Dmax Foundation

What it reported doing in 2025

Dmax foundation provides college students with trusting and inclusive spaces, where they can tell the stories of their lives, identities and experiences without judgment. Our mission is "creating connections and conversations that matter to strengthen mental health and emotional well- being for young people." at dmax club meetings and events, college students talk about how they're really doing, how their friends are doing, and how they can support each other. Members not only serve as a resource to each other, they go on to serve their broader college campus by hosting larger events to spread mental health awareness, normalize mental health storytelling, and overcome stigmas and taboos around mental health. In addition to our dmax clubs in southeastern pa and the greater philadelphia region, dmax foundation recently opened a new market by establishing a new dmax club in pittsburgh, pa. Our bi-annual dmax club survey revealed that 80 percent or more students reported improvements in self-esteem, connection, and outlook, nearly all reported learning more about mental health through peer support, and 100 percent reported that they would recommend their dmax club to a friend. In 2023, we enhanced our dmax club portal which includes our leadership training modules, conversation guides and toolkits, meeting templates, club marketing assets, campus emergency procedures, reporting forms and direct chat access to dmax hq. Our in-house virtual orientation equips dmax club student leaders with skills for facilitating conversations that connect, strategies for managing group dynamics, guidance for distinguishing peer support from therapy, and training on recognizing when a peer needs additional help. In 2025, dmax introduced a growing library of guides used both inside clubs and across campuses including "conversations with pride" (lgbtq+ youth), "conversations for bipoc wellbeing", "body positivity & acceptance toolkit", and "domestic and intimate partner violence". Our annual educational event, "conversations conquer loneliness" was held virtually and featured two speakers. Dr. Veronica carey, author of the critically acclaimed book "frame your degree: how to avoid pain while seeking a college degree" serves as associate clinical professor, human development and counseling department, drexel university. Our other speaker, dr. Marcus hotaling, is the director of counseling, union college, and past president, american association of university and college counseling center directors. In addition, the event featured two dmax students speak storytellers who shared their mental health journeys with the audience. In 2025, dmax students speak expanded its student storytelling events with an open mic for mh night that allowed students and supporters to share poetry, music, and lived experiences.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 71.4%; rating input score 71
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.52 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th 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: 85.7%; rating input score 86; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -51.6%; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.37; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.22; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 40.6%; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5% per year; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -2.3% per year; rating input score 0; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -1.9% per year; rating input score 0; 16th percentile among comparable filings