Special Olympics Maryland Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HERE IN MARYLAND, SPECIAL OLYMPICS TRANSFORMS THE LIVES OF 11,732 CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND 14,380 UNIFIED TEAMMATES, THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, THROUGH MEANINGFUL SPORT EXPERIENCES, HEALTH PROMOTION AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS. WE BUILD INTERACTIVE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES OF DIGNITY AND RESPECT THROUGH EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ON AND OFF THE FIELD. SPECIAL OLYMPICS MARYLAND PROGRAMS ARE FREE TO ALL ELIGIBLE ATHLETES AND ARE MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO FUNDS RAISED THROUGH SPECIAL EVENTS AND GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATE PARTNERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, FOUNDATIONS AND GOVERNMENT/EDUCATION AGENCIES. MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS STATE ARE THE GUARDIANS OF THE FLAME OF HOPE FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS MARYLAND ATHLETES AND RAISE AWARNESS AND FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.
- Income
- $7.4 million
- Spending
- $8.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 11.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 50
- Volunteers
- 6,749
- Highest pay
- $301,278, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 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)
- $5.4 million spent. DEDICATED TO PROMOTING INTERACTIVE SOCIAL INCLUSION THROUGH SHARED SPORTS TRAINING AND COMPETITION EXPERIENCES, UNIFIED SPORTS JOINS PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES ON THE SAME TEAM. IT WAS INSPIRED BY A SIMPLE PRINCIPLE: TRAINING TOGETHER AND PLAYING TOGETHER PROVIDES A PATHWAY TO RESPECT, UNDERSTANDING AND FRIENDSHIP. IN 2025, SOMD CELEBRATED OUR 17TH ANNIVERSARY OF INTERSCHOLASTIC UNIFIED SPORTS (IUS). WE'RE PROUD OF OUR COLLABORATION WITH ALL 24 SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SINCE 2011 STUDENT ATHLETE PARTICIPATION IN THE IUS PROGRAM HAS GROWN FROM 853 TO 4034, ENGAGING ATHLETES OF ALL ABILITITES THROUGHOUT MARYLAND, WHILE THE NUMBER OF UNIFIED SPORTS TEAMMATES WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES HAS GROWN FROM 1,101 TO 6,224. IN ADDITION, IN 2025 SOMD'S YOUNG ATHLETES PROGRAM SERVED 3,497 STUDENTS AGED 0 TO 5 WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES ALONG WITH 8,156 OF THEIR TEAMMATES WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. THESE INTERSCHOLASTIC UNIFIED SPORTS PROGRAMS YIELD POSITIVE RESULTS AS A TRANSFORMATIVE SOCIAL CHANGE AGENT IN SCHOOLS WHERE NON-DISABLED STUDENTS WHO HISTORICALLY DID NOT ENGAGE WITH THEIR DISABLED STUDENT PEERS NOW HAVE FORGED LASTING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH SPORT.THE IUS PROGRAM PROVIDES A BLUEPRINT TO EXPAND REACH THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS (UCS) PROGRAM MODEL AT ALL GRADE LEVELS INCLUDING EARLY CHILDHOOD. OUR UNIFIED YOUNG ATHLETES PROGRAM HAS GROWN OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. OF THE 26,112 UNIFIED ATHLETES AND TEAMMATES, WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, OVER 14,380 STUDENT ATHLETES AGED 7 AND UNDER PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM, A 22% INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD HELPS ACCELERATES COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT SO OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE SCHOOLS IS FAR REACHING IN THE HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF ALL STUDENTS.BECAUSE OF THE UCS PROGRAM, SPECIAL OLYMPICS MARYLAND RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY $250,000 OF DONATED SUPPLIES, FACILITATORS, AND OTHER SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM FOR TRAINING, COMPETITION AND RELATED ACTIVITIES. SMART GROWTH THROUGH SCHOOLS REMAINS A PILLAR IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN WHILE ALSO SERVING AS A CATALYST FOR BUILDING INTERACTIVE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES OF DIGNITY AND RESPECT. THROUGH THESE ORGANIZED SCHOLASTIC UNIFIED SPORTS PROGRAMS, WE ARE INSPIRING AND GROWING A GENERATION THAT WILL LIVE THE MOST INTERACTIVE, INCLUSIVE LIVES IN HISTORY.WE STAY COMMITTED TO ATHLETE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, PROVIDING PROGRAMS FOR ATHLETES IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND AGENCIES, FOR UNIFIED RECREATION PROGRAMS ON LOCAL COLLEGE CAMPUSES, PARTERNING WITH SCHOOLS, INCORPORATING OUR PROGRAMS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SETTINGS AND AT-HOME, WHILE ALSO SEEKING "NEW" ATHLETES. WE ARE CONTINUALLY IMPLEMENTING RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES AND TACTICS, AS WELL AS INITIATING PILOT PROGRAMS, TO FULFILL OUR MISSION BY REACHING AS MANY ATHLETES AS POSSIBLE.
- $756,468 spent. SPECIAL OLYMPICS MARYLAND IS PROUD TO HAVE A CORE GROUP OF DEDICATED COMMUNITY-BASED, LEADERSHIP VOLUNTEERS WHO ORGANIZE AND MANAGE 19 "AREA" (COUNTY/CITY) PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE. THESE VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT TEAMS RECRUIT ATHLETES; SECURE FACILITIES, UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT; SCHEDULE PRACTICES AND COMPETITIONS. THEY RECRUIT AND TRAIN VOLUNTEERS AND RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS ALL DIRECTED AT DELIVERING THE MISSION TO OUR ATHLETES IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY LIVE. SOMD STAFF ALSO HOLD TRAINING WORKSHOPS AND PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR COACH CERTIFICATION FOR OUR SPORTS PROGRAMS. FAMILIES ALSO PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING THEIR ATHLETES. IN ADDITION TO GETTING ATHLETES REGISTERED AND TRANSPORTED TO AND FROM PRACTICE AND COMPETITION, FAMILY MEMBERS VOLUNTEER, RAISE MONEY AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR ATHLETES.FINALLY, OVER 6,700 VOLUNTEERS PLAY VITAL ROLES AS COACHES, OFFICIALS, EVENT ORGANIZERS AND DAY-OF-EVENT FACILITATORS. INCLUDED IN THIS POOL OF VOLUNTEERS ARE CLINICIANS FROM AROUND THE STATE OF MARYLAND WHO PARTICIPATE IN MEDFESTS SINGLE DAY HEALTH AND WELLNESS SCREENINGS HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR - TO PROMOTE HEALTHY ATHLETES. THESE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS PERFORM EYE EXAMS, HEARING TESTS, PODIATRY EVALUATIONS, DENTAL EVALUATIONS, MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS, AND EDUCATION ON NUTRITION & FITNESS, INCLUDING PROVIDING REFERRALS FOR FOLLOW UP CARE AS NEEDED.
- $993,138 spent. SPECIAL OLYMPICS MARYLAND HAS A GOAL TO ENGAGE AS MANY ACTIVE ATHLETES AS POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MARYLAND. ATHLETES ARE PLAYING A CRITICAL LEADERSHIP ROLE TO ACHIEVING THAT GOAL. SOMD HAS DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE ATHLETE LEADERSHIP AND OUTREACH PROGRAM WHICH DEVELOPS COMPETENCIES THAT ENABLE OUR ATHLETES TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT WILL HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND MORE GENERALLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES. WE PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FOCUSES ON AND HIGHLIGHTS INDIVIDUAL ABILITIES. THE ATHLETE LEADERSHIP CURRICULUM HELPS IDENTIFY THE STRENGTHS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL AND DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS. SPECIAL OLYMPICS MARYLAND WORKS WITH STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS, VOLUNTEER LEADERS, COACHES, EVENT MANAGEMENT TEAMS, CORPORATE PARTNERS AND OTHER SUPPORTERS IN AN EFFORT TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALLOW OUR ATHLETES TO TELL THEIR STORY. USING SOCIAL MEDIA AND IN PERSON PRESENTATIONS, ATHLETES ENGAGE WITH A WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALL FOCUSED ON BUILDING INTERACTIVE COMMUNITIES OF DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
Source: Form 990 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 December 1970.
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.
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