The Arc of the United States

What it reported doing in 2025

Chapter leadership, volunteer & professional development: the arc of the united states (the arc) supported a network of nearly 550 affiliated state and local chapters that advocated on behalf of, and provided services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (idd) and their families. The arc promoted best practices in access, equity, and inclusion through a series of chapter webinars and promoted best practices in programs, services and supports for people with idd. The arc kept chapters informed of critical information and developments in the field, including in subject areas such as early intervention, integrated education, transition, supported employment, supported and independent living, health care, decision-making supports, financial planning and recreation and community service. Support was provided to board members, executive directors and other volunteers and staff of the affiliated chapters through a bi-weekly email newsletter (fusion), a state chapter retreat, periodic video conferences for chapter leaders, periodic webinars, an annual leadership institute, a national convention, written educational materials, email discussion groups, extensive content available online, and one-to-one technical assistance via telephone and email. Programming was conducted using virtual meeting technology to make it accessible to as many people as possible.the arc provided technical assistance and support to individuals with disabilities, their family members and friends to organize new chapters of the arc, and to strengthen and stabilize existing chapters, so that they may effectively advocate on behalf of and serve their constituents at the state and local level. The arc also promoted information sharing and exchange of ideas among and between all of our chapters. The arc embarked on a new chapter data integration project that will create an interactive data exchange system across the entire chapter network. The goals of this project are to increase the accuracy of our data collection and demonstrate the collective impact of our chapters, improve the efficiency of chapter invoicing and payments, create a platform for chapter engagement with each other, and create a centralized system for resource sharing.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 90.6%; rating input score 91
• Fundraising efficiency: $6.13 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.7%; rating input score 95; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 95.5%; rating input score 96; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• 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; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • 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: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -16.1%; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.82; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.38; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 17.5%; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.8% per year; rating input score 100; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.8% per year; rating input score 100; 30th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3.7% per year; rating input score 100; 24th percentile among comparable filings