Challenged Athletes Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IT IS THE MISSION OF THE CHALLENGED ATHLETES FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT TO PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES SO THEY CAN PURSUE ACTIVE LIFESTYLES THROUGH PHYSICAL FITNESS AND COMPETITIVE ATHLETICS.THE CHALLENGED ATHLETES FOUNDATION BELIEVES THAT INVOLVEMENT IN SPORTS AT ANY LEVEL INCREASES SELF-ESTEEM, ENCOURAGES INDEPENDENCE AND ENHANCES QUALITY OF LIFE.
- Income
- $14.4 million
- Spending
- $12.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 37
- Volunteers
- 1,200
- Highest pay
- $202,970, chief executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 17 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 March 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 (4)
- $5.7 million spent. ACCESS FOR ATHLETES THROUGH CAF'S GRANT DISTRIBUTION CYCLE EACH YEAR, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE ADAPTIVE SPORTS EQUIPMENT, PROSTHETICS, TRAINING, COACHING, MENTORING AND COMPETITION GRANTS TO PHYSICALLY DISABLED PEOPLE AGED 3 - 90 YEARS OLD TO ENABLE THEM TO LEAD AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS OF ANY TYPE LEADS TO AN INCREASE IN INDEPENDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM AND SENSE OF WORTH AND ACCOMPLISHMENT. SINCE 1994, CAF HAS PROVIDED DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MORE THAN 52,000 ATHLETES AROUND THE WORLD.
- $1.9 million spent. SAN DIEGO TRIATHLON CHALLENGE (SDTC) & TOUR DE COVE A CELEBRATION OF LIFE AND SPORT THAT ENCOMPASSES NOT ONLY THE COMMUNITY OF SAN DIEGO, BUT ALL CONSTITUENTS OF THE CAF FAMILY. THIS FOUR DAY EVENT ENGAGED OVER 200 CHALLENGED ATHLETES AND 1000 FUNDRAISERS AT OUR COMMUNITY CHALLENGE WEEKEND. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED: : (1) KIDS FUN ROLL & RUN, SAN DIEGO TRIATHLON CHALLENGE, METRIC CENTURY CYCLING, 5K, YOGA AND TOUR DE COVE STATIONARY CYCLING EVENTS (2) CELEBRATION OF ABILITIES PROGRAM SHOWCASING ALL THE AMAZING EVENTS AND PARTICIPANTS (3) VIRTUAL GROUP RIDES, RUNS & WALKS, (4) GRANT PRESENTATIONS (5) ONLINE SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT.
- $1.6 million spent. CAF IDAHO - PROVIDES UNPARALLELED SPORT AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT TO ALL PERMANENTLY DISABLED RESIDENTS OF IDAHO. THROUGH GRANTS FOR ADAPTIVE SPORTS EQUIPMENT, COACHING, AND COMPETITION EXPENSES AS WELL AS SPORTS PROGRAMMING , CAF-IDAHO IS UNLEASHING ATHLETIC POTENTIAL AND GIVING PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES A WAY TO GET BACK INTO THE GAME OF LIFE THROUGH SPORT.
- $1.4 million spent. CATCH A RISING STAR (CRS): A FITNESS AND MENTORING PROGRAM THAT HELPS PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED A TRAUMATIC INJURY OR BEEN BORN WITH A CONGENITAL DEFECT TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS A FULL, ACTIVE LIFESTYLE. IT IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO GIVE NEWLY INJURED OR NEW-TO-SPORTS PEOPLE THE CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BECOME ACTIVE AGAIN. CAF HOSTS A SERIES OF MULTI-SPORT CLINICS AND WORKSHOPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO INTRODUCE ATHLETES OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES TO SPORTS LIKE RUNNING, SWIMMING, CYCLING, ROCK CLIMBING, WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL, ARCHERY, STRENGTH CONDITIONING AND NUTRITION. THE FUN, INTERACTIVE, NON-THREATENING ENVIRONMENT ALLOWS ASPIRING CHALLENGED ATHLETES A CHANCE TO SET AND REACH SPORTS GOALS AND INTERACT WITH ROLE MODEL ATHLETES THAT HAVE SIMILAR PHYSICAL CHALLENGES.PROJECT N.E.X.T. (NEW EXPECTATIONS TODAY). THIS MENTORING PROGRAM CONNECTS A PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED MENTEE WITH A SIMILARLY CHALLENGED MENTOR WHO PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT AS A ROLE MODEL AND ALLY AS THE MENTEE BEGINS TO ENGAGE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO EDUCATE THE MENTEE ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND TO CREATE A SUPPORTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT TO HELP FOSTER THEIR RECOVERY. ONCE THE MENTEE IS READY FOR ACTIVITY, THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SUPPORT AND EQUIPMENT THEY NEED TO ENGAGE IN AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE.OPERATION REBOUND (OR) - PROVIDES UNPARALLELED SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT TO OUR TROOPS AND VETERANS OF ANY BRANCH OF SERVICE AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHO HAVE SUFFERED PERMANENT PHYSICAL INJURIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY. SPECIFICALLY, OPERATION REBOUND SERVES INJURED MILITARY AND FIRST RESPONDERS THROUGH MILITARY MEDICAL CENTER PHYSICAL TRAINING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES A STRUCTURED PHYSICAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS WHO ARE CONTINUING TREATMENTS AND RECOVERING FROM PERMANENT PHYSICAL INJURIES AT MILITARY MEDICAL CENTERS. OR HOSTS SPORTS CLINICS DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE BEGINNER ATHLETES TO VARIOUS SPORTS SUCH AS BICYCLING, HANDCYCLING, RUNNING, SWIMMING, BASKETBALL AND OTHER SPORTS. OR ALSO SUPPORTS ITS COMMUNITY THROUGH AN ONLINE FORUM WHERE PARTICIPANTS CAN STAY CONNECTED AND GROW WITH FELLOW WOUNDED SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.CAF-NORTHEAST OFFERS CLINICS, PROGRAMS, GRANTS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING FAMILIES, ENCOURAGING VOLUNTEERS, AND APPRECIATING OUR SUPPORTERS. THESE OPPORTUNITIES NOT ONLY PROVIDE ACCESS TO SPORTS BUT ALSO FOSTER A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO MEET OTHERS. A VARIETY OF SPORTS CLINIC OPPORTUNITIES ARE HOSTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN THE NORTHEAST REGION TO GIVE INDIVIDUALS WITH A PERMANENT PHYSICAL DISABILITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN A NEW SPORT OR IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS.CAF-NORCAL OFFERS CLINICS, PROGRAMS, GRANTS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING FAMILIES, ENCOURAGING VOLUNTEERS, AND APPRECIATING OUR SUPPORTERS. THESE OPPORTUNITIES NOT ONLY PROVIDE ACCESS TO SPORTS BUT ALSO FOSTER A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO MEET OTHERS. A VARIETY OF SPORTS CLINIC OPPORTUNITIES ARE HOSTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN THE GREATER BAY AREA TO GIVE INDIVIDUALS WITH A PERMANENT PHYSICAL DISABILITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN A NEW SPORT OR IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS.AT CAF, WE PROVIDE INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES AND ABILITY LEVELS TO PARTICIPATE IN ADAPTIVE SPORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY. WHETHER YOU'RE A SEASONED ATHLETE OR NEW TO ADAPTIVE SPORTS, OUR CAMPS AND CLINICS OFFER A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE TO THRIVE. BEST OF ALL, PARTICIPATION IN CAF ADAPTIVE SPORTS CAMPS AND CLINICS IS COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 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 March 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 February 1997.
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.