Charity Search / DESIGNATED EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES FOR INDEPENDENCE
Recreation & Sports (N20) IRS Verified DX Registered 990 on File

DESIGNATED EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES FOR INDEPENDENCE

EIN: 90-0775966 · LOS ANGELES, CA 90022-3212 · United States · FY 2024 Data
4 out of 5 75 / 100 Based on 2+ years of filings
Financial strength (30%) 48/100
Reliability (20%) 77/100
Effectiveness (25%) 97/100
Impact (25%) 85/100
Financial data: FY 2024 · Scored 9/13/2026
Claim this Charity
71
CharityAI™ Score
out of 100
Mission Statement

DESI was founded in 2008 to help support families with children and young adults with developmental disabilities. Our goal is to make our clients independent and become active members of their community. These activities could be tasks such as utilizing public transportation, attending post-secondary education, acquiring employment, micro-enterprising, building appropriate social skills, learning about financial budgeting, and any other areas in which assistance is desired.

Financial Overview — FY 2024
$2.1M
Total Revenue
$2.1M
Total Expenses
$-218,885
Net Assets
67
Employees
Revenue Sources
Expense Breakdown
Program Expense Ratio 100.0%
Fundraising Efficiency N/A
Operating Reserve -1.26x
Liability-to-Asset 131.8%
Revenue Diversification 92.7%
Compared with Peers
FY 2024
Compared with 1,615 similar organizations (United States, Recreation & Sports, $1M–$10M in expenses), FY 2024.
This organization Middle half of peers (P25–P75) Peer median
Ratio This org Peer median Position (P10 → P90)
Program expense ratio
Program expenses / total expenses · higher is better
100.0% 87.4%
P10P90
Top quarter
Admin expense ratio
Management and general / total expenses · lower is better
0.0% 9.7%
P10P90
Top quarter
Fundraising expense ratio
Fundraising expenses / total expenses · lower is better
0.0% 0.0%
P10P90
Top quarter
Operating reserve
Months of expenses covered by net assets · higher is better
-1.3 mo 8.2 mo
P10P90
Bottom quarter
Liabilities to assets
Total liabilities / total assets · lower is better
131.8% 11.0%
P10P90
Bottom quarter
Revenue concentration
Share of revenue from the largest source · lower is better
92.7% 89.6%
P10P90
Below median
Revenue growth
Year over year revenue growth
17.0% 9.3%
P10P90
Expense growth
Year over year expense growth
14.7% 9.5%
P10P90
Surplus margin
Surplus as a share of revenue
1.6% 2.8%
P10P90
CharityAI™ Evaluation — 2025
71 / 100
35
Financial
77
Reliability
97
Effectiveness
85
Impact
Financial Strength (30%) 35
Reliability & Transparency (20%) 77
Program Effectiveness (25%) 97
Impact & Outcomes (25%) 85

691,044 served annually $570 per beneficiary 14 programs 67 staff

IRS Verified Form 990 on File 90% Data Complete
Impact
14 programs
Outcome / Program People Served Cost / Service # Completed Duration
April 2026: Distributed 45,056 Lbs of donated food, providing vital nutrition to 7,000 individuals. 45,056 $1.93 Per Month
Mar 26: 48k lbs food fed 6,316; program provided jobs for women & paid interns w/Disabilities 6,316 $14.62 Per Month
2025:521,224 lbs of food fed 63,528 via jobs for women & paid interns with disabilities 63,528 $15.75 Per Year
Reduced local road risk by certifying 24 new drivers in defensive driving techniques 24 $629.33 Lifetime
Empowered 250 disabled clients, staff & residents with transit access to foster work & independence. 250 $314.00 Per Year
Over 100 staff & disabled adults completed continuing ed, enhancing vocational skills and growth 100 $172.50 Lifetime
Facilitated equal-pay job placement for 75 disabled adults and staff to drive economic growth. 75 $800.00 Lifetime
secured 25living-wage job placements 4 staff, disabled individuals promoting long-term independence 25 $3,000.00 Lifetime
Enabled 50 disabled adults to use accessible paratransit through training & fare reduction 50 $312.00 Per Year
Empowered 5 single mothers to exit welfare through D.E.S.I. employment, fostering self-sufficiency 5 $2,700.00 Lifetime
ensured food security for 20,000 immigrants and disabled clients, reducing hunger and poverty. 20,000 $3.25 Per Year
diverted over 521k lbs of food waste to feed 63000 people, promoting city wide sustainability 521,000 $0.05 Per Year
Recycled 33,865 lbs of cardboard from food distributions, ensuring Desi Environmental Sustainability 33,865 $0.07 Per Year
Provided 750 hours of transit training to 250 disabled adults, increasing community mobility. 750 $18.00 Lifetime
Financial History
Year Revenue Expenses Net Assets Program % Staff
2024 $2.1M $2.1M $-218,885 100.0% 67
2023 $1.8M $1.8M $-105,949 98.0% 67
2022 $1.1M $1.4M $-101,449 0.0% 61
2021 $1.5M $1.3M N/A 5815
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Organization Details
EIN
90-0775966
State
CA
City
LOS ANGELES
ZIP
90022-3212
Classification
N20
Category
Recreation & Sports
Rating
4★
Coverage
A
Last Updated
Aug 2026
IRS Ruling Year
2011
Foundation Code
15
Form 990
On File
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