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Lakeshore Foundation

EIN 63-0288847 · Birmingham, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITY TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE THROUGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, RESEARCH, ADVOCACY AND HEALTH PROMOTION.

Income
$11.5 million
Spending
$12.5 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
58.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 38%
Employees
131
Volunteers
347
Highest pay
$375,327, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 58.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 48 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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 September 30, 2025, 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. $2.6 million spent. FITNESS, PERSONAL TRAINING AND AQUATICS - LAKESHORE FOUNDATION OFFERS MORE THAN 60 FITNESS AND AQUATICS CLASSES SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR PERSONS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AND CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS SEEKING A LIFELONG PATH TO WELLNESS. LAKESHORE ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF-DIRECTED, INDIVIDUAL FITNESS AND AQUATICS WORKOUTS, AS WELL AS FEE-BASED PERSONAL TRAINING SERVICES. LAKESHORE LIFE, A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH PROMOTION INITIATIVE, INCLUDES NUTRITION EDUCATION AND EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE PERSONAL OWNERSHIP OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS CHOICES. VIRTUAL PROGRAMS ARE ALSO BEING OFFERED TO COMMUNITY CENTERS ALLOWING A BROADER AUDIENCE TO ACCESS VALUABLE WELLNESS PROGRAMS.
  2. $4.2 million spent. RECREATION, ATHLETICS, MILITARY AND TRAINING SITE PROGRAMS - LAKESHORE FOUNDATION OFFERS YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES INCLUDING RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS, ATHLETIC TEAMS AND LOCAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ATHLETIC EVENTS THAT PROVIDE AN OUTLET FOR COMPETITIVE DRIVE AND CONTRIBUTE TO PARTICIPANTS' HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. THIS INCLUDES HIGH PERFORMANCE CAMPS FOR USA WHEELCHAIR RUGBY, BOCCIA UNITED STATES, USA PARA POWERLIFTING, USA WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL, PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA, WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT, AND LOCAL CHILDREN'S SUMMER CAMPS. OUR WORK WITH VETERANS ALSO INCLUDES HEALTH AND WELLNESS OPTIONS FOR ALL LOCAL ALABAMA VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, MORE THAN 1,500 OF WHOM HAVE BEGUN PARTICIPATING.
  3. $1.1 million spent. SPORTS SCIENCE AND PERFORMANCE CENTER - ESTABLISHED IN FY23, LAKESHORE FOUNDATION'S SPORTS SCIENCE AND PERFORMANCE CENTER (SSPC) CONTINUED EXPANSION IN FY25 FOLLOWING ITS PUBLIC LAUNCH IN JANUARY 2024. SSPC PROVIDES IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL SPORTS PERFORMANCE SERVICES DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, INTEGRATING APPLIED SPORTS SCIENCE RESEARCH WITH DIRECT ATHLETE SUPPORT. SERVICES INCLUDE SPORT-SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE TESTING, INDIVIDUALIZED TRAINING AND NUTRITION GUIDANCE, EQUIPMENT MODIFICATION, DATA ANALYSIS, AND ATHLETE AND COACH MENTORSHIP. THE PROGRAM ADVANCES EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY PERFORMANCE RESOURCES, SUPPORTS EMERGING AND ELITE ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES, AND PROMOTES LIFELONG HEALTH AND COMPETITIVE SUCCESS.
  4. $423,408 spent. ADVOCACY AND POLICY - LAKESHORE FOUNDATION WORKS TO REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES AND SUPPORTS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF OPTIMAL HEALTH BY PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITY AND CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS BY ENSURING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY GAIN ACCESS TO HEALTH PROMOTING RESOURCES AND RECEIVE THE RIGHT SUPPORT AND SERVICES, AT THE RIGHT TIME, IN THE RIGHT SETTING. LAKESHORE'S COMMUNITY HEALTH EFFORTS LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY ADDRESS BARRIERS THAT PREVENT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FROM MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION IN SOCIETY.
  5. $1.2 million spent. RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY HEALTH - LAKESHORE CONDUCTS APPLIED RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EVALUATION ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAMS IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE, IMPROVING FUNCTIONAL INDEPENDENCE, AND PREVENTING SECONDARY CONDITIONS IN PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. OUR RESEARCH ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PHYSIOLOGICAL TESTING, QUALITATIVE STUDIES, AND PROGRAM EVALUATION. RESEARCH IDENTIFIES WAYS TO IMPROVE HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE, REDUCE SECONDARY HEALTH CONDITIONS, AND INCREASE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY IS ALSO BEING UTILIZED TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO FITNESS. THROUGH PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS, CONFERENCES AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND MODELS IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITY ARE SHARED WORLDWIDE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 2025.

    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 October 1942.

    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.

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