irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $414KPLANNING AND ADVOCACY: PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES CREATING LIFE PLANS FOR THEIR LOVED ONES WITH DISABILITIES, RECORDING AND COLLECTING VITAL, UNIQUE AND IRREPLACEABLE INFORMATION, BUDGETING FOR AND DEVELOPING FUTURE CARE PLANS. PROVIDED SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY SERVICES TO DISABLED INDIVIDUALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS AND THE FAMILY'S OR THEIR INSTRUCTIONS.
- #2 $55KEDUCATION - PROVIDED SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND EXHIBITS. MET WITH, SPOKE WITH, AND/OR CORRESPONDED WITH FAMILIES WITH A DISABLED MEMBER ABOUT THEIR INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL NEEDS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Advocacy Program
Provides personalized advocacy and oversight through trained Personal Advocates who act as a voice for individuals with disabilities, ensuring their needs are met and preventing isolation.
Comprehensive Planning Program
Guides families over a six-month period to create a Planning Journal and Letter of Intent, covering trusts, estate documents, and future care plans for individuals with disabilities.
Keeping Connected Program
Annual membership program providing regular check-ins and emergency consultations to maintain continuity and peace of mind for families and individuals.
Supplemental Needs Trust Services
Offers First Party, Third Party, and Stand-Alone Trusts to help individuals with disabilities maintain government benefits while funding supplemental needs through pooled or individual accounts.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Autism and Neurodiversity Family Support Services 1 activity
- Conduct educational outreach and training programsProvides educational seminars, workshops, and exhibits for families of individuals with disabilities, along with direct communication to address individual needs and special circumstances as part of ongoing support and engagement.
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Supported Employment for Developmental Disabilities 1 activity
- Deliver personal advocacy and oversight servicesProvides individualized personal advocacy through trained Personal Advocates who serve as voices for individuals with disabilities, prevent isolation, offer emergency supports, and conduct ongoing housing advocacy to improve living conditions. Advocates operate based on family plans and client-specific needs.
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Supplemental Needs Trust Management 1 activity
- Establish and manage supplemental needs trustsProvides First and Third Party Supplemental Needs Trust services to help individuals with disabilities maintain eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, and other government benefits. Trust accounts are opened within approximately two weeks, with expedited access to pooled trusts and minimal costs, and include monthly statements and automatic bill payment services.
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Membership Program Administration 1 activity
- Maintain ongoing client and donor relationships through membership and accountability programsOffers Keeping Connected and Annual Membership programs to maintain family engagement, provide input on services, and support program improvement. Also provides refund of contributions under specific conditions and ensures transparency through annual audits and public filings (Form 990, CHAR 500).
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Advance Care Planning Support 1 activity
- Provide future care planning and family support servicesHelps families plan for the future care of loved ones with disabilities by creating Planning Journals and Letters of Intent, developing comprehensive budgets, and recording vital personal and medical information. Services include free initial consultations and ongoing development of life plans tailored to individual needs.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.27M
Contributions & grants$281K22%
Program service revenue$922K73%
Investment income$67K5%
Other revenue$1K
expenses
Total expenses$1.20M
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$454K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$20.88M
Cash$4K
Investments$20.57M
Liabilities$19.76M
Net assets$1.12M
Liquid reserves205.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +19.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEE A ACKERMAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $207K |
| VERONICA J STEPHENS | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS | 40 | $141K |
board members · 8
- ALLEN ROSEN — SECRETARY/ASSISTANT TREASU
- CAROL FERRONE — DIRECTOR
- EVERT CHRISTENSEN — CHAIRPERSON
- JOHN FOSTER — DIRECTOR
- KATHLEEN FRIEL — DIRECTOR
- MAX MAURO — DIRECTOR
- MIKE MACDONALD — DIRECTOR
- WILLIAM SHANNON — TREASURER
relationships · 6
Who they work with
- ACT for Life Services Network — Operates under the name DISABLED AND ALONELIFE SERVICES FOR THE HANDICAPPED and uses ACT for Life Services as its public-facing name.
- Internal Revenue Service Government — Receives annual Form 990 filings from ACT for Life Services.
- KeyBank N.A. Partner — Acts as Co-Trustee and Custodian of trust assets and implements and monitors the Life Services Investment Policy
- Life Services Partner — Provides trust, advocacy, and planning services for individuals with disabilities and their families.
- New York State Department of Charities Government — Receives annual regulatory filings (CHAR 500) from ACT for Life Services.
- families Partner — Collaborates with families of individuals with disabilities in developing life planning documents and support strategies.
strategies · 4
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.
- Integrated Life and Advocacy Planningmethodology: integrated_life_planningBy combining comprehensive life planning (e.g., Planning Journals, Letters of Intent) with ongoing individualized advocacy, the organization ensures continuity of care and proactive support, because aligning long-term personal, medical, and legal plans with active advocacy improves outcomes and preserves autonomy across the lifespan.
- Personalized Family Education and Engagementmethodology: personalized_family_educationBy delivering tailored education through workshops and direct communication, the organization increases family capacity to support individuals with disabilities, because personalized learning helps families understand complex systems and make informed decisions aligned with their loved one’s needs.
- Social Inclusion as Foundational Well-Beingmethodology: social_inclusionBy fostering social engagement and connection, the organization supports long-term well-being for individuals with disabilities, because meaningful relationships and community belonging are essential components of quality of life and mental health.
- Trust-Based Benefits Preservationmethodology: supplemental_needs_trustBy establishing and managing special needs and pooled trusts, the organization enables individuals with disabilities to access supplemental financial support without losing eligibility for critical government benefits, because structured trusts legally separate assets while preserving entitlements like Medicaid and SSI.