down syndrome society of ri

What down syndrome society of ri does

The Down Syndrome Society of Rhode Island (DSSRI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit parent support organization founded in 1982 and headquartered in West Warwick, Rhode Island. It is the oldest organization in the state serving children and adults with Down syndrome and their families, operating with a five-member volunteer Board of Directors (President Melissa Hansen, Treasurer Keith Hansen, Recording Secretary Katie Furtado, Stephen Feole II, and Melissa Cameron). The organization is affiliated with the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) and the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), and is licensed to host the Buddy Walk in Rhode Island.

DSSRI delivers a portfolio of community-based services centered on advocacy, education, public awareness, and direct support. Core offerings include parent-to-parent support, informational meetings, newsletters, school and professional speaker programs, and the distribution of New Parent Baskets to newly diagnosed families. Signature annual events — the Buddy Walk and the annual holiday party — drive both fundraising and community engagement. Direct financial assistance is provided through three named programs: an Education Development Scholarship of up to $1,000, an Educational Advocacy Grant of up to $500, and an Assistive Technology and Tools Grant. There is no proprietary technology platform; delivery is human-led via events, email newsletter, a Wix-hosted website, and a Facebook page.

The organization's revenue model is built on individual donations, annual membership dues (collected via PayPal through the website), and event-based fundraising. Pricing is not publicly disclosed beyond grant and scholarship caps. Geographic reach is intentionally limited to the state of Rhode Island, and the organization explicitly states no parent company, private equity, or venture capital ownership. GTM motion is community-led and event-driven, with no commercial sales motion.

Name

down syndrome society of ri

Legal name

Down Syndrome Society of Rhode Island, Inc.

Website

https://dssri.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Down Syndrome Society of Rhode Island is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 that provides advocacy, education, scholarships, grants, and community events for individuals with Down syndrome and their families across Rhode Island.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy and Family Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• Parent support programs
• Community fundraising events
• Educational scholarship grants
• Nonprofit family services

Headquarters

HQ city

West Warwick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization accepts monetary donations from the community to support its programs and services for families in Rhode Island. Donations are solicited through the website and at events.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues provide ongoing support for the organization. Members receive newsletters, announcements of DSSRI-sponsored events, and access to support services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Down Syndrome Society of Rhode Island (DSSRI) is a 501(c)(3) parent support organization that provides advocacy, education, public awareness, and direct support services to individuals with Down syndrome and their families in Rhode Island. The organization operates scholarship and grant programs (Education Development Scholarship up to $1,000, Educational Advocacy Grant up to $500, Assistive Technology and Tools Grant), hosts community events such as the Buddy Walk and annual holiday party, distributes New Parent Baskets to new families, and runs a membership program that includes newsletter access.

Product overview

DSSRI is a non-profit parent support organization providing a unified portfolio of services to individuals with Down syndrome and their families in Rhode Island. The core offerings include parent support, information, advocacy, and community events (Buddy Walk, annual holiday party). Financial assistance programs include the Education Development Scholarship (up to $1,000), Educational Advocacy Grant (up to $500), and Assistive Technology and Tools Grant. Additional services include free New Parent Baskets, a membership program with newsletter access, and volunteer opportunities. The organization is affiliated with the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) and National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Parent Support Services Core service offering parent-to-parent support, information, and advocacy in the service system and community for families of individuals with Down syndrome in Rhode Island, including informational meetings with speakers and panels.
• New Parent Baskets Free welcome packages provided to new Down syndrome families in Rhode Island containing books about Down syndrome, pamphlets, toys, and items for parents to celebrate their new family member.
• Newsletter Regular newsletter distributed to members featuring announcements, special DSSRI-sponsored events, support resources, and community updates for the Rhode Island Down syndrome community.
• Buddy Walk Annual fundraising walk event that brings together families and community members to support individuals with Down syndrome in Rhode Island.
• Annual Holiday Party Annual community event hosted by DSSRI bringing together families and individuals with Down syndrome in Rhode Island for holiday celebrations.
• Education Development Scholarship Scholarship of up to $1,000 available to Rhode Island residents with Down syndrome looking to further their education or develop new skills, paid directly to the school or program of choice.
• Educational Advocacy Grant Grant of up to $500 awarded to individuals and caretakers to assist with professional educational advocacy services, specifically supporting individuals with Down syndrome in Rhode Island and their families to acquire necessary support in the education system.
• Assistive Technology and Tools Grant Grant available to individuals and caretakers to support children with Down syndrome and/or schools with assistive technology, seating, and play equipment, with funds awarded directly to the required vendor.
• Membership Program Annual membership program supporting DSSRI programs and services; members receive the newsletter and announcements of DSSRI-sponsored events. Dues are collected via PayPal.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer opportunities for community members to share time and talent in support of DSSRI's mission of advocacy, education, and community support for individuals with Down syndrome in Rhode Island.
• Donation Program Community donation program providing financial support to help DSSRI provide support for families around Rhode Island. Donations are accepted through the website.
• Community and Professional Speaking Program DSSRI provides speakers to schools, colleges, professional organizations, medical offices, and civic groups to promote awareness and understanding of Down syndrome and inclusive practices across Rhode Island.

Quantifiable outcome

• Education Development Scholarship provides up to $1,000 for educational advancement
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC)coreOthersDSSRI is affiliated with the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC), a national organization providing resources, advocacy support, and a network for Down syndrome organizations across the United States. DSSRI shares NDSC resources including the New Parent Guide with Rhode Island families.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action: DSAIA is a coalition of local Down syndrome affiliates. It is a thematic peer to DSSRI as the umbrella organization supporting state-level Down syndrome nonprofits like DSSRI, sharing advocacy and best-practice resources across the affiliate network.

Broad incumbents

• National Down Syndrome Society: NDSS is the largest U.S. national nonprofit focused on Down syndrome advocacy, resources, and programming. It is directly relevant as DSSRI's affiliated national partner and serves overlapping beneficiary populations, but operates at a much broader geographic and programmatic scale.
• National Down Syndrome Congress: NDSC is a national Down syndrome organization providing advocacy, education, and a network for local affiliates. It is comparable as DSSRI's other affiliated national body and shares the same mission to support individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

Direct peers

• GiGi's Playhouse: GiGi's Playhouse is a national network of Down syndrome achievement centers offering free educational, therapeutic, and career development programs. It is comparable to DSSRI in mission and beneficiary base, though it operates physical centers rather than a community-event model.
• Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress: MDSC is the state-level Down syndrome organization serving Massachusetts. It is a direct peer to DSSRI, offering a parallel mix of parent support, advocacy, scholarships, community events, and education programming in a neighboring New England state.
• Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut: DSACT serves individuals with Down syndrome and families across Connecticut. It is a direct state-chapter peer to DSSRI with comparable services including parent support, advocacy, and community events in a neighboring New England state.

Regional players

• The Arc of Rhode Island: The Arc of Rhode Island advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Down syndrome. It is a regional peer that overlaps with DSSRI's mission and Rhode Island service area, though it serves a broader IDD population beyond Down syndrome.
• Rhode Island Parent Information Network: RIPIN is a Rhode Island-based nonprofit supporting families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. It is a regional peer that overlaps with DSSRI's parent-support and advocacy functions, though its scope is broader across all disabilities and family needs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DSSRhodeIsland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/down-syndrome-society-of-rhode-island-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about down syndrome society of ri