Granny Basketball League
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The object of this non-profit, 501(c)(3) Corporation shall be to provide entertainment and education for charitable and non-profit groups by organizing and playing 1920s-style basketball games utilizing its "Granny Basketball players" who must be age 50 or over. The Corporation also organizes and provides League activities to promote fun, competitive exercise and as a way to preserve the history of six-on-six basketball.
- Income
- $179,065
- Spending
- $178,510
- Reserves
- 7.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 61%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $13,974 spent. The Granny Basketball League organized league games and tournaments for all participants. The League continued to grow during 2025, adding 4 new teams (added 9 in 2024) and increasing the number of players to 791 in 2025 (from 649 in 2024), hailing themselves from 19 states plus Canada. As of December 2025, the number of league teams increased to 56 teams (from 52 in 2024) established in 11 states (from 10 in 2024), plus continues to have one Canadian team. Reflecting the League's focus on competitive exercise for women over age 50, during 2025 the League boosts over a quarter of its players are in their 70s with another 5% over age 79: 5 are age 90 or older, 7 are age 85-89, 29 are age 80-85. The majority of players, 47%, are in their 60's. The youngest age range of 50-59 brings 21% of players. During 2025, the League registered 104 volunteers (73 in 2024) as referees, scorekeepers, and other supporting roles. The League employs no paid staff, with both operations and governance provided by a volunteer board of directors of 9 players and registered volunteers. In collaboration with two state Senior Games, the League coordinates the Granny Basketball tournaments in the Iowa Senior Games in June and the Kansas Senior Games in September for local teams to compete. Each are two-day events. See our "In the News" page for links to various news features, stories, interviews and articles: https://www.grannybasketball.com/2024-news-archive.
- $53,988 spent. The league's 2025 National Granny Basketball Tournament was held at Game On Sports Complex, Fort Worth, TX. A total of 29 teams participated: 9 in the Championship Division, 8 in the new Hotsy Totsy Division, and 12 in the Off Our Rockers Division. In 89 games, over 348 players competed. Over 71 volunteers from the local community and Granny Basketball League participated in this successful event. Sponsorships raised amongst all of the Texas teams totaled almost $26,000, making attending the 2025 National Tournament more affordable for participants. The designated charities for the 2025 event's fundraising efforts were the Tara Sawyer Foundation (TSF) and Cook Children's Hospital. Teams competed for the highest quantity brought of sandwich baggies containing small shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, to donate to Cook Children's Hospital. Teams delivered a total of 3,247 toiletry bags, valued at $5 each, in-person at the tournament to donate to Cook Children's Hospital. Several teams delivered over 200 baggies and the winning team, Cowtown Heifers of Fort Worth, Texas, delivered over 500 baggies. When you have an emergency to go to the hospital with a child, you may not be prepared, and Cook Children's Hospital goes through over 200 bags per week of these baggies of personal care supplies. Over $6,000 cash was raised for TSF Through gate receipts, team donations, and fun activities such as basketball shooting contests for players, volunteers and the public. Additionally, for TSF, players donated sports equipment donations, including: Golf clubs, soccer balls, baseballs, softballs, basketballs, volleyballs, golf balls, basketball shoes, footballs, equipment, uniforms, swim goggles, baseball caddy, agility cones, etc. ... The 2026 National Tournament will host over 24 teams for 3 days in on July 17th, 18th, 19th, at Prairie Trails Sports Complex, Ankeny, IA. The first National Granny Basketball Tournament was held in June, 2008, in Minneapolis, MN. See our "National Tournament" web page for further information at: https://www.grannybasketball.com/national-tournament
- $98,195 spent. During 2025, the league's 56 local teams (52 in 2024) collectively raised more than $78,750 for charities ($60,000 in 2024) in their local areas through exhibition games and other activities. The highest raised in a single exhibition game was achieved by the Six Shooters in Waco, TX, who raised more than $24,500 for their charity. Local teams schedule games during the general playing season of January through May. Over 243 games in total during 2025 (198 in 2024) were played by local teams. The highest number of games played in 2025 were in the Central Division (79 games, 75 in 2024) and in the Southern Division (79 games, 71 in 2024). June to September, the league features its tournament season with teams traveling to compete in Granny Basketball tournaments as part of the Iowa Senior Games and the Kansas Senior Games. Traveling to the 2025 Iowa Senior Games, 13 teams participated in 33 games. For the 2025 Kansas Senior Games, 12 teams played in 35 games. In addition to these events and our League's National Tournament in 2025, the Red River Rivalry Tournament was held in March 2025 in Sherman, Texas. Competing in 34 games were 12 teams hailing from Oklahoma and Texas. Teams participating in the 2025 National Tournament supported the designated charity with a friendly competition with donations of sandwich baggies containing small shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, to donate to Cook Children's Hospital. When you have an emergency to go to the hospital with a child, you may not be prepared, and Cook Children's Hospital goes through over 200 bags per week of these baggies of personal care supplies. In the fall and other times of the year, some teams conduct Learn-to-Play events to introduce Granny Basketball to prospective players and prospective volunteers.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.