Special Olympics Wisconsin Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS WISCONSIN, INC. IS 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 OLYMPICS ATHLETES AND THE COMMUNITY.USING SPORTS AS THE CATALYST, SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORKS TO END INACTIVITY, INJUSTICE AND INTOLERANCE, THUS LEADING TO A MORE RESPECTFUL AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETY FOR ALL.
- Income
- $5.6 million
- Spending
- $5.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 15.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 70%
- Employees
- 43
- Volunteers
- 2,000
- Highest pay
- $225,466, 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
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2526 of 26 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 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 (5)
- $1.5 million spent. GAMES & COMPETITION:SPECIAL OLYMPICS WISCONSIN (SOWI) PROVIDES FREE YEAR-ROUND TRAINING AND COMPETITIONS IN OLYMPIC-STYLE SPORTS TO ATHLETES, OF ANY AGE AND SKILL LEVEL, ACROSS THE STATE. ATHLETES HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPETE THROUGH LOCAL COMPETITIONS, REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS AND STATE-LEVEL GAMES WHERE THEY PUSH HARD AND PLAY HARDER. THEY STRIVE TO BEAT THEIR PERSONAL BESTS AND BUILD A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE WHICH CARRIES OVER INTO THE HOME, CLASSROOM, WORKPLACE AND COMMUNITY.ATHLETES MAY ALSO PROGRESS TO ADVANCED COMPETITION AT THE NATIONAL AND WORLD LEVEL. REGARDLESS OF THE LEVEL OF COMPETITION, ATHLETES ARE CONTINUALLY ENCOURAGED TO CARRY OUT THE ATHLETE OATH: "LET ME WIN. BUT IF I CANNOT WIN, LET ME BE BRAVE IN THE ATTEMPT."
- $830,122 spent. OUTREACH:BY ENGAGING INDIVIDUALS IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS EXPERIENCE, COMMUNITIES FOSTER A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ENABLING ATHLETES, EMPOWERING FAMILIES, ACTIVATING YOUTH, REVOLUTIONIZING SERVICES AND BUILDING EXEMPLARY COMMUNITIES OF CHANGE.ANNUAL PROGRAMMING EFFORTS INCLUDE UNIFIED SPORTS, WHICH COMBINES ATHLETES WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TO FORM TEAMS FOR TRAINING AND COMPETITION; YOUNG ATHLETES, WHERE ALL CHILDREN AGE TWO TO SEVEN LEARN SPORTS SKILLS; CAMP SHRIVER, OFFERS HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES TO ENJOY A CAMP EXPERIENCE; AND ATHLETE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, WHERE ATHLETES ARE TRAINED FOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS WISCONSIN AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
- $717,636 spent. TRAINING:SPECIAL OLYMPICS WISCONSIN OFFERS A VARIETY OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR ATHLETES, COACHES AND OFFICIALS.AT EACH OF THE STATE GAMES, ATHLETES RECEIVE FREE EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE SCREENING THROUGH THE HEALTHY ATHLETES PROGRAM, ENSURING OPTIMAL HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE DURING COMPETITION. HEALTH DISCIPLINES INCLUDE ORAL, VISION, AUDIOLOGY, PODIATRY, STRENGTH AND FLEXIBILITY, NUTRITION AND HEALTHY HABITS, AS WELL AS GENERAL HEALTH. FEW PEOPLE IMPACT OUR ATHLETES' SUCCESS MORE THAN OUR COACHES. FROM OVERSEEING SPORTS SKILLS AND PRACTICES TO TEACHING ABOUT SPORTSMANSHIP, COURAGE AND PERSONAL GROWTH; THEY SERVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR ATHLETES' LIVES. TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS NEEDED TO SUCCEED, SOWI HOSTS ANNUAL TRAINING FORUMS ON CURRENT PRACTICES FOR EACH SPORT PER THE NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY (NGB). EACH YEAR, VOLUNTEER COACHES AND OFFICIALS ARE CERTIFIED TO DELIVER AUTHENTIC, COMPETITIVE SPORTING EVENTS, MIRRORING AN ATHLETE'S EXPERIENCE OF OTHER REPUTABLE SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS. SOWI ATHLETES MAY ALSO BECOME COACHES AND PURSUE OTHER LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
- $686,262 spent. AGENCY:EXPENSE RELATED TO THE OPERATIONS OF LOCAL PROGRAMS.
- $685,113 spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION:EVERY ATHLETE HAS A STORY. WITH EVERY ATHLETE IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS WISCONSIN PROGRAM, THERE ARE EQUALLY AS MANY STORIES ABOUT COURAGE, TRIUMPH, PRIDE AND JOY. SOWI'S GOAL IS TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TO BECOME PHYSICALLY FIT, PRODUCTIVE AND RESPECTED MEMBERS OF SOCIETY USING SPORTS AS THE CATALYST; AND INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS OF THEIR CAPABILITIES AND NEEDS.BY ENGAGING INDIVIDUALS IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS EXPERIENCE THROUGH EARNED, OWNED AND PAID MEDIA, COMMUNITIES FOSTER A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ENABLING ATHLETES, EMPOWERING FAMILIES, ACTIVATING YOUTH, REVOLUTIONIZING SERVICES AND BUILDING EXEMPLARY COMMUNITIES OF CHANGE.
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
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 December 2024.
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 June 1982.
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.
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