irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0MEMBERSHIPS: FOR 2025, MEMBERSHIP COMPRISED OF THE FOLLOWING: LEVEL 4 MEMBERSHIP (500+DSPS): 31 AGENCIES, LEVEL 3 MEMBERSHIP (201-500 DSPS): 43 AGENCIES, LEVEL 2 MEMBERSHIP (51-200 DSP): 113 AGENCIES, LEVEL 1 MEMBERSHIP (1-50 DSPS): 108 AGENCIES, AFFILIATE MEMBERS: 3, PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS: 16,INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS: 187.
- #2 $0SPEAKING AND TRAINING ENGAGEMENTS: IN 2025, THE FOLLOWING VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON TRAINING/SPEAKING EVENTS WERE CONDUCTED: VIRTUAL TRAINING-SPEAKING EVENTS: 33 - 989 ATTENDEES, IN-PERSON TRAINING-SPEAKING EVENTS: 16 - 1,025 ATTENDEES, WEBINARS: 12 - 1,606 ATTENDEES, IN-PERSON CONFERENCE: BUFFALO, NY - 400 ATTENDEES.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Conference and Policy Symposium
Hosts national gatherings including an in-person conference and policy-focused symposium to connect professionals and influence systems change.
Membership Program
Offers tiered organizational and individual memberships for direct support professionals and agencies, providing access to resources, training, and advocacy networks.
Training and Speaking Engagements
Delivers virtual and in-person training sessions, webinars, and conferences to build professional capacity among direct support professionals and promote best practices.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
- Accreditation of direct support education and training programsAccredits education and training programs that teach ethics, knowledge, and skills to direct support professionals, ensuring alignment with NADSP standards, validated competency areas, and the NADSP Code of Ethics. Includes formal accreditation pathways that fulfill certification requirements.
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Disability Rights Advocacy & Self-Advocacy Empowerment 1 activity
- Advocacy for policy and legislative improvements for direct support professionalsEngages in advocacy to advance policy and legislation benefiting direct support professionals by producing educational resources, collaborating with legislators, partnering with national organizations, and participating in federal legislative conferences such as the Disability Policy Seminar. Focuses on issues including workforce recognition and occupational classification.
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Professional Certification in Healthcare 1 activity
- National certification and credentialing for Direct Support ProfessionalsAdministers a national certification program through the NADSP E-Badge Academy, offering stackable electronic badges and three levels of certification (DSP-I, DSP-II, DSP-III) based on core competencies, accredited education, and adherence to the NADSP Code of Ethics. Requires certified professionals to complete ongoing training for recertification.
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Volunteer and Professional Training Programs 1 activity
- Professional development and training programs for direct support workforceDelivers interactive training programs, curricula, and virtual events for direct support professionals and frontline supervisors, including onboarding, ethics, informed decision-making, and leadership development. Offers both live virtual sessions (up to 500 attendees) and in-person trainings, with content exceeding regulatory requirements.
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Nonprofit Sector Research & Data Analysis 1 activity
- Research and reporting on the direct support workforceConducted and co-authored the 2017 Report to the President on the crisis in the direct support workforce, documenting its impact on individuals, families, and the economy.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Development and dissemination of national standards and competency modelsDeveloped nationally recognized standards including the NADSP Competency Set—approved by the U.S. Department of Labor—and apprenticeship standards adopted by employers and states. These serve as foundational frameworks for certification, credentialing, and training programs across the direct support field.
- Support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through professional capacity buildingIndirectly supports individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities by strengthening the skills and values of direct support professionals, enabling better community participation and self-advocacy outcomes for those served.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$5.47M
Contributions & grants$2.44M45%
Program service revenue$2.51M46%
Investment income$300K5%
Other revenue$214K
expenses
Total expenses$4.27M
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$1.56M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$8.27M
Cash$8.04M
Investments$0
Liabilities$5.13M
Net assets$3.14M
Liquid reserves22.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +20.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 5
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH MACBETH | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $192K |
| DESIREE M LOUCKS BAER | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $130K |
| DANIEL HERMRECK | CHEIF INNOVATION OFFICER | 40 | $126K |
| JOHN RAFFAELE | DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL SE | 40 | $124K |
| GARRETT COLE | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $119K |
board members · 12
- ASHLEY RITCHEY — DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
- CATHY FICKER TERRILL — DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
- CHESTER FINN — CHAIR
- CHET TSCHETTER — DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
- JEANNE FARR — PAST PRESIDENT
- JENNIFER LEALE — TREASURER
- KATHERINE DUNBAR — SECRETARY
- MARIA WALKER — VICE CHAIR
- MONICA MCCALL — DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
- NICHOLAS SMITH — DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
- ROBERT BUDD — DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
- WESLEY ANDERSON — DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
relationships · 56
Who they work with
- AHRC-NYC Partner — Collaborates with AHRC-NYC through the involvement of its staff member Matthew Crowley in the NADSP Direct Support Professional Advisory Council.
- ARC Broward Partner — Accredits the PATHS Certificate Program for Direct Support Professionals.
- Alliance for Full Participation Coalition — Founding member of the coalition committed to inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in American life.
- Alvarez and Marsal Partner — Organization with which secretary Cathy Ficker Terrill is affiliated as a consultant
- American Academy of Developmental Medicine & Dentistry Partner — Partner organization focused on improving healthcare quality for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- American Network of Community Options and Resources Partner — Partner organization representing private community providers of services to people with disabilities
- Arkansas Support Network Partner — Collaborates with Arkansas Support Network through the involvement of its staff member Reade Roberts in the NADSP Direct Support Professional Advisory Council.
- CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership Partner — Employer of director-at-large Courtney Kelly Chapman
- CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership Partner — Partner organization providing accreditation, training, certification, research, and consultation services to improve quality of life for people with disabilities
- CQL – The Council on Quality and Leadership Partner — Co-sponsored organization with NADSP holding a seat on its board of directors.
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Government — References CMS Final Settings Rule in training content on informed decision making.
- Chilliwack Society for Community Living Partner — Collaborates with Chilliwack Society for Community Living through the involvement of its staff member Arlene Hebig in the NADSP Direct Support Professional Advisory Council.
- Creative Options, Inc. Partner — Organization founded by vice chair Monica McCall
- Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) at Washington State Partner — Collaborates with the Developmental Disabilities Administration at Washington State through the involvement of its staff member Ramu Iyer in the NADSP Direct Support Professional Advisory Council.
- DirectCourse Partner — Accredits multiple College of DirectCourse training programs for direct support professionals.
- Disability Policy Seminar Partner — Collaborates with NADSP on federal legislative advocacy for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) Partner — Organization led by director-at-large Robert Budd
- Hope House Foundation Partner — Collaborates with Hope House Foundation through the involvement of its staff member Amber K. Thompson in the NADSP Direct Support Professional Advisory Council.
- IntellectAbility Partner — Accredits IntellectAbility’s trainings focused on health-related topics and person-centered thinking for supporters of people with IDD.
- John F. Kennedy Jr. Partner — Ideological founder of NADSP, credited with shaping the organization's vision for direct support professionals and disability support quality.
- Mainstay Life Services Partner — Collaborates with Mainstay Life Services through the involvement of its staff member Kelley Shepherd in the NADSP Direct Support Professional Advisory Council.
- Merakey Partner — Accredits Merakey’s training programs for direct support professionals supporting individuals with diverse needs.
- Mozilla Backpack Partner — Platform used for sharing earned E-Badges by Direct Support Professionals.
- NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities Government — Employer of director-at-large Ashley Ritchey
- National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services Partner — Employer of director-at-large Wesley Anderson
- National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities Partner — Partner organization offering leadership institutes and training for disability organizations
- New Horizons Resources, Inc. Partner — Collaborates with New Horizons Resources, Inc. through the involvement of its staff member Ryene Fenner in the NADSP Direct Support Professional Advisory Council.
- New York State Justice Center Partner — Co-facilitated DSP Dialogues, provided Code of Ethics training to investigators, and collaborated on promoting ethical support practices.
- New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Government — Employer of immediate past board chair Chester Finn
- New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities Partner — Partnered on piloting the Informed Decision Making program, delivering training on the Direct Support Professional Evaluation Tool, and implementing ethical and competency-based practices.
+ 26 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Frontline-Driven Systems Reformmethodology: systems-reform-advocacyBy engaging direct support professionals in advisory roles and shaping policy agendas, the organization drives systemic improvement in workforce conditions and support quality, because frontline experience provides essential insight for effective reform and advocacy.
- Person-Centered, Ethically Guided Supportmethodology: person-centered_supportBy aligning training, practice, and standards with person-centered approaches and the NADSP Code of Ethics, the organization improves outcomes for individuals with disabilities, because support that honors individual preferences, dignity, and autonomy leads to greater self-direction and well-being.
- Professionalization of Direct Support Workforcemethodology: workforce_professionalizationBy advancing certification, credentialing, training, and standardized competencies, the organization improves the quality, recognition, and retention of direct support professionals, because professional status leads to better compensation, career advancement, and higher-quality support for people with disabilities.