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Top Rated

Arc of the United States (National Office)

CharityWatch report issued
April 2022

Top-Rated Charity
A-
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
87%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$22
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Arc of the United States (National Office)
1825 K Street, NW
Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20006

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.thearc.org

Stated Mission

Promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.

View similar charities
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2020

Program Percentage: 87%

The percentage of Arc of the United States (National Office)'s cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$10,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $22

How many dollars Arc of the United States (National Office) spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$4,700,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
The Arc of the United States IRS Form 990 13-5642032
The Arc of the United States & Affiliates Audited Consolidated Financial Statements multiple
Entity: The Arc of the United States
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 13-5642032
Entity: The Arc of the United States & Affiliates
Document Type: Audited Consolidated Financial Statements
Tax ID: multiple

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
Arc of the United States (National Office)
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Arc of the United States (National Office)
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy No Sharing  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Peter Berns CEO $530,611
2 Ruben Rodriguez COO $233,956
3 Julie Ward Senior Executive Officer, Public Policy $203,271
1
Name: Peter Berns
Title: CEO
Compensation: $530,611
2
Name: Ruben Rodriguez
Title: COO
Compensation: $233,956
3
Name: Julie Ward
Title: Senior Executive Officer, Public Policy
Compensation: $203,271

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

CharityWatch's rating of The Arc of the United States is for the national office of the organization (tax ID #13-5642032). The rating does not include the financial activities of the over 600 individual state and local chapters of The Arc.


According to The Arc of the United States consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 1 re: Organization):

"The Arc of the United States (The Arc) is the national headquarters of the largest community-based organization of and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities...

"The Arc provides an array of services and support for families and individuals and includes over 140,000 members affiliated through over 600 state and local chapters across the nation..."

According to The Arc of the United States consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 11, Contributed Services), The Arc received in-kind donated services in 2020 on which it placed a total value of $4,706,407. Of this amount, $4,606,407 consisted of donated legal services.

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to The Arc of the United States consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 4, PPP Loan Funding):

"On April 20, 2020, The Arc received loan proceeds in the amount of $1,111,300 under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the promissory note must be used for certain expenditures within a 24-week period to ultimately be forgiven by the Small Business Administration. During the year ended December 31, 2020, The Arc expended and tracked the PPP funds for purposes outlined in the CARES Act guidance and believes they have met all conditions set forth for full forgiveness. Accordingly, under [accounting standards] guidance...The Arc has recognized the PPP funding as a conditional grant by which all conditions have been met. The Arc has deemed the forgiveness by the SBA to be highly probable, an administrative task only, and not a barrier to recognition. The full amount of the grant was recognized as grant income in the [audited] Consolidated Statement of Activities and Change in Net Assets. Subsequent to year-end, The Arc received notification the total amount of the PPP funds were forgiven by the SBA."

According to The Arc of the United States consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 1 re: Risks and uncertainties):

"The Organizations invest in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rates, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the accompanying [audited] consolidated financial statements."


According to The Arc of the United States consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 1 re: Economic uncertainties):

"On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a global pandemic. As a result of the spread of COVID-19, economic uncertainties have arisen which may negatively impact the Organizations' operations. The Arc cancelled their Disability Policy Seminar in April 2020. There were no penalties assessed due to the cancellation. The Arc then held virtual meetings for the July 2020 Summer Leadership Institution and the October 2020 National Convention. The Arc is also planning to hold the Disability Policy Seminar virtually in April 2021.

"The Organizations are planning very cautiously to pursue a strategy of delaying and rescheduling events throughout fiscal year 2021. Other potential financial or operational impacts from COVID-19 are unknown at this time."

According to The Arc of the United States consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 16, Subsequent Events):

"In preparing these [audited] consolidated financial statements, the Organizations have evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through April 18, 2021, the date the consolidated financial statements were issued.

"In February 2021, The Arc of the United States entered into a five year promissory note agreement in the amount of $1,115,357 with a 1% fixed interest rate under the second round of funding from the Paycheck Protection Program. The promissory note calls for monthly principal and interest payments amortized over the term of the promissory note, unless otherwise forgiven. Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the promissory note may be forgiven by the Small Business Administration in whole or in part."

According to The Arc of the United States 2020 tax filing, The Arc reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

Regarding nonfixed payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 7):

"The CEO earned bonuses under the terms of a written bonus plan that includes quantitative goals that are based, in part, on achieving increases in certain types of revenue. This amount has been reflected in Part II, column B(ii) ['Bonus & incentive compensation']."

In addition, The Arc reports providing "bonus compensation" to the CEO and seven other individuals "for performance above and beyond the regular expectations of their positions..."


The reported "bonus compensation" is $2,000 for each of the eight individuals, including the CEO, Peter Berns. The associated reported total compensation for those eight individuals in 2020 ranges from $530,611 to $145,536 (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Parts II & III and IRS Form 990, Part VII).