Special Olympics Washington
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
MISSION: TO PROVIDE INCLUSIVE SPORTS, HEALTH, AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS THAT ENABLE INDIVIDUALS WITH IDD TO DEVELOP SKILLS, IMPROVE HEALTH, AND PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.VISION: TO BE THE LEADING ORGANIZATION IN WASHINGTON STATE PROMOTING INCLUSION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH IDD THROUGH SPORTS, HEALTH SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
- Income
- $7.2 million
- Spending
- $7.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 39
- Volunteers
- 7,835
- Highest pay
- $228,740, president & ceo (separated august 2024)
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: 70 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2538 of 38 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
- $6.7 million spent. SPORTS AND COMPETITION: PROVIDED YEAR-ROUND TRAINING AND COMPETITION IN OLYMPIC-TYPE SPORTS. IN 2024, SPORTS OFFERED INCLUDED:O WINTER: ALPINE SKIING, BASKETBALL, CHEERLEADING, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING, FIGURE SKATING, SPEED SKATING, SNOWBOARDING, SNOWSHOEINGO SPRING: ATHLETICS (TRACK & FIELD), LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING/WALKING, CYCLING, POWERLIFTING, SOCCER, SWIMMING, AND DEMONSTRATION SPORTS (BALLROOM DANCING, EQUESTRIAN)O SUMMER: BOCCE, GOLF, SOFTBALL, STAND-UP PADDLE BOARDINGO FALL: ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS, BOWLING, FLAG FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALLUNIFIED SPORTS: ORGANIZED INCLUSIVE TEAMS OF ATHLETES WITH AND WITHOUT IDD TO PROMOTE FRIENDSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING THROUGH JOINT TRAINING AND COMPETITION.HEALTHY ATHLETES: DELIVERED FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS IN DENTAL, VISION, PODIATRY, HEARING, GENERAL HEALTH, AND MENTAL WELLNESS THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS FUNFITNESS, HEALTH PROMOTION, MEDFEST, AND STRONG MINDS. HEALTHY COMMUNITIES PROGRAMS SUCH AS FIT 5, SO FIT, AND TEAMBUILDR EMPHASIZED WELLNESS EDUCATION, FOLLOW-UP CARE, AND COMMUNITY ACCESS.YOUNG ATHLETES: PROVIDED EARLY CHILDHOOD PLAY AND SPORTS PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN AGES 27, WITH AND WITHOUT IDD, TO BUILD MOTOR SKILLS AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS.ATHLETE LEADERSHIP: TRAINED ATHLETES TO SERVE IN LEADERSHIP ROLES INCLUDING SPOKESPERSON, TEAM CAPTAIN, COACH, OFFICIAL, AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS: PARTNERED WITH K12 SCHOOLS TO IMPLEMENT INCLUSIVE SPORTS, YOUTH LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES, AND WHOLE-SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT PROJECTS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1976.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.