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Special Olympics Michigan Inc

EIN 38-1964643 · Mount Pleasant, MI

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

THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS MOVEMENT USES SPORT AS A VEHICLE FOR ACCEPTANCE, RESPECT, INCLUSION, DIGNITY, AND JOY. WE PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND SPORTS TRAINING AND COMPETITION FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.

Income
$17.2 million
Spending
$10.4 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
24 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
77
Volunteers
17,383
Highest pay
$251,039, president & 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% 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. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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. $7.0 million spent. SPECIAL OLYMPICS MICHIGAN PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS FOR OVER 15,020 CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND UNIFIED PARTNERS (ATHLETES WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES). THROUGH SPORT, ATHLETES EXPERIENCE INCLUSION, UNITY, DIGNITY, RESPECT, JOY AND FRIENDSHIP. THEY DEVELOP PHYSICALLY AND SOCIALLY; GAIN CONFIDENCE AND BUILD A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE WHICH CARRIES OVER INTO THE HOME, CLASSROOM, JOB AND COMMUNITY. YOUNG ATHLETES PROGRAMS FOR 2 TO 7 YEAR-OLDS ARE OFFERED TO INTRODUCE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO THE WORLD OF SPORTS. THERE ARE 2,182 CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN YOUNG ATHLETE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THE SOMI PROGRAM RELIES ON CONTRIBUTIONS OF TIME, MATERIALS AND FUNDS FROM DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS.
  2. $237,272 spent. HEALTHY ATHLETES PROGRAMS PROVIDE FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS TO ATHLETES. OVER 2,756 ATHLETES PARTICIPATED IN HEALTH SCREENINGS FOR VISION, DENTAL, PHYSICALS, FEET, HEARING, AND HEALTH PROMOTIONS. HEALTHY ATHLETES SCREENINGS ARE HELD AT STATE EVENTS FOR VISION, HEARING, DENTAL, FOOT CARE, PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND HEALTH PHYSICALS AT NO COST TO ATHLETES OR THEIR FAMILIES. THESE SCREENINGS EDUCATE ATHLETES ON HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES AND IDENTIFY PROBLEMS THAT MAY NEED ADDITIONAL FOLLOW-UP. ADDITIONALLY, 6 INCLUSIVE HEALTH TRAININGS WERE HELD TO EDUCATE CURRENT AND FUTURE HEALTHCARE WORKERS ABOUT CREATING AN INCLUSIVE HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT. FINALLY, OVER 354 ATHLETES PARTICIPATED IN OUR SOMIFIT PROGRAM PROVIDING 8 WEEKS OF FITNESS ACTIVITIES MIXED WITH EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL ON HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN PERSON.
  3. $1.6 million spent. UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS IS AN EDUCATION-BASED STRATEGY THAT BRINGS TOGETHER STUDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN THREE CORE AREAS: UNIFIED SPORTS, WHOLE SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT & AWARENESS AND INCLUSIVE YOUTH LEADERSHIP. UTILIZING THESE THREE CORE ELEMENTS CREATES A SCHOOL ATMOSPHERE THAT IS MORE INCLUSIVE AND ACCEPTANCE. SOMI FINISHED THE 23-24 SCHOOL YEAR WITH 554 SCHOOLS, INCLUDING MORE THAN 100 SCHOOLS IN DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMMUNITY DISTRICT. WE ALSO TRAINED MORE THAN 1,000 STUDENTS AT OUR LEADERSHIP LAUNCH YOUTH SUMMITS AND HOSTED MORE THAN 350 STUDENTS AT UNIFIED BOCCE COMPETITION AT THE STATE SUMMER GAMES.

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 September 1972.

    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.