Special Olympics Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SPECIAL OLYMPICS STRIVES TO CREATE A BETTER WORLD BY FOSTERING THE ACCEPTANCE AND INCLUSION OF PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES THROUGH SPORTS, HEALTH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $186.4 million
- Spending
- $168.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 6.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 286
- Volunteers
- 820,832
- Highest pay
- $570,761, ceo & president
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 85% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, over $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 45% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2534 of 37 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 (3)
- $81.2 million spent. HEALTH WORKDESPITE SEVERE NEED AND HIGHER HEALTH RISKS, PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) ARE OFTEN UNABLE TO ACCESS THE QUALITY CARE THAT THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN OPTIMAL HEALTH. SPECIAL OLYMPICS HEALTH PROGRAMS PROACTIVELY ADDRESS THE HEALTH RISKS AND BARRIERS THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH IDD FACE, THROUGH PROGRAMMING THAT IS OPERATIONALIZED THROUGH FOUR FOCI - PREVENTION, ASSESSMENT, TRAINING, AND HEALTH SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING (THE P.A.T.H. TO HEALTH EQUITY). IN EACH AREA, SPECIAL OLYMPICS HAS EXPANDED EXISTING PROGRAMMING AND RESOURCES, INTEGRATED RECENT TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIONS, AND GARNERED SUPPORT FOR CONTINUED GROWTH. WITHIN THE AREA OF PREVENTION, OVER 294,000 CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) BENEFITED FROM THE YOUNG ATHLETES PROGRAM IN 2024. THIS EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IMPROVES MOTOR SKILLS AND SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. CORE YOUNG ATHLETES RESOURCES, INCLUDING THE YOUNG ATHLETES APP, LESSON PLANS, AND INCLUSIVE ADAPTATIONS, DROVE PROGRAMMING SUCCESSES IN 2024, INCREASING THE QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF IMPLEMENTATION. OVER 14,500 FAMILY MEMBERS AND ATHLETES PARTICIPATED IN 71FAMILY HEALTH FORUMS WHERE THEY GAINED VALUABLE HEALTH EDUCATION FROM SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ON A RANGE OF TOPICS INCLUDING NUTRITION, DIABETES, MENTAL HEALTH, AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. SPECIAL OLYMPICS PILOTED AN ONGOING HEALTH EDUCATION MODEL FOR FAMILIES AND THEIR ATHLETES TO SUPPORT DEEPER EDUCATION AROUND NUTRITION.SPECIAL OLYMPICS FITNESS, WHICH ENGAGES ATHLETES IN ONGOING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, NUTRITION, AND HYDRATION PROGRAMS, CONTINUED TO GROW SUBSTANTIALLY AND REACHED OVER 300,000 PARTICIPANTS IN 2024 THROUGH ITS FITNESS PROGRAMMING. THIS INTERVENTION CONTINUES TO HELP MANY ATHLETES ACHIEVE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS GREATER THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION, REDUCE THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE LEVELS AND WEIGHT, AND ADOPT HEALTHY BEHAVIORS. TO BETTER SUPPORT ATHLETES ENGAGING IN ONGOING FITNESS AND HEALTHY BEHAVIOR TRACKING, THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS FITNESS APP WAS DEVELOPED AND PILOTED IN 2024.WITHIN THE DOMAIN OF ASSESSMENT, A REVISION TO SCREENING PROTOCOLS IN 2024 ENSURED THAT THE HEALTHY ATHLETES PROGRAM REMAINS ABREAST OF CLINICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND NOW INCLUDES QUESTIONS FROM NATIONAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE INSTRUMENTS. THESE NEW CLINICAL PROTOCOLS WERE IMPLEMENTED AT THE SCREENINGS HELD DURING THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS LATIN AMERICA REGIONAL GAMES IN PARAGUAY. IN ADDITION, 98,619 SCREENINGS WERE CONDUCTED WITH 69,000+ INDIVIDUAL DIGITAL RECORDS CAPTURED TO AID TRACKING FOLLOW-UP CARE, MONITORING IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH OUTCOMES AND SUPPORT SURVEILLANCE AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS. OVER 8,100 PAIRS OF PRESCRIPTION EYEWEAR WERE PROVIDED TO CORRECT ATHLETES' VISION, WHILE 140 INDIVIDUALS HAD THEIR HEARING RESTORED THROUGH HEARING AIDS PROVIDED BY PARTNER, STARKEY CARES.DEVELOPING A WORKFORCE EQUIPPED WITH THE APPROPRIATE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ATTITUDES TO PROVIDE QUALITY CARE TO PEOPLE WITH IDD IS CRITICAL TO REDUCING HEALTH DISPARITIES FOR THIS POPULATION. WITHIN THIS AREA OF TRAINING, OVER 19,000 CLINICIANS AND STUDENTS GAINED PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE AS PART OF THE HEALTHY ATHLETES PROGRAM IN 2024, WHILE A FURTHER 29,176 CLINICIANS AND STUDENTS WERE TRAINED THROUGH ONLINE TRAINING RESOURCES OR PROGRAM-LED INITIATIVES. THE UPTAKE OF ONLINE TRAINING ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2024 AS SPECIAL OLYMPICS IMPROVED ACCESS BY LAUNCHING THE ONLINE GOLISANO SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES. THIS RESULTED IN THE INCLUSIVE HEALTH FUNDAMENTALS TRAINING MODULES BEING USED BY 124 HEALTH PROFESSIONS SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE. DURING THIS PERIOD, SPECIAL OLYMPICS SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED THE DEPLOYMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH IDD AS STANDARDIZED PATIENTS WITHIN MEDICAL, NURSING, AND OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS. THIS REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT EVOLUTION IN THE EMPOWERMENT AND AGENCY OF PEOPLE WITH IDD AND A SHIFT TOWARDS EMBEDDING INCLUSIVE PRACTICES BY MANY UNIVERSITIES IN THE U.S. WITHIN THE DOMAIN OF HEALTH SYSTEMS REFORM, SPECIAL OLYMPICS CONTINUES TO BUILD THE CASE AND TOOLS FOR INCLUSIVE HEALTH SYSTEMS AND IS A KEY PLAYER IN DISABILITY-INCLUSIVE HEALTH. IN 2024, SPECIAL OLYMPICS PROGRESSED WORK ON A MULTI-YEAR, MULTI-COUNTRY PROJECT KNOWN AS ROSEMARY COLLABORATORY, WHICH WILL GIVE RISE TO THE FIRST-EVER GLOBAL REPORT ON THE HEALTH OF PERSONS WITH IDD, TO BE LAUNCHED IN 2025. ALONGSIDE THIS PROGRESS WAS GROWTH IN THE CADRE OF ATHLETES SERVING AS HEALTH MESSENGERS, WHICH GREW IN 2024 TO OVER 1,000 INDIVIDUALS WITH IDD BEING ACTIVATED TO USE THEIR VOICE TO DRIVE INCLUSIVE HEALTH CHANGES.ALSO IN 2024, SPECIAL OLYMPICS RELAUNCHED THE CENTER FOR INCLUSIVE HEALTH WEBSITE, A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR RESOURCES AND TOOLS TO SUPPORT AND NORMALIZE THE INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH IDD IN HEALTHCARE AND HEALTH PROMOTION SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES. THE SITE AIMS TO SPECIFICALLY CATER TO HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, PAYERS, AND POLICYMAKERS. AMONG THE INCLUSIVE HEALTH RESOURCES IN WHICH SPECIAL OLYMPICS HAS BEEN INVOLVED WAS A REPORT EXAMINING THE USE AND POTENTIAL OF CODING MECHANISMS TO REDUCE THE BARRIERS INDIVIDUALS WITH IDD FACE IN ACCESSING HEALTHCARE IN THE U.S. THE REPORT ALSO IDENTIFIES ELEMENTS OF AN INCLUSIVE CARE MODEL AND HIGHLIGHTS THE POTENTIAL OF VALUE-BASED PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS.SPECIAL OLYMPICS' LONGITUDINAL EVALUATION 'PROJECT ALL STAR GREW IN 2024, ENROLLING 48 PARTICIPANTS ACROSS FOUR STATES AND CONDUCTING FIVE IN-PERSON ENROLLMENT AND ASSESSMENT EVENTS DURING THE YEAR. THIS EVALUATION WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE MULTIPLE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS. AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS' SPECIAL SMILES SCREENING PROGRAM WAS COMPLETED IN 2024, DEMONSTRATING A RETURN ON INVESTMENT OF 354% AND AVERTING OVER $793,000 WORTH OF DENTAL COSTS ANNUALLY IN THE U.S. ALONE.AWARENESS AND MEDIA COVERAGE ESCALATED IN 2024: ACROSS THE 232 HEALTH-FOCUSED SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ON SPECIAL OLYMPICS INTERNATIONAL CHANNELS, POSTS WERE S
- $53.2 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATIONSAT THE END OF 2024, 152 COUNTRIES HAD ADOPTED SPECIAL OLYMPICS SCHOOL PROGRAMMING ACROSS SEVEN GLOBAL REGIONS, WITH 41 COUNTRIES RECEIVING DIRECT GRANT-FUNDED SUPPORT FROM SPECIAL OLYMPICS HEADQUARTERS. THIS FUNDING WAS THANKS TO THE BACKING OF SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTORS SUCH AS THE STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION (SNF) AND HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN, PRESIDENT OF THE U.A.E., RULER OF ABU DHABI, SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE U.A.E. ARMED FORCES (MBZ)IN 2024, SPECIAL OLYMPICS TRAINED 33 NEW COUNTRY PROGRAMS TO IMPLEMENT THE UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS (UCS) MODEL THROUGH THE EXCELLENCE IN ACTION EVENTS, LED BY THE REGIONAL HUBS OF EXCELLENCE (SPECIAL OLYMPICS ARGENTINA, SPECIAL OLYMPICS BHARAT, SPECIAL OLYMPICS PAKISTAN, SPECIAL OLYMPICS EGYPT, SPECIAL OLYMPICS RWANDA, AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS ROMANIA). AT THESE EVENTS, THE HUBS SHARED BEST PRACTICES AND TRAINED THE NEW PROGRAMS ON KEY TOPICS ESSENTIAL FOR IMPLEMENTING THE UCS MODEL.WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS (UCS) MARKED A MILESTONE YEAR IN 2024, ENTERING ITS 17TH YEAR OF PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THE MOVEMENT ACHIEVED A MAJOR BENCHMARK, SURPASSING ITS NATIONAL TARGET OF 10,000 SCHOOLS ENGAGED ACROSS ALL LEVELS OF EDUCATION FROM PRE-K TO COLLEGE, DEMONSTRATING THE GROWING DEMAND FOR INCLUSIVE SCHOOL CULTURES. GLOBALLY, UCS EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION, GROWING FROM 17 TO 25 SPECIAL OLYMPICS PROGRAMS, FURTHER EMBEDDING THE MODEL OF INCLUSIVE YOUTH LEADERSHIP, UNIFIED SPORTS, AND WHOLE-SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT INTO EDUCATION SYSTEMS WORLDWIDE. THIS GROWTH UNDERSCORES THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF UCS TO SHIFT SCHOOL CLIMATES, EMPOWER STUDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, AND ESTABLISH INCLUSION AS A STANDARD PRACTICE RATHER THAN AN EXCEPTION.IN 2024, THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS GLOBAL YOUTH & EDUCATION TEAM ADVANCED GLOBAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS WORLDWIDE. WITH SUPPORT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, UNIFIED YOUTH EXCHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED IN MEXICO, PERU, NORTH CAROLINA, WASHINGTON, D.C., JAMAICA, CONNECTICUT, AND PANAMA, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TO CONNECT ACROSS CULTURES, SHARE BEST PRACTICES, AND STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP SKILLS.A GLOBAL VIRTUAL YOUTH & EDUCATORS SUMMIT REACHED MORE THAN 1,000 PARTICIPANTS WORLDWIDE AND DEEPENED COLLABORATION BETWEEN YOUTH LEADERS AND EDUCATORS ON SPECIAL OLYMPICS PROGRAMMING. REGIONALLY, A YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT IN CHINA CONVENED YOUTH AND ATHLETE LEADERSHIP COUNCILS FROM ACROSS EAST ASIA TO STRENGTHEN SKILLS AND PROMOTE INCLUSION.A KEY MILESTONE IN FEBRUARY 2024 WAS THE ONBOARDING OF THE 2023-2025 GLOBAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL (GYLC), A COHORT OF UNIFIED YOUTH LEADERS BEGINNING A TWO-YEAR TERM GUIDING SPECIAL OLYMPICS' GLOBAL YOUTH PROGRAMMING. IN ADDITION, THE YOUTH INNOVATION INITIATIVE FUNDED 77 YOUTH-LED PROJECTS ACROSS ALL SEVEN REGIONS, EMPOWERING YOUNG LEADERS TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY- AND SCHOOL-BASED PROJECTS WITH MEASURABLE IMPACT. SPECIAL OLYMPICS IS A GLOBAL THOUGHT LEADER WITHIN INCLUSION AND EDUCATION. THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS GLOBAL CENTER FOR INCLUSION IN EDUCATION WAS FOUNDED IN 2019 BY A GENEROUS GIFT FROM HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN, PRESIDENT OF THE U.A.E., AND SERVES AS A PLATFORM OF BEST PRACTICES FOR UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS. IN ITS THIRD YEAR, THE RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPED A SET OF KEY RESEARCH PRINCIPLES, PARAMETERS, AND THEMES THAT SERVE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR PUBLISHING AND EXECUTING A CONSENSUS RESEARCH AGENDA TO ADVANCE RESEARCH, PRACTICE, AND POLICY RELATED TO INCLUSION IN SPORT AND EDUCATION CONTEXTS. THE CENTER CONTINUED TWO IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIPS WITH RENOWNED RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE EASEL LAB AT THE HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, SPECIAL OLYMPICS DEVELOPED A FRAMEWORK FOR INCLUSIVE MINDSETS AND BEHAVIORS (IMB) AND SEVERAL IMPORTANT RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPING NEXT-GENERATION PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING A THEORY OF CHANGE, RESEARCH BRIEF, DRAFT MEASUREMENT TOOL, CASE STUDY VIGNETTES, AND EASY-READ ONE-PAGERS. IN 2024, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY BEGAN COMPILING THE RESULTS OF A THREE-YEAR EVALUATION OF UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS (UCS) CONDUCTED ACROSS SIX COUNTRIES. THE STUDY, WHICH INCLUDED PRE- AND POST-SURVEYS AS WELL AS FOCUS GROUPS WITH EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, AND FAMILIES, FOUND POSITIVE IMPACTS ON SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, STRONGER PERCEPTIONS OF SOCIAL INCLUSION, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN SCHOOL CLIMATE AND SAFETY. THESE FINDINGS REINFORCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE UCS MODEL IN ADVANCING INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS WORLDWIDE. IN 2024, THE GLOBAL CENTER FOR INCLUSION IN EDUCATION ADVANCED ITS MISSION THROUGH A SERIES OF HIGH-IMPACT CONVENINGS AND PARTNERSHIPS. THE YEAR BEGAN WITH A JOINT PANEL DISCUSSION WITH THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION, SPOTLIGHTING THE GLOBAL IMPERATIVE FOR INCLUSIVE EDUCATION. IN OCTOBER, THE CENTER CO-HOSTED A TWO-DAY EVENT AT THE NYU ABU DHABI INSTITUTE, INCLUSIVE FUTURES: EXPLORING RESEARCH INNOVATIONS AND AI TOOLS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES (OCTOBER 10-11), WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER RESEARCHERS, EDUCATORS, AND TECHNOLOGY EXPERTS TO EXAMINE HOW EMERGING TOOLS CAN EXPAND ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY. THE CENTERPIECE OF THE YEAR'S WORK WAS THE GLOBAL SUMMIT, HELD IN NOVEMBER 2024, WHICH GATHERED MORE THAN 300 EDUCATORS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, PROFESSIONALS, AND YOUTH VOICES UNDER THE THEME INCLUSION FOR TOMORROW. THIS LANDMARK GATHERING PROVIDED A PLATFORM FOR SHARED LEARNING, CROSS-SECTOR DIALOGUE, AND CONCRETE ACTION COMMITMENTS, FURTHER POSITIONING THE GLOBAL CENTER AS A CATALYST FOR ADVANCING INCLUSIVE EDUCATION WORLDWIDE.IN JANUARY 2024, SPECIAL OLYMPICS ISSUED ITS FIRST ANNUAL GLOBAL STATE OF INCLUSION IN EDUCATION LETTER IN RECOGNITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF EDUCATION. THE LETTER, AUTHORED BY DR. TIMOTHY SHRIVER, CHAIRMAN OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS, REVIEWED G
- $8.4 million spent. SPORTS TRAINING AND COMPETITIONDURING 2024, SPECIAL OLYMPICS GEARED UP TO HOST THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD WINTER GAMES IN TURIN, ITALY, WHICH WAS HELD IN Q1 OF 2025. THE MOVEMENT'S SPORT PARTNERSHIP WORK OFFERED UNPRECEDENTED SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT FROM INTERNATIONAL SPORT FEDERATIONS AT THE WORLD WINTER GAMES. MANY OF THE MOVEMENT'S SPORT FEDERATION PARTNERS ASSISTED WITH THE RECRUITMENT OF TECHNICAL OFFICIALS, STORYTELLING, AND FACILITATING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN NATIONAL FEDERATIONS AND LOCAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THE TRAINING AND PREPARATION FOR THE WORLD WINTER GAMES. SPECIAL OLYMPICS CONTINUED ITS EFFORTS IN DEVELOPING SPORT PARTNERSHIPS, AS WELL AS A SPORT-SPECIFIC APPROACH TO SPORT DEVELOPMENT. GLOBAL STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS WERE CREATED FOR THE SPORTS OF FOOTBALL, SWIMMING, AND GOLF. SPECIAL OLYMPICS CONTINUED ITS WORK IN SPORT PARTNERSHIPS, DEVELOPING STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANY OF ITS INTERNATIONAL SPORT FEDERATION PARTNERS, AND CREATING ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES TO COMPETE IN MAINSTREAM SPORTING EVENTS. IN 2024, THE SPORT PARTNERSHIP SURVEY SHOWED OVER 1,260 PARTNERSHIPS AT THE NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, WORTH OVER USD $7.39 MILLION IN VALUE-IN-KIND ACROSS THE GLOBAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS MOVEMENT.E-LEARNING 10,494 COACH CERTIFICATIONS WERE COMPLETED ON THE ONLINE LEARNING PORTAL IN 2024. SPECIAL OLYMPICS TRANSITIONED TO A NEW ONLINE LEARNING PORTAL (DOCEBO) IN SEPTEMBER 2024GALLAGHER COACH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES - COACHING SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT GRANTS - SO AFRICA: IN 2024, SPECIAL OLYMPICS AFRICA'S PRIMARY FOCUS WAS CAPACITY BUILDING WITHIN THE FOUR GRANT MARKETS PREVIOUSLY SUPPORTED (SPECIAL OLYMPICS KENYA, SPECIAL OLYMPICS NIGERIA, SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTH AFRICA, AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS GHANA) - COACH DEVELOPER TRAINING: SPECIAL OLYMPICS AFRICA CONDUCTED A REGIONAL COACH DEVELOPER TRAINING WITH 19 COACH DEVELOPERS ATTENDING FROM SPECIAL OLYMPICS KENYA, SPECIAL OLYMPICS NIGERIA, AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS GHANA. COACHES COMPLETED SPECIAL OLYMPICS AFRICA'S COMPREHENSIVE MASTER COACH (COACH DEVELOPER) TRAINING, WHICH INCLUDED THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS, COACHING ATHLETES WITH IDD, AND COMPETITION PLANNING. ALL COACH DEVELOPERS COMPLETED AND PASSED SPECIAL OLYMPICS AFRICA'S ASSESSMENT, INCLUDING 3 STAFF MEMBERS WITH IDD, WHO WILL NOW SUPPORT FURTHER COACH EDUCATION WITHIN THE REGION. - GRANTS: KENYA, NIGERIA, SOUTH AFRICA, GHANA, ZAMBIA - DUE TO SIGNIFICANT STAFFING CHANGES, THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS AFRICA GRANTS WERE ISSUED IN EARLY 2025 - SPECIAL OLYMPICS ASIA PACIFIC: - GRANTS: DUE TO DELAYS IN FUND ALLOCATION AND GRANT APPLICATION PROCESSES, SPECIAL OLYMPICS MALAYSIA, NIPPON, PAKISTAN, AND THAILAND GRANTS WERE FINALIZED IN Q3 OF 2024. BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF THE GRANT METRICS BY THE END OF 2024, AND ALONGSIDE, THE TOTALS AS OF THEIR FINAL GRANT REPORTS IN Q3 2025. YEAR 2 GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE UNDERWAY FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS MALAYSIA, PAKISTAN, THAILAND, AND WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF INDONESIA. SINCE SPECIAL OLYMPICS NIPPON HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN SECURING ADDITIONAL FUNDING, THEY ARE NOW EXITING THIS GRANT STREAM. - GRANT TERM FOR 4 X SPECIAL OLYMPICS ASIA PACIFIC PROGRAMMES CONCLUDED IN JULY 2025. - GRANT TERM FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS ASIA PACIFIC PROGRAMMES COMMENCED IN FEBRUARY 2025.2024 COACH WEBINAR SERIES (CWS) - PRESENTED BY GALLAGHER - 2 WEBINARS AND 4 SPORT SPECIFIC WORKSHOPS, EIGHT LANGUAGES, 6 ATHLETE LEADER HOSTS FROM 6 REGIONS - HIGHEST LIVE ATTENDANCE- TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS (571) - 6,098 REGISTRATIONS REPRESENTING 1,863 UNIQUE COACHES FROM 148 COUNTRIES - 959 INDIVIDUALS FROM 123 COUNTRIES ATTENDED, AND THOSE UNABLE TO ATTEND RECEIVED LINKS TO THE RECORDINGS - 23% OF ATTENDEES WERE COACHES OUTSIDE OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS - 84 SOCIAL MEDIAL POSTS; 301,500 IMPRESSIONS WOMEN IN SPORT WEBINAR SERIES (WIS) - SPONSORED BY AERIE - 2 WEBINARS 8 LANGUAGES, 2 ATHLETE LEADER HOSTS FROM 2 REGIONS - THE WOMEN IN SPORT WEBINAR SERIES, PRESENTED BY AERIE, WAS LAUNCHED ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE EXPERIENCES AND INSIGHTS OF INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN IN SPORTS. - FEATURING DIVERSE FEMALE LEADERS FROM WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS COMMUNITY, THE OPENING WEBINAR ATTRACTED OVER 250 ATTENDEES FROM MORE THAN 60 COUNTRIES.YOUTH SPORT COACHINGWITH THE SUPPORT OF GALLAGHER & ESPN, WE COMMENCED AN EXCITING PIECE OF WORK WITH ICOACHKIDS AND LEEDS BECKETT UNIVERSITY IN THE UK. AS PART OF THIS WORK, WE ARE CONDUCTING A LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS OF YOUTH SPORT IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS - INVOLVING SURVEYING YOUTH SPORT COACHES, YOUTH SPORT ATHLETES, THEIR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS, AND YOUTH SPORT ORGANIZERS. THEIR INPUT WILL HELP TO INFORM THE RESEARCH TEAM'S DEVELOPMENT OF A SUITE OF RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE COACHES OF YOUTH ATHLETES WITH IDD. BASED AROUND THE CORE TENETS OF THE ICOACHKIDS GOLDEN PRINCIPLES, THESE RESOURCES WILL SUPPORT YOUTH SPORT COACHES IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS TO PLAN AND DELIVER FUN, ENGAGING, DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE SPORTS EXPERIENCES FOR YOUTH ATHLETES IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS, AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH GUIDANCE AND GOOD PRACTICES TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVE AND APPROPRIATE USE OF COMPETITION AS A DEVELOPMENT TOOL. MICHAEL PHELPS FOUNDATION PROJECT OVERVIEWTHE MICHAEL PHELPS FOUNDATION SUPPORTED SEVEN SWIMMING GRANTS IN TWO REGIONS AND SEVEN SPECIAL OLYMPICS PROGRAMS IN 2024. THESE GRANTS SUPPORTED SWIM COACHES FROM SIX DIFFERENT PROGRAMS IN LATIN AMERICA AS THEY WORKED TO IMPLEMENT WHAT THEY HAD LEARNED AT A REGIONAL MICHAEL PHELPS FOUNDATION SWIM COACH TRAINING ON THE LOCAL LEVEL IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS FUNDING ANOTHER SWIM COACH TRAINING IN DUBLIN, IRELAND. THROUGH THIS MODEL, COACHES IN LATIN AMERICA SPREAD THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO OTHERS IN THEIR AREA, AND IN 2025, THE SAME PROCESS WILL ALLOW EUROPEAN COACHES WHO ATTENDED THE TRAINING IN DUBLIN TO DO THE SAME. - 6 LOCAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS PROGRAMS GRANTS TO TRAIN LOCAL COACHES & SWIMMERS (BOLIVIA, CHILE, GUAT
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1969.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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