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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: May 2026 Expires: May 2027

Down Syndrome Association of Greater St Louis

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
(314) 961-2504
1300 Strassner Dr
Brentwood, MO, 63144
https://dsagsl.org/contact/
📄 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

Down Syndrome Association of Greater St Louis meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"The Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis serves, supports, and celebrates the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and their families, through every stage of life."

Year, State Incorporated:
1976, MO

Also Known As:
Down Syndrome Association of St Louis

The Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis offers programs and services to individuals with Down syndrome through the lifespan as well as their families. The organization serves a radius of 150 miles from the city of St. Louis and works to help individuals with Down syndrome reach their full potential. To that end, the DSAGSL offers the following programs:
New Family Support – Support for new families can begin as early as a prenatal diagnosis or when the baby is born. Staff and volunteers make home and hospital visits, delivering Celebration Baskets” with resources and tools to get the baby and family off to the best start. In addition, staff provides ongoing support, 1:1 mentor services, family events, workshops, resource mailings, and a lending library.
Adult and Aging Family Support – Individuals with Ds are living longer than ever before. The DSA supports families of aging adults with Down syndrome as they navigate the public benefits system, residential options, health care, employment, day programs and more. The Association offers workshops, mailings, support groups, networking events and ongoing 1:1 support.
Community Groups – The DSA serves individuals of all backgrounds. In order to serve all individuals and meet unique community needs, the organization offers Community Groups. These groups could be based on region, such as our Metro East Community Group, may be based on cultural background, such as our African American Family Meet-Ups and our Latinx Community Group, or may be based on diagnoses, such as our Ds-Autism Dual Diagnosis Community Group.
The Medical Outreach program provides information and education to health professionals across the region to ensure appropriate and accurate diagnoses and health care for individuals with Down syndrome.
Education Specialist Program: This four-session program offers information about Down syndrome, behavior, curriculum modification, technology and techniques to promote inclusion for children with Down syndrome in the schools. In-service trainings and presentations are also available to schools.
Social and Skill Building Programs: the Association offers skill building and social programs to help individuals with Down syndrome reach their full potential. Music therapy, topical group discussions, employment training, small steps therapy camp, playgroups, self-advocacy and more are provided.
Social Enterprise and Employment: The DSA has developed a small social enterprise – the Pop Up Marketplace – as an employment and hands-on training opportunity for individuals with Down syndrome. Individuals are responsible for all aspects of the marketplace and earn a fair wage as they learn key employment skills.
Community Awareness: A key component of the DSAGSLs mission is to raise awareness about the extraordinary lives of individuals with Down syndrome. The organization spreads awareness and celebrates Down syndrome through electronic and printed newsletters, social media, large community awareness events, and community presentations and partnerships.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, Down Syndrome Association of Greater St Louis's program expenses were:

Programs $1,346,027
Total Program Expenses $1,346,027

Chief Executive
Erin Suelmann, Executive Director

Chair of the Board
Michelle Abounader

Board Size
24

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Television, Grant proposals

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 Down Syndrome Association of Greater St Louis's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Source of Funds
Fundraising Income $727,484
Grant Income $440,730
Contributions $179,980
In-Kind Donations $130,366
Investment Income $106,884
Memorials $79,116
Program Income $64,932
Merchandise Sales, Net $10,024
Loss on Disposal of Assets $-11,683
Total Income $1,727,833

Programs: 80% Fundraising: 15% Administrative: 5%

Total Income $1,727,833
Total expenses: $1,678,546
  Program expenses $1,346,027
  Fundraising expenses $247,746
  Administrative expenses $84,773
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $49,287
Beginning Net Assets $1,574,856
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $1,624,143
Total Liabilities $975,419
Total Assets $2,599,562

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.

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Report completed by:
BBB of Eastern & Southwest Missouri & Southern Illinois