE DANGERS OF DRUNK AND DRUGGED DRIVING, A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE THAT AFFECTS EVERY COMMUNITY. WE COMMIT TO HONOR MADD'S HISTORY AND CONTINUOUSLY EVOLVE TO SAVE LIVES IN A CHANGING WORLD. WE WILL EXPAND OUR WORK IN PREVENTION, RELENTLESSLY ADVOCATE FOR NECESSARY CHANGES, AND ENGAGE ACROSS GENERATIONS AND COMMUNITIES. WE WILL CONSISTENTLY SHOW UP FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS. WE WILL USE TECHNOLOGY, DATA, AND BEST PRACTICE TO DELIVER LIFE-CHANGING SOLUTIONS. OUR VOICES AND EXPERIENCES ARE OUR STRENGTH, AND OUR COMPASSION IS OUR FUEL. WE INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN OUR MOVEMENT OF ADVOCATES AND CHANGEMAKERS. TOGETHER, WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL WE CREATE A SAFER FUTURE FOR ALL AND A WORLD IN WHICH IMPAIRMENT PUTS NO LIVES AT RISK.
- Income
- $36.8 million
- Spending
- $38.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 38%
- Employees
- 431
- Volunteers
- 1,963
- Highest pay
- $466,607, ceo
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
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 33% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
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 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 (3)
- $15.2 million spent. CAMPAIGN TO ELIMINATE DRUNK DRIVING DRIVER IMPAIRMENT BY ALCOHOL OR DRUGS IS A CHRONIC PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, KILLING MORE THAN 12,000 IN 2023 IN THE U.S. IMPAIRED DRIVING IS A PROBLEM THAT TRANSCENDS TRANSPORTATION, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND CLINICAL CARE SYSTEMS. DESPITE ITS PERSISTENT NATURE, THE PROBLEM IS NOT INTRACTABLE. THERE ARE MANY EXISTING EVIDENCE-BASED AND PROMISING STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS IMPAIRED DRIVING; HOWEVER, A COORDINATED, MULTILEVEL APPROACH ACROSS MULTIPLE SECTORS IS REQUIRED TO ACCELERATE CHANGE. ACROSS OUR 45-YEAR HISTORY, MADD HAS WORKED TO SOLVE THE DEFINING PROBLEMS OF IMPAIRED DRIVING. TODAY'S CHALLENGES ARE DEFINED BY LARGE, INTERSECTING ISSUES THAT IMPERIL DECADES OF DEVELOPMENT GAINS. TO DRIVE PROGRESS, MADD ALIGNS ON SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND ADOPTS NEW STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THEM ACROSS ALL 50 STATES AND PUERTO RICO WHERE WE WORK. MADD IS ON THE FRONT LINES, CHANGING POLICY AND LEGISLATION THAT CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR ROADS SAFER FOR GENERATIONS TO COME BY PREVENTING DRUNK AND IMPAIRED DRIVING, FROM THE 1984 MINIMUM DRINKING AGE LAW SIGNED BY PRESIDENT REAGAN, TO THE 2000 .08 BAC MEASURE SIGNED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON AND TO THE HALT ACT SIGNED AS PART OF THE 2021 INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT BY PRESIDENT BIDEN- AN UNPRECEDENTED AND AMBITIOUS FEDERAL MANDATE THAT COULD REDUCE IMPAIRED DRIVING DEATHS BY MORE THAN 90 PERCENT BY REQUIRING THAT ALL NEW PASSENGER VEHICLES BE EQUIPPED WITH DRIVER IMPAIRMENT DETECTION TECHNOLOGY. MADD IS LEADING THE WORK TO ACCELERATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS EVIDENCE-BASED TECHNOLOGY IN CARS THAT WILL ELIMINATE DRUNK DRIVING. MADD CONTINUES TO LEAD GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO ENACT MORE THAN 200 STATE LAWS THAT INCLUDE PROTECTING FAIR AND JUST HIGH VISIBILITY TRAFFIC SAFETY ENFORCEMENT, AND ADVOCATING FOR IGNITION INTERLOCKS FOR ALL OFFENDERS, TO SUPPORTING STATE EFFORTS FOR A .05 BAC, TO BENTLEY'S LAW WHICH ENABLES SURVIVING CHILDREN ACCESS TO FINANCIAL REMUNERATION AFTER THE DEATH OR INJURY OF A PARENT FROM A DRUNK OR DRUGGED DRIVING CRASH. MADD COMMUNITY BASED ACTIVISTS ARE WORKING TO PASS LAWS THAT PREVENT IMPAIRED DRIVING AND PROTECT ROAD USERS WHERE THEY LIVE AND WORK. MADD IS ALSO CHANGING THE PERCEPTION OF DRUNK AND DRUGGED DRIVING, FRAMING IT NOT AS AN "ACCIDENT" BUT AS A CRASH AND A VIOLENT CRIME.
- $10.2 million spent. UNDERAGE PREVENTION MADD'S UNDERAGE DRINKING AND OTHER DRUG USE EDUCATION + PREVENTION PROGRAMS WERE DEVELOPED BASED ON EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH. THE PRESENTATIONS ARE TAUGHT BY A TRAINED AND CERTIFIED MADD FACILITATOR. OUR POWER OF PARENT PROGRAM EMPOWERS AND ENCOURAGES PARENTS AND CARING ADULTS TO HAVE ONGOING, INTENTIONAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE YOUTH IN THEIR LIVES ABOUT THE DANGERS AND CONSEQUENCES OF UNDERAGE SUBSTANCE USE. OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS - POWER OF YOU(TH) AND POWER OF ME! - CONTAIN DEVELOPMENTALLY AGE-APPROPRIATE CONTENT WITH SEVERAL ENGAGING ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT TO PROMOTE STUDENTS' OWNERSHIP OF THE INFORMATION AND TO REINFORCE THE SKILLS TAUGHT DURING THE PRESENTATION. MADD'S UNDERAGE SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION PROGRAMS CREATE A TOTAL COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION BY EMPOWERING PARENTS, YOUTH, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND CONCERNED CITIZENS TO TACKLE THIS PROBLEM OF UNDERAGE DRINKING AND OTHER DRUG USE, WHICH IS MADD'S ULTIMATE PREVENTION TOOL IN CREATING THE GENERATION THAT WILL END SUBSTANCE-IMPAIRED DRIVING. IN 2024, A PARENT OR TEEN WAS EDUCATED BY MADD ON UNDERAGE SUBSTANCE USE EVERY 3 MINUTES WITH A TOTAL COMBINED PROGRAM OUTREACH OF 170,034.
- $3.6 million spent. VICTIM SERVICES ON AVERAGE, TWO IN THREE PEOPLE WILL BE INVOLVED IN A DRUNK DRIVING CRASH IN THEIR LIFETIME. AT MADD, WE BELIEVE THAT THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO VICTIMS CAN BE A KEY PART OF THE SOLUTION. IN 2024, MADD PROVIDED NEARLY 110,000 DIRECT SERVICES TO VICTIM-SURVIVORS OF SUBSTANCE-IMPAIRED DRIVING THROUGH EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY, INFORMATION AND REFERRALS, AND ASSISTANCE WITH CRIME VICTIMS' COMPENSATION PROVIDED BY OUR NATIONAL SYNDICATE OF TRAINED VICTIM ADVOCATES. THE VICTIM SERVICES NETWORK IS AN ESSENTIAL DRIVER FOR COLLABORATION, INNOVATION, AND ADVOCACY ACROSS 50 STATES AND PUERTO RICO THAT PROVIDES DIRECT SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS. MADD SHOWS UP WITH EMPATHY, SUPPORT, AND RESOURCES WHEN VICTIMS NEED US MOST, PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO A VICTIM EVERY FIVE MINUTES. THE VICTIM SERVICES NETWORK DELIVERS THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: - CONNECT VICTIM SERVICES TEAMS, VOLUNTEERS, AND ADVOCATES ALLOWING FOR COLLABORATION. - CAPTURE, CENTRALIZE, AND USE DATA TO DRIVE OUR INTERNAL STRUCTURE, POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND RESEARCH. - STRENGTHEN OUR CAPACITY, TRAINING, AND COVERAGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. - BOLSTER OUR VICTIM SERVICES FOR ALL WITH AN INCREASED AND INTENTIONAL FOCUS ON SERVING BIPOC COMMUNITIES. - BUILD A UNIFIED VICTIM SERVICES EXPERIENCE, WORKING LOCALLY TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS ALL THAT MADD OFFERS. - MONITOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS. MADD EMPOWERS VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS AS ADVOCATES FOR CHANGE AS THEY TELL THEIR STORIES TO EDUCATE, PREVENT AND LEGISLATE FOR CHANGE. THE ROLE OF VICTIM ADVOCATES IS A VERY IMPORTANT ONE IN THE HEALING JOURNEY THAT FOLLOWS. MADD STAFF AND VOLUNTEER VICTIM ADVOCATES ATTEND AND COMPLETE MADD'S VOLUNTEER VICTIM ASSISTANCE TRAINING INSTITUTE TO RECEIVE CERTIFICATION. THE VICTIM ADVOCATES ARE THE FOUNDATION FOR COMPETENT SERVICE DELIVERY TO THOSE IMPACTED BY DRUNK AND IMPAIRED DRIVING CRASHES. MADD'S VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS ARE LEADERS IN EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND POLICYMAKERS ABOUT THE REALITIES OF IMPAIRED DRIVING. THEY SPEAK OUT IN MANY WAYS, INCLUDING THE SHARING OF THEIR PERSONAL STORIES ACROSS THEIR COMMUNITIES. IT IS THROUGH THEIR VULNERABILITY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CHANGE MINDS AND THE CULTURE OF THE DECISIONS THAT PEOPLE MAKE AND TO REVIVE PUBLIC AND POLICY-MAKER ATTENTION TO RESOLVE IMPAIRED DRIVING ON AMERICA'S ROADWAYS. MADD OFFERS A VARIETY OF STRATEGIES TO TURN PUBLIC CONCERN INTO DECISIVE ACTION TO ADDRESS THIS TRAGIC AND PREVENTABLE PROBLEM.
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
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 October 13, 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 November 1986.
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 October 21, 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.