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Special Olympics Colorado

EIN 84-0713739 · Aurora, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS COLORADO (SOCO) 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 FRIENDSHIPS WITH THEIR FAMILIES, OTHER SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES, AND THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$7.5 million
Spending
$7.3 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
11.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
47
Volunteers
11,212
Highest pay
$210,708, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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

    24 of 24 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, 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 (4)
  1. $2.9 million spent. SPECIAL OLYMPICS COLORADO (SOCO) IS A CHAPTER OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS, A GLOBAL ORGANIZATION THAT USES THE SIMPLE PLATFORM OF SPORTS TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES (ID). SINCE 1969, SOCO HAS BEEN STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, ATHLETES AND OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH SPORT AND HEALTHY LIVING OPPORTUNITIES AND NOW SERVES MORE THAN 20,000 ATHLETES ACROSS THE STATE. NOT INCLUDED IN PROGRAM EXPENSES ARE $5,224,418 IN DONATED SERVICES AND FACILITIES. THESE DONATED SERVICES INCLUDE DAY PASSES TO SKI RESORTS USED IN CONNECTION WITH SOCO'S WINTER SPORTS PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS SERVICES DONATED BY COACHES AND REFEREES.
  2. $1.2 million spent. SOCO'S UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOL STRATEGY IS A SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAM THAT CHANGES SCHOOL CLIMATES TO BE ACCEPTING AND INCLUSIVE OF ALL STUDENTS AND ALL DIFFERENCES THROUGH UNIFIED SPORTS, YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGING ALL STUDENTS.
  3. $342,988 spent. SOCO'S YOUNG ATHLETES PROGRAM IS AN INNOVATIVE SPORTS PLAY PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 2-7 WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AS WELL AS THEIR TYPICALLY DEVELOPING PEERS, DESIGNED TO PROMOTE INCLUSION WHILE INTRODUCING THEM TO THE WORLD OF SPORT, WITH THE GOAL OF PREPARING THEM FOR FUTURE PARTICIPATION IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPORTS TRAINING AND COMPETITION.
  4. $621,149 spent. SOCO'S OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE INCLUSIVE HEALTH, WHICH FOCUSES ON IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL AND SOCIALEMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES BY BROADENING ACCESS AND QUALITY OF CARE IN HEALTH SYSTEMS; THE ATHLETE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, INCLUDING ALPS UNIVERSITY, WHICH EMPOWERS SOCO'S ATHLETES TO CREATIVE MEANINGFUL SOCIETAL CHANGE; AND OUR VOLUNTEER TRAINING AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 December 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 March 1975.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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