Subsequent to the Second Annual Meeting, in August 2001, the U. S. Department of Labor's Office of Employment and Disability Policy (ODEP) granted funding for a four-year period, ending June 30, 2005. This grant was used to formalize the structure of COSD with a full-time Executive Director leading all activities of the organization, promoting the creation of new and innovative programs to pilot around the country and to recruiting additional participants from all three sectors of university disability services, university career services and employers. The Executive Director is also the primary communication point for interactions with other national associations related to this field, such as the Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN). Other organizations will be contacted and invited to join with COSD as issues arise. The Executive Director is the primary strategic leader supported by an Advisory Committee comprised of representatives of higher education, corporations and U. S. Government agencies. An annual report was prepared at the end of each funding year to indicate the progress of COSD in the areas of programs, communication and growth in number of participants. As per the restrictions of Government funding, there was no membership fee for participating entities.

Previously, there was no direct funding of COSD. The first two Annual National Meetings were funded with in-kind contributions from our corporate participants. However, as the Meetings grew into larger Conferences, funding was and continues to be received from a number of corporate and agency sponsors.