Northwest Association for Blindathletes
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH SPORTS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $2.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 4.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 409
- Highest pay
- $124,128, founder & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 June 30, 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 (4)
- $1.6 million spent. SPORTS OUTREACH AND CAMP SPARKOUR SPORTS OUTREACH PROGRAM CREATES INCLUSIVE SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADULTS, AND MILITARY VETERANS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INTRODUCING THEM TO ADAPTIVE PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN A WIDE RANGE OF SPORTS, INCLUDING GOALBALL, JUDO, BEEP BASEBALL, TANDEM CYCLING, AND KAYAKING. FOR MANY OF THE 56,000+ SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN WHO ARE BLIND IN THE UNITED STATES, ACCESS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS RARE, MAKING THIS PROGRAM VITAL IN DEVELOPING PHYSICAL STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND CONFIDENCE.NWABA'S RESIDENTIAL CAMP SPARK PROVIDES IMMERSIVE CAMP EXPERIENCES ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES OR CAMPGROUNDS FOR YOUTH AGES 8-15. IN FY24-25, THE PROGRAM SERVED 89 CAMPERS THROUGH SEVEN SESSIONS AND THOUSANDS OF DIRECT SERVICE HOURS, WITH PARTICIPATION INCREASING DESPITE A SESSION CANCELLATION DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER. BY FOSTERING FRIENDSHIPS, RESILIENCE, AND EMPOWERMENT, NWABA'S SPORTS OUTREACH AND CAMP SPARK PROGRAMS CREATE PATHWAYS FOR LIFELONG HEALTH, INDEPENDENCE, AND SOCIAL SUCCESS.
- $297,940 spent. INCREASING VISIBILITY (PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM)OUR PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM EDUCATES THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE ABILITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED THROUGH AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES. BY CREATING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND, WE FOSTER EMPATHY, UNDERSTANDING, AND RESPECT. IN FY24-25, WE REACHED THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS ACROSS WASHINGTON, OREGON, IDAHO, AND MONTANA, INSPIRING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND RESHAPING PERCEPTIONS OF BLINDNESS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, NWABA BUILDS A MORE INCLUSIVE SOCIETY THAT RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED.
- $216,115 spent. SPORTS ADAPTATIONS PROGRAMOUR SPORTS ADAPTATIONS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED BY MAKING SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE. THIS PROGRAM ENGAGES STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO UNDERSTAND AND IMPLEMENT ADAPTIVE SPORTS. THROUGH EQUIPMENT LOANS, DIGITAL RESOURCES, AND PERSONALIZED CONSULTATIONS, WE STRIVE TO ENSURE EACH STUDENT HAS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT BOTH EDUCATIONAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH. IN FY24-25, THIS PROGRAM REACHED 410 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH DIRECT INTERACTIONS, ISSUED 59 EQUIPMENT LOANS, AND CONDUCTED 45 VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON CONSULTATIONS, MARKING A 20% YEAR-OVER-YEAR GROWTH. BY INSTILLING CONFIDENCE, ENHANCING SELF-ESTEEM, AND TEACHING ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS, THIS PROGRAM EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS TO THRIVE ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND PROFESSIONALLYHELPING TO COMBAT THE 70% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AMONG ADULTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS.
- $11,992 spent. SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANTS PROGRAMTHE SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANTS PROGRAM SUPPORTS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED BY FUNDING THEIR PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS. SCHOLARSHIPS ALSO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS RUNNING SHOES AND AIDS, TO HELP PARTICIPANTS ACHIEVE THEIR PERSONAL AND ATHLETIC GOALS. IN FY24-25, NEARLY $5,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS ENABLED INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE IN TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITIES THEY WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE HAD ACCESS TO, ADDRESSING A SIGNIFICANT NEED WITHIN A COMMUNITY WHERE APPROXIMATELY 1/3 OF OVER ONE MILLION PEOPLE NATIONWIDE LIVE IN POVERTY. THIS PROGRAM OPENS DOORS TO PARTICIPATION, SELF-DISCOVERY, AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH THAT FOSTER LONG-TERM SUCCESS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.