Down Syndrome Network Inc Dba Dsnetwork

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
611409048
IRS 990 coverage
2020–2025
Forms available
Form 990 2025
Location
Tempe, AZ, USA
Phone
4807599150
Rating
76
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Health

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$307,521
Expenses
$291,120
Assets
$240,893
Liabilities
$115,832

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

8 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • JENNIFER O'CONNELL (Executive Dir.): $78,000 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

1) Promote lifelong health and improve quality of life for people with DS; 2) Help caregivers navigate the whole journey of raising and caring for a person with Down syndrome from before birth throughout the aging process; 3) help grow awareness of DS in the Arizona communities, educate professionals and advocate for people with DS.

What it reported doing in 2025

Arizona is home to an estimated 10,000 individuals with Down syndrome. In 2025, DSNetwork provided education, outreach, and direct support services to this community and their families statewide, reaching over 2,500 individuals through direct programming and many more through community awareness, professional training, and public engagement efforts. Families served reported increased confidence in navigating resources across the life span, connecting and networking with others, and advocating for their loved ones. Community engagement included coordinating statewide World Down Syndrome Day activities that engaged over 550 participants, participating in the ASU Homecoming Parade and Down Syndrome Walk, which reached nearly 1,000 community members, and signature seasonal celebrations, including the Winter Wonderland, serving over 450 participants. Direct services included unique adaptive fitness, educational, and therapeutic programming for over 250 individuals with Down syndrome. Programs such as Buddy Up Tennis, Down to Box, Down to Earth Garden, Adaptive Dance, Pickleball, 1:1 Swim and water safety, and community outings. Social programming, such as the spring prom and fall costume ball, engaged approximately 80 teens and adults; the Spring Family Picnic drew more than 150 attendees; and the cherished winter Wonderland holiday party served 450 participants. The Family Enrichment Center supported over 125 families, including 28 new parents receiving guidance following a Down syndrome diagnosis. Professional education included training over 50 medical professionals and educators. In addition to providing caregiver-focused learning opportunities, webinars, and parent meet-ups to more than 150 individuals. The annual community calendar project promoted inclusion and visibility for over 90 participants.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 81% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and program spending has declined or grown slowly.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 71
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 90
  • Sustainability: 36
  • Growth: 0

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 72.2%; rating input score 72
  • Program expense ratio: 76%; rating input score 76
  • Fundraising efficiency: $17.12 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 51; 51st 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: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 5.3%; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.83; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.48; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 26.8%; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -1.8% per year; rating input score 0; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: -0.5% per year; rating input score 0; 19th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: -0.8% per year; rating input score 0; 19th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 72.2% of revenue deployed · 76% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 7 of 7 board members independent · 6 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 2 filed program accomplishments · $221K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $78K · 8 people listed
  • Consistency: 29 of 29 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 6 filing years from 2020 to 2025
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Related organizations: Filed and resolved organization relationships.
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 51/100.
  • High — Growth: Program expense growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 48/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Independent financial-statement audit not reported.
  • High — Growth: Asset growth scored 0/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 36/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 9/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 13/100.