Nonprofit · EIN 94-2620758
DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND INC
Tax-exempt · BERKELEY, CA 94703
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2025 | 990 | $4,193,819 | $4,188,526 | $5,293 | $5,493,864 | $1,604,111 | $3,889,753 |
| September 30, 2024 | 990 | $3,320,772 | $3,700,151 | -$379,379 | $4,803,570 | $919,110 | $3,884,460 |
| September 30, 2023 | 990 | $3,259,198 | $2,740,192 | $519,006 | $5,195,352 | $931,513 | $4,263,839 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $3,213,273
- of which government grants
- $1,967,349
- Program service revenue
- $796,534
- Investment income
- $131,673
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$7,541
- Other revenue
- $52,339
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $29,120
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $478,549
- Other salaries and wages
- $2,083,352
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $3,207,223
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $262,855
- Occupancy
- $160,717
- Travel
- $23,257
- Depreciation
- $20,999
- Program services (functional)
- $3,082,504
- Management and general (functional)
- $796,118
- Fundraising (functional)
- $309,904
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $4,803,570
- Total assets, end of year
- $5,493,864
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,604,111
- Net assets, end of year
- $3,889,753
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $21,000
- Publicly traded securities
- $3,611,307
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $3,111,681
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $778,072
- Gross receipts
- $4,210,171
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 11
- Year formed
- 1979
- State of legal domicile
- CA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maria M Uzeta | Int. ED/Dep Dir Officer | 40 | $157,592 | $36,382 |
| Claudia Center | Legal Director | 40 | $161,745 | $30,511 |
| Silvia Yee | Policy Director | 40 | $135,912 | $44,676 |
| Mary Lou Breslin | Sr. Policy Advisor | 40 | $150,807 | $16,295 |
| Susan Henderson | Former Executive Director | 40 | $142,842 | $17,468 |
| Susan Freundlich | Development Dir. | 40 | $136,794 | $4,505 |
| Christina Pinedo | Communications Dir | 40 | $115,221 | $26,031 |
| Nicole Bohn | Executive Dir. Officer | 40 | $118,618 | $8,765 |
| H Stephen Kaye | Board Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Anne Cohen | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Meriah Nichols | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Hari Srinivasan | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Dorene Giacopini | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Aubrie Lee | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Tauna Szymanski | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
2 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rain Marshall | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Benita Shaw-Ayala | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 17 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michelle Uzeta | Deputy Director | 40 | $157,592 | $33,323 |
| Claudia Center | Legal Director | 40 | $161,745 | $28,701 |
| Silvia Yee | Policy Director | 40 | $135,912 | $41,503 |
| Mary Lou Breslin | Sr. Policy Advisor | 40 | $150,807 | $15,093 |
| Susan Henderson | Executive Dir. Officer | 40 | $142,842 | $15,656 |
| Susan Freundlich | Development Dir. | 40 | $135,243 | $3,242 |
| Nicole Bohn | Executive Dir. Officer | 40 | $118,618 | $967 |
| H Stephen Kaye | President/Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Anne Cohen | Vice-President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Meriah Nichols | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Hari Srinivasan | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Dorene Giacopini | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Aubrie Lee | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sharon Lewis | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Rain Marshall | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Christina Mills | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Benita Shaw-Ayala | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 18 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Susan Henderson | Executive Dir. Officer | 55 | $175,124 | $23,120 |
| Claudia Center | Legal Director | 40 | $154,333 | $20,386 |
| Mary Lou Breslin | Sr. Policy Advisor | 40 | $132,154 | $13,618 |
| Silvia Yee | Sr. Staff Attorney | 40 | $107,727 | $35,003 |
| Michelle Uzeta | Deputy Legal Dir. | 40 | $110,576 | $12,510 |
| Meriah Nichols | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $450 | $0 |
| H Stephen Kaye | President/Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Anne Cohen | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Rain Marshall | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Talina Jones | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Dorene Giacopini | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Judith Heumann | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Hari Srinivasan | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| James LeBrecht | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sharon Lewis | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Christina Mills | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Aubrie Lee | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Benita Shaw-Ayala | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 3075 ADELINE ST STE 210, BERKELEY, CA 94703-2578
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Maria Michelle Uzeta
- Signed the 990
- Maria Michelle Uzeta, Executive Dir.
- Phone
- (510) 644-2555
- Website
- www.dredf.org
- Return prepared by
- Crosby & Kaneda CPAs LLP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 94-2620758 or by the name DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND INC.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
To advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development.
Program accomplishments
- Legal Advocacy - DREDF advances the civil rights of people with disabilities through impact litigation and advocacy in courts, legislatures, and administrative agencies.In 2025, DREDF continued major litigation challenging the failure of Kaiser and California regulators to require adequate wheelchair coverage in Affordable Care Actregulated health plans. A settlement with state agencies led to adoption of a new California benchmark plan requiring meaningful wheelchair benefits, scheduled to take effect in 2027 pending federal approval, while DREDF continues to pursue individual claims against Kaiser.DREDF also continued monitoring in Armstrong v. News-om, enforcing disability rights in California prisons, with a focus on safety for people with mobility disabilities during emergencies.In education, DREDF secured an attorney fee award following its successful litigation in C.B. v. Moreno Valley Unified School District, which resulted in damages, district-wide reforms, and a precedent-setting ruling protecting disabled students from discriminatory discipline.DREDF led enforcement of Californias prohibition on discrimination against Section 8 voucher holders, filing suit against 30 Los Angeles housing providers for refusing to rent to a disabled voucher participant.DREDF educated communities on emerging threats to civil rights protections, provided statewide training and technical assistance to legal aid programs as an IOLTA Support Center, and filed 17 amicably briefs in state and federal appellate courts in FY2025.Expenses $1,844,789 · grants $29,120 · revenue $796,534
- Child and Family Advocacy - DREDFs Parent Training and Information Center provides technical assistance and training on the rights of families and children with disabilities in special education to parents, advocates and professionals. In FY 2025, our education advocates made 2,865 contacts to families across 30 counties in Northern California, directly helping parents and students navigate the special education system and learn their rights in the IEP process. DREDFs education advocates also presented 36 trainings and conducted outreach at 19 events across Northern California. Notably, DREDF kicked off a new, recorded training series, Special Education Academy, that walks attendees through the special education process and can be accessed on DREDFs YouTube channel afterward. The topics of DREDFs additional trainings ranged from supporting foster youth in special education, supporting tribal children with IEPs, learning the basics of special education rights and the IEP process, understanding disability accommodations in post-secondary education, and supporting related professionals as experts in the IEP process. The education advocates also attended several county educational fairs and resource fairs aimed at special education families to increase awareness of DREDFs resources and support for families across Northern California who seek assistance in understanding their rights under special education law.Expenses $557,168
- National Disability Policy and Research - DREDF conducts research, monitors public policy, and provides technical assistance on issues affecting people with disabilities. We advocate for disability civil and human rights in coalition with disability, civil rights, and community organizations, particularly where disability intersects with race, ethnicity, gender, LGBTQ+ status, and immigration status.In 2025, DREDF was deeply engaged in defending federal programs critical to people with disabilities, including Medicaid, health insurance, food assistance, special education, fair housing, accessible transportation and infrastructure, and civil rights enforcement. We issued public alerts and plain-language guidance, mobilized constituents, amplified partner advocacy, submitted comments to Congress, and participated in Hill visits to protect funding and inclusive policies relied on by Californians with disabilities.DREDF also produced policy papers on key issues, including source-of-income discrimination in housing, emerging strategies in Olmsted litigation to expand accessible housing, and the safety and accessibility needs of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled communities in autonomous vehicle transportation.Our advocacy continued on reproductive justice and family integrity for people with disabilities, including protecting the right to marry, raise children, and retain access to health care and community supports. We also expanded work on artificial intelligence and disability bias, tracking federal efforts to preempt state regulation and engaging advocates and people with disabilities to develop strategies to identify and address discriminatory impacts of AI, and to equip legal services and community advocates to respond effectively.Expenses $506,962
- Media - DREDF continues to expand its strategic communications efforts to enhance outreach across traditional and social media, elevating disability civil rights. This year, DREDF responded to over 80 press inquiries. In February 2025, DREDF experienced a massive increase in page views and followers due to its coverage of a case that threatened Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. DREDF has over 43,000 followers on social media, over 18,000 subscribers to its email list, and its website averages 1,000 daily page views. During FY 2025, the website had 920,000 views.Expenses $102,147
- Public Education & Technical Assistance - DREDF continues to prioritize theaccessibility of its materials when it amplifies key disability issues through itspartnership with the California Office of Community Partnerships and StrategicCommunications (OCPSC). DREDF serves as a trusted messenger of OCPSC to Californianswith disabilities. DREDF conducted trainings and provided technical assistance ondisability access and inclusion to community-based organizations throughoutCalifornia, building the capacity of over 600 community workers to effectivelyserve and support disabled people and their families.Expenses $71,438
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 30, 2026 | February 16, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | September 30, 2025 | February 17, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | September 30, 2024 | February 18, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 94-2620758
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1981
- Accounting year ends
- September
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Civil rights, social action and advocacy (R23Z)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $5,493,864
- Income (IRS master file)
- $4,210,171
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | September 2025 | $4,193,819 | $4,188,526 | $5,493,864 | XML |
| 990 | September 2024 | $3,320,772 | $3,700,151 | $4,803,570 | XML |
| 990 | September 2023 | $3,259,198 | $2,740,192 | $5,195,352 | XML |
| 990 | September 2022 | $3,185,251 | $2,603,870 | $3,931,995 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 94-2620758).
Questions about DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND INC
- What is the EIN of DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND INC is 94-2620758.
- Is DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1981.
- Are donations to DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND INC?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names Maria Michelle Uzeta.
- Who are the officers and directors of DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND INC?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 17 people; 8 received compensation from the organization, the highest $157,592 (Maria M Uzeta, Int. ED/Dep Dir).
- How much revenue does DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $4,193,819, expenses of $4,188,526 and total assets of $5,493,864 at year end.
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All nonprofits in BERKELEY · California · Civil rights, social action and advocacy