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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: February 2026 Expires: February 2028

Disability Rights Mississippi

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
14
(800) 772-4057
5 Old River Place, Suite 101
Jackson, MS, 39202
http://drms.ms/
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Disability Rights Mississippi does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 14 (Budget)
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

DRMS does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided 2025 budget information, it indicated that the budget:

  • Did not identify total projected program service expenses and did not break these expenses down by major program category (assistive technology, beneficiaries of social security, developmental disabilities, Developmental Disabilities Council, individual rights, mental illness, public heath workforce, representative payee, traumatic brain injury, voter access).
  • Did not identify total projected administrative expenses.

Disability Rights Mississippi meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to promote, protect and advocate for the legal and human rights of all people with disabilities, and to assist them with full inclusion in home, community, education, and employment."

Year, State Incorporated:
1982, MS

Disability Rights Mississippi (DRMS) reports that it is the State of Mississippi’s protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities. The organization’s work focuses on addressing children’s rights and education issues, civil rights, employment and benefits, as well as monitoring and investigations. DRMS provides legal and advocacy services to individuals with disabilities, if their rights have been violated. The organization monitors for abuse, neglect, and exploitation at facilities and group living settings that serve people with disabilities. In 2024, DRMS reports it helped 650 individuals with information, referrals, technical assistance, case services, individual advocacy, and investigations.

For the year ended September 30, 2023, Disability Rights Mississippi's program expenses were:

Mental illness $475,870
Developmental disabilities $409,474
Representative payee $324,068
Beneficiaries of social security $112,964
Public health workforce $112,246
Individual rights $107,407
Voter access $59,743
Assistive technology $34,872
Traumatic brain injury $34,447
Developmental Disabilities Council $9,254
Total Program Expenses $1,680,345

Chief Executive
Polly Tribble, Executive Director

Compensation*
$100,343

Chair of the Board
Charlene Gressett

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Mental Health Service Provider

Board Size
12

Paid Staff Size
23

*2022 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Internet

Fundraising costs were 2% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,955,187, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Disability Rights Mississippi's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2023.

Source of Funds
Federal grants $1,948,199
Other income $63,133
Contributions $6,988
Total Income $2,018,320

Programs: 82% Fundraising: 2% Administrative: 14%

Total Income $2,018,320
Total expenses: $2,060,134
  Program expenses $1,680,345
  Fundraising expenses $41,276
  Administrative expenses $298,513
  Other expenses $40,000
Income in Excess of Expenses $-41,814
Beginning Net Assets $28,003
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $-13,811
Total Liabilities $209,723
Total Assets $195,912

Note: In the above financial statement, "other expenses" refers to a settlement of a lawsuit.

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Serving Mississippi