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Special Olympics Northern California Inc

EIN 68-0363121 · Pleasant Hill, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SPECIAL OLYMPICS PROVIDES ATHLETIC OPPORTUNITIES TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TO INSTILL THE CONFIDENCE NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN LIFE.

Income
$8.5 million
Spending
$15.7 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
79
Volunteers
23,487
Highest pay
$335,843, 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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 85% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 40 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 25

    27 of 27 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 (4)
  1. $4.0 million spent. SPECIAL OLYMPICS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA IS A FREE YEAR-ROUND SPORTS TRAINING AND COMPETITION PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. THERE ARE OVER 39,400 ATHLETES WHO TRAIN & COMPETE IN 388 COMPETITIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGIONS IN 13 SPORTS. SPECIAL OLYMPICS REQUIRES THE EXTRAORDINARY SUPPORT AND TIME OF VOLUNTEERS. OUR 9,465 CERTIFIED COACHES VOLUNTEERED OVER 250,000 HOURS AND ANOTHER 14,000 PEOPLE VOLUNTEERED AT COMPETITIONS AND FUNDRAISERS. FINANCIAL SUPPORT COMES ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FROM INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS.
  2. $1.5 million spent. THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA & NEVADA SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IS A UNIQUE EDUCATION PROGRAM ACTIVE IN 464 K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INVOLVING MORE THAN 29,000 GENERAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS AND IMPACTING MORE THAN 135,000 STUDENTS. SPECIAL OLYMPICS ASSISTS SCHOOLS IN INITIATING UNIFIED SPORTS AND WHOLE-SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES, WHERE GENERAL EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS CREATE CLIMATES OF INCLUSION, ACCEPTANCE AND RESPECT ON CAMPUSES AND COMMUNITIES. THERE IS NO CHARGE TO THE STUDENTS OR THEIR FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
  3. $434,107 spent. SPECIAL OLYMPICS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HEALTH & WELLNESS PROGRAMS HELP ENSURE OUR ATHLETES PERFORM AT THEIR BEST ON AND OFF THE PLAYING FIELD. THE PROGRAMS IN FITNESS, HEALTHY ATHLETES SCREENINGS, AND WELLNESS/ADVOCACY IMPACTED OVER 7,300 INDIVIDUALS THOUGH 90 EVENTS. THE HEALTHY ATHLETES FREE, NON-INVASIVE SCREENING PROGRAM IMPACTS BOTH ATHLETES AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS, AND MORE THAN 700 INDIVIDUAL HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS RECEIVED HANDS ON TRAINING IN 8 SPECIALTIES WORKING WITH 1,395 ATHLETES WITH IDD.
  4. $5.4 million spent. ALL OTHER: ALL OTHER PROGRAMS: PUBLIC EDUCATION, ATHLETE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, SUPPORT (SPECIAL OLYMPICS INC) FOR NATIONAL PROGRAMMING, SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEVADA INC FOR LOCAL NEVADA PROGRAMMING.

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 1996.

    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.

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