Disability Lead

What it reported doing in 2025

Disability lead builds the power of people with disabilities, developing and connecting a growing network of disabled leaders, led by and for the disability community, who shift power, transform systems, and redefine what leaderships looks like across civic, corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors. In 2025, disability lead marked its tenth institute, a year-long leadership development fellowship, welcoming a cohort of 19 fellows and bringing its network to more than 300 leaders. Throughout the year, members stayed connected and active through robust programming, including recurring networking and educational gatherings, a celebration during disability pride month, the disability power series, and public storytelling events. Disability lead also convened its second annual disability leadership summit, which grew 25 percent over the prior year and, unlike the organization's regional programming, is open to disabled leaders nationwide. That work translated into real influence: over the course of 2025, disability lead facilitated 202 connections that moved members into civic appointments, professional leadership roles, competitive national fellowships, and public recognition, carrying disability leadership into some of the most consequential rooms in the country. In 2025, disability lead expanded beyond chicago for the first time, launching its southwestern Pennsylvania chapter in pittsburgh with dedicated staff, programming, and investment, and by december had selected the chapter's inaugural cohort of 13 institute fellows. With both the chicago and southwestern Pennsylvania regions fully operational, disability lead is building toward a national goal of establishing a presence in ten regions by 2040, the fiftieth anniversary of the americans with disabilities act.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 68.7%; rating input score 69
• Fundraising efficiency: $2.4 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -136.9%; rating input score 0; 0th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.82; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.13; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 18.6%; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 21% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.2% per year; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 16.5% per year; rating input score 100; 73rd percentile among comparable filings