Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Special Olympics Illinois

EIN 36-2922811 · Normal, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND SPORTS TRAINING AND ATHLETIC COMPETITION IN A VARIETY OF OLYMPIC-TYPE SPORTS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILTIES, 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 OLYMPICS ATHLETES AND THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$15.4 million
Spending
$16.0 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
111
Volunteers
31,318
Highest pay
$254,943, ceo

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

Good: 77 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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

    37 of 37 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 (3)
  1. $5.4 million spent. 2024 REGION EVENTS:REGIONAL EVENTS CONTINUE TO GROW ANNUALLY. IN 2024, REGIONS OFFERED 149 TRADITIONAL AND 90 UNIFIED COMPETITIONS IN 18 SPORTS WITH 31,313PARTICIPANTS. THE NUMBER OF ATHLETES PARTICIPATING IN THE MOTOR ACTIVITIES TRAINING PROGRAM GREW 190% FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AS AN OVERALL EXAMPLE OF OUR GROWTH IN PARTICIPATION. YOUNG ATHLETES INCREASED TO 2,448 AND PEER PARTNERS INCREASED TO 5,284 AND THERE WERE 25 YOUNG ATHLETE CULMINATING EVENTS. HEALTHY ATHLETE INITIATIVES CONTINUE TO GROW AT REGIONAL EVENTS, PROMOTING HEALTHY EATING OPTIONS FOR ATHLETES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
  2. $2.2 million spent. UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS:IN 2024 UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS HAS IMPACTED OVER 400 SCHOOLS PROVIDING PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES IN 3 COMPONENT AREAS INCLUDING UNIFIED SPORTS, YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND WHOLE SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE SAW THE RESULTS OF TWO SUCCESSFUL STATE-WIDE DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT EVENTS: THE HYBRID YOUTH ACTIVATION SUMMIT AND THE END OF THE PLAYVS UNIFIED ESPORTS LEAGUES. UNIFIED SPORTS COMPETITIONS WERE HOSTED ON VARIOUS LEVELS FOR ESPORTS, BOCCE, BAGS AND BOWLING. THE GROWTH IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS IHSA UNIFIED SPORTS HAS GROWN WITH TRACK, DANCE, AND BASS FISHING AND BASKETBALL, WITH BASKETBALL INCREASING FROM 20 TEAMS IN 2023 TO 38 IN 2024. COLLEGE INITIATIVES AND INVOLVEMENT HAS INCREASED AND THE GROWTH OF THE COLLEGE INCLUSION COUNCIL HAS MADE A HUGE IMPACT. YOUTH ACTIVATION AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE HAVE CONTINUED TO DEVELOP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN OFFERED ON ALL LEVELS. A VERY SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL WIDE/COMMUNITY WIDE CAMPAIGNS WERE OFFERED DURING RESPECT WEEK. THE COOL SCHOOL PLUNGES GREW THIS YEAR FROM 18 TO 39 THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
  3. $5.6 million spent. 2024 STATE EVENTS :IN 2024, A TOTAL OF 10 STATE-LEVEL COMPETITON EVENTS WERE HELD FOR 17 DIFFERENT SPORTS. 7019 ATHLETES, 2507 COACHES AND 192 UNIFIED PARTNERS COMPETED AT THESE EVENTS. HEATHLY ATHLETE INITIATIVES GREW AND INCORPORATE HEATHLY EATING HABITS, SPECIAL SMILES (DENTISTRY) AND HEALTHY HEARING. AT WINTER, SUMMER AND FALL GAMES, THERE ARE HEALTHY ATHLETE STATIONS WHERE ATHLETES CAN PARTICIPATE IF THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO SO AT ANY EVENT IN THEIR REGION.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1977.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.