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Down Syndrome Association of Orange County

EIN 95-3497922 · Costa Mesa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DSAOC'S MISSION IS TO CREATE A PLACE FOR CONNECTION, INFORMATION AND HOPE FOR PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT GREATER ORANGE COUNTY, TO PROMOTE DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND TO OFFER PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND SUPPORT THAT AIM TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. OUR VISION IS TO BE A ONE-STOP-SHOP FOR ALL THINGS DOWN SYNDROME RELATED, AND TO BE A MODEL ORGANIZATION FOR COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS, TO CHANGE PERCEPTIONS AND CHANGE LIVES.

Income
$486,738
Spending
$411,704
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
20 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
10
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$69,935, executive dir.

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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

Good: 82 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $239,203 spent. DSAOC CENTER - A PLACE TO BELONG THE DSAOC CENTER, LOCATED IN COSTA MESA, IS THE VENUE FOR MANY OF OUR ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, SEMINARS, AND SUPPORT GROUPS. IN ADDITION, MUCH OF THE DSAOC'S WORK INCLUDES OUTREACH AND COLLABORATION WITH AN EXPANDING NETWORK OF EDUCATORS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, RESEARCHERS, THERAPISTS, EMPLOYERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND MANY OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE A PLACE FOR CONNECTION, INFORMATION AND HOPE FOR PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND THEIR FAMILIES. AT OUR LOCAL SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS AND SOCIAL EVENTS, FAMILIES FIND COMFORT, SUPPORT AND LONG-LASTING FRIENDSHIPS. DSAOC ALSO PROVIDES A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES IN SPANISH AND, INCREASINGLY, IN OTHER LANGUAGES.
  2. $31,894 spent. TEEN/ADULT PROGRAMTHE TEEN/ADULT PROGRAM INCLUDES WEEKLY AND MONTHLY CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES THAT FOCUS ON SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLNESS. THE TEEN/ADULT PROGRAM ALSO FEATURES AN AWESOME ADVOCATES GROUP THAT PARTICIPATES IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND HELPS PLAN FUTURE ACTIVITIES. DSAOC ALSO HAS A VARIETY OF DANCES AND SOCIAL MIXERS FOR THIS AGE GROUP.
  3. $47,840 spent. ORANGE COUNTY BIKE CAMPSINCE 2008, DSAOC HAS BEEN HELPING CHILDREN, TEENS AND ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND OTHER DISABILITIES LEARN TO RIDE A CONVENTIONAL 2-WHEEL BIKE. THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH ICANSHINE AND UCP-OC, THE ORANGE COUNTY BIKE CAMP IS HELD ANNUALLY DURING THE SUMMER AND SUPPORTS 40 PARTICIPANTS EACH CAMP. BENEFITS TO THIS CAMP INCLUDE, ENHANCED HEALTH AND CONFIDENCE, IMPROVED ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WITH TYPICAL PEERS, INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN FAMILY ACTIVITIES, WITH FEWER SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, PROUD, SELF-CONFIDENT, INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS RIDING REGULAR BICYCLES SAFELY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION INDEPENDENCE FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS.

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

  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 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 August 1980.

    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.