Special Olympics Virginia Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SPECIAL OLYMPICS VIRGINIA, INC. IS A NONSTOCK CORPORATION THAT PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND SPORTS TRAINING AND ATHLETIC COMPETITION IN A VARIETY OF OLYMPIC-TYPE SPORTS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AT NO COST TO THE ATHLETES OR THEIR FAMILIES. THE ORGANIZATION (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
- Income
- $8.2 million
- Spending
- $7.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 23.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 43
- Volunteers
- 7,000
- Highest pay
- $201,620, officer - 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: 96 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 23.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% 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 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 20 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)
- $1.2 million spent. EACH YEAR, SPECIAL OLYMPICS VIRGINIA ATHLETES SHOWCASE THEIR SKILLS AT FIVE SIGNATURE STATE-LEVEL EVENTS: THE XPERIENCE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS, SPEED SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS, BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS, SUMMER GAMES AND FALL CHAMPIONSHIPS. HELD SEASONALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THESE COMPETITIONS BRING TOGETHER ATHLETES, UNIFIED PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS FROM ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH FOR UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS OF SPORT AND INCLUSION. OUR LARGEST EVENT, SUMMER GAMES, IS NOTHING SHORT OF LEGENDARY. IN JUNE 2024, MORE THAN 1300 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS BRAVED THE RICHMOND HEAT TO SUPPORT 1181 ATHLETES AND UNIFIED PARTNERS COMPETING IN SWIMMING, SOFTBALL, TRACK & FIELD, BOWLING AND TENNIS. ADDITIONALLY, DURING THE GAMES, ATHLETES RECEIVED FREE SCREENINGS AND TREATMENT IN VISION, HEARING, DENTAL CARE AND FITNESS, THANKS TO THE HEALTHY ATHLETES PROGRAM. THE COMPETITION YEAR BEGAN IN JANUARY WITH THE XPERIENCE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS AND SPEED SKATING (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) CHAMPIONSHIPS, SERVING A COMBINED 65 ATHLETES, FOLLOWED BY FEBRUARY'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS, WHICH HOSTED FULL-COURT, HALF-COURT AND SKILLS COMPETITIONS FOR MORE THAN 870 ATHLETES. ROUNDING OUT THE YEAR, FALL CHAMPIONSHIPS UNITED MORE THAN 950 ATHLETES AND 800 VOLUNTEERS FOR SPIRITED COMPETITION IN SOCCER, BOCCE, GOLF, BOWLING, ROLLER SKATING, PICKLEBALL AND VOLLEYBALL.
- $745,089 spent. AREA PROGRAMS: SPECIAL OLYMPICS VIRGINIA HAS SUB-DIVIDED THE STATE INTO 32 GEOGRAPHIC AREA PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO REACH AS MANY PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AS POSSIBLE. THESE PROGRAMS GENERALLY CONTAIN SEVERAL CITIES AND COUNTIES. THE VOLUNTEERS IN THESE AREAS RAISE FUNDS FOR THEIR AREA, DECIDE WHAT ACTIVITIES TO OFFER IN THEIR AREA, AND GENERALLY ARE THE GRASSROOTS PROVIDER OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS VIRGINIA SERVICES. THESE EVENTS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ATHLETES TO DISPLAY THEIR CAPABILITIES AND INSPIRE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ELSEWHERE TO OPEN THEIR HEARTS TO A WIDER WORLD OF HUMAN TALENTS AND POTENTIAL. IN ADDITION, REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, WHO FACE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES IN ACCESSING QUALITY HEALTH CARE AND OBTAINING OPPORTUNITIES THAT PROMOTE FITNESS AND WELLNESS, RESULTING IN PRONOUNCED HEALTH DISPARITIES AND REDUCED LIFE EXPECTANCY.
- $506,890 spent. SPECIAL OLYMPICS UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS (UCS) PROGRAM USES SPORTS TO DEVELOP SCHOOL COMMUNITIES WHERE YOUTH ARE AGENTS OF CHANGE, FOSTERING RESPECT, DIGNITY AND ADVOCACY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. IN COLLABORATION WITH SCHOOL SYSTEMS ACROSS VIRGINIA, THE VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE AND THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE GOAL IS TO INSPIRE THE FIRST UNIFIED GENERATION. UCS IS AIMED AT PROMOTING SOCIAL INCLUSION THROUGH INTENTIONALLY PLANNED AND IMPLEMENTED ACTIVITIES AFFECTING SYSTEMS-WIDE CHANGE. WITH SPORTS AS THE FOUNDATION, THE THREE COMPONENT MODEL - INCLUSIVE SPORTS, INCLUSIVE YOUTH LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND WHOLE SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT - OFFERS A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF EFFECTIVE ACTIVITIES THAT EQUIP YOUNG PEOPLE WITH TOOLS AND TRAINING TO CREATE SPORTS, CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL CLIMATES OF ACCEPTANCE. THESE ARE SCHOOL CLIMATES WHERE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FEEL WELCOME AND ARE ROUTINELY INCLUDED IN, AND FEEL A PART OF, ALL ACTIVITIES, OPPORTUNITIES AND FUNCTIONS. IN VIRGINIA, WE HAVE 555 ENGAGED SCHOOLS IN 59 JURISDICTIONS, AND 17,500 YOUTH INVOLVED IN UNIFIED SPORTS PROGRAMMING.
- $3.3 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
- (Expenses $ 3,305,878 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) ALL OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
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 November 6, 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 June 1983.
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 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.