Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan

What it reported doing in 2024

[continued on schedule o] program expansion and community impact:1. Dsawm provided educational workshops for families and caregivers, covering speech and language development, behavior management, wellness, and special education. Delivered in both virtual and in-person formats, these sessions reached over 30 participants. The program empowered families with tools to better support individuals with down syndrome across all stages of development.2. Advocacy and awareness initiatives: in 2024, dsawm advanced its advocacy work at the local and state levels. Staff and members participated in public policy discussions, school partnerships, and awareness events like world down syndrome day and disability awareness month. Dsawm sponsored two members to serve on the Michigan special education advisory council and presented at the 2024 national down syndrome congress convention.3. Family support programs: family support programs connected with over 50 new and expectant families through one-on-one outreach, welcome baskets, and informational resources. Monthly parent support meetings fostered peer connection and community. The program ensured families had access to emotional and practical support from the start of their journey.4. Social and recreational activities: dsawm hosted inclusive social activities such as game nights, holiday celebrations, and movie events. Members also participated in specialized programs including buddy up tennis, therapeutic horse handling, and ican bike camp. These offerings promoted friendship, physical activity, and community inclusion.5. Teen and adult programs: life skills classes for teens and adults focused on daily living skills such as cooking, budgeting, and safety. These programs promoted independence, self-confidence, and long-term personal growth for older members of the down syndrome community.new programs introduced in 2024: in 2024, dsawm introduced several new programs to better serve its diverse member community. These included therapeutic horse handling, a drumming group, and the young athletes program, all designed to promote physical coordination, sensory engagement, and inclusive fun. The organization also launched an early education class to support developmental readiness in young children, and held its first fall festival, a seasonal celebration that brought families together for connection and community building. Additionally, dsawm hosted a kalamazoo family night out to expand outreach and engagement beyond its core service area.2024 program participation summary: in 2024, dsawm served a total of 2,499 unique, unduplicated participants through its programs and events. This included 347 individuals who participated in ongoing programs, 58 participants in educational workshops, and 2,094 individuals who attended community events. These figures reflect dsawm's broad and inclusive reach, demonstrating its impact across a diverse range of ages, abilities, and family support needs.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 63.8%; rating input score 64
• Program expense ratio: 53.1%; rating input score 53
• Fundraising efficiency: $6.04 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 26; 26th 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: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • 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: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -19.8%; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.19; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.96; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 9%; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.4% per year; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.6% per year; rating input score 100; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.7% per year; rating input score 100; 36th percentile among comparable filings