Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Special Olympics Tennessee Inc

EIN 23-7348136 · Brentwood, TN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND SPORTS TRAINING AND ATHLETIC COMPETITION IN A VARIETY OF OLYMPIC-TYPE SPORTS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, GIVING THEM CONTINUING OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP PHYSICAL FITNESS, DEMONSTRATE COURAGE, EXPERIENCE JOY AND PARTICIPATE IN A SHARING OF GIFTS, SKILLS AND FRIENDSHIP WITH THEIR FAMILIES, OTHER SPECIAL OLYMPIC ATHLETES AND THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
21.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
21
Volunteers
6,000
Highest pay
$165,589, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
  1. $3.3 million spent. SPECIAL OLYMPICS TENNESSEE OFFERS TRAINING AND COMPETITION IN 17 DIFFERENT SPORTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES 36 AREA PROGRAMS MANAGED BY VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP TEAMS THAT ENCOMPASS ALL COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE. COMBINED, THESE AREA PROGRAMS REACH OVER 17,000 REGISTERED ATHLETES EACH YEAR. IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES, ATHLETES ARE RECRUITED, TRAINED, AND PROVIDED LOCAL COMPETITION OPPORTUNITIES. EIGHT STATE-LEVEL GAMES AND TOURNAMENTS, WHICH INCLUDE ALL 17 OF THE SPORTS, ARE CONDUCTED ANNUALLY. USA NATIONAL GAMES AND WORLD GAMES ARE HELD EVERY FOUR YEARS, ALTERNATING EVERY TWO YEARS BETWEEN SUMMER AND WINTER GAMES. IN ADDITION TO 'TRADITIONAL' SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPORTS, 'UNIFIED SPORTS' DIVISIONS ARE OFFERED IN 8 SPORTS WHEREBY ATHLETES WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES PLAY AS TEAMMATES. THIS 'INCLUSION' PROGRAM FOSTERS UNDERSTANDING, ACCEPTANCE AND FRIENDSHIPS AS THE PLAYERS PRACTICE, TRAVEL AND COMPETE TOGETHER. ADDITIONALLY, SPECIAL OLYMPICS TODAY CONDUCTS HEALTHY ATHLETES ACTIVITIES INCLUDING SCREENING PROGRAMS IN VISION (ATHLETES ARE GIVEN GLASSES IF NEEDED), DENTAL AND HEARING SCREENINGS (ALL PROGRAMS ARE DONATED BY PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS), AND FITNESS AND NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION. 'ATHLETE LEADERSHIP' PROGRAMS CONDUCTED BY SPECIAL OLYMPICS EMPOWER ATHLETES BY OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME COACHES THEMSELVES THROUGH CERTIFIED COACHES TRAINING SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SPEAKERS TRAINING, AND SERVING ON LOCAL MANAGEMENT TEAMS AS WELL AS THE STATE'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS. UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS IS SPECIAL OLYMPICS TENNESSEE'S 'YOUTH MOVEMENT' IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER STUDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES TO ADVOCATE FOR GREATER COMMUNITY INCLUSION OF ALL PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. SPECIAL OLYMPICS TENNESSEE CURRENTLY HAS OVER 120 SANCTIONED UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS WITHIN TENNESSEE. SPECIAL OLYMPICS TENNESSEE ALSO OFFERS A YOUNG ATHLETES PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES 2 TO 12 YEARS WHICH INTRODUCES BASIC SPORT SKILLS, LIKE RUNNING, KICKING AND THROWING. YOUNG ATHLETES OFFERS FAMILIES, TEACHERS, CAREGIVERS AND PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY THE CHANCE TO SHARE THE JOY OF SPORTS WITH ALL CHILDREN.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1974.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 7, 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.