Special Olympics Southern California Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 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 FRIENDSHIP WITH THEIR FAMILIES, OTHER SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES AND THE COMMUNITY. OUR VISION IS TO PROMOTE ACCEPTANCE, INCLUSION, AND WELL-BEING FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES THROUGH SPORTS.
- Income
- $9.8 million
- Spending
- $13.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 27 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 89
- Volunteers
- 9,178
- Highest pay
- $283,479, 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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 27.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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 2542 of 42 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 (3)
- $8.3 million spent. SPORTS AND HEALTH PROGRAMS:SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND SPORTS TRAINING AND COMPETITIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. ATHLETES HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPETE IN 12 SPORTS AT THE LOCAL AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LEVEL ANNUALLY AND TO COMPETE NATIONALLY OR INTERNATIONALLY DURING YEARS IN WHICH USA GAMES OR WORLD GAMES ARE TAKING PLACE. INDIVIDUALS CAN PARTICIPATE AS YOUNG AS TWO YEARS OLD AND THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIMES. THROUGH THE YOUNG ATHLETES PROGRAM, ATHLETES AGED 2-7 DEVELOP THEIR MOTOR, SOCIAL, AND COGNITIVE SKILLS THROUGH FOUNDATIONAL SPORTS PLAY.SPECIAL OLYMPICS IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATION FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. THE HEALTHY ATHLETES PROGRAM PROVIDES ACCESS TO FREE HEALTH SERVICES FOR A POPULATION WITH SIGNIFICANT, UNMET HEALTH NEEDS. AT EVENTS THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS ATHLETES FREE ACCESS TO MEDICAL TEAMS ACROSS PRIMARY CARE, OPTOMETRY, PODIATRY, MENTAL HEALTH, AND MORE. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OFFERS FIT 5, WHICH IS A FITNESS PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP ATHLETES BECOME THE BEST THEY CAN BE BY CREATING HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES. THESE RESOURCES ARE AIMED AT IMPROVING AN ATHLETE'S OVERALL HEALTH THROUGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, NUTRITION, AND HYDRATION. SOSC ALSO OFFERS MEDFESTS, WHICH PROVIDE ATHLETES WITH PHYSICAL EXAMS; HEALTH BOOTHS; REGULAR ONLINE WORKOUTS; AND MORE.IN 2024, SOSC LAUNCHED A NEW THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT HELPED GUIDE GROWTH. THE ORGANIZATION DEVELOPED 26 NEW LOCAL PROGRAMS AND UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS. THEY PROVIDED 2,739 HEALTH SCREENINGS TO ATHLETES, WHICH IS A 17% INCREASE COMPARED TO 2023. THEY ALSO UNVEILED POWER UP, WHICH IS AN INCLUSIVE, VIRTUAL WORKOUT DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. THE ORGANIZATION ACHIEVED THIS WHILE KEEPING ALL ELEMENTS OF THE SPORTS, COMPETITIONS, AND HEALTH PROGRAMS FREE OF CHARGE TO ATHLETES AND THEIR FAMILIES.SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHANGES THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES THROUGH THE POWER OF SPORTS AND SO MUCH MORE. THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS, ATHLETES IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH AND SELF-ESTEEM AND FIND A SENSE OF BELONGING. AND BY CELEBRATING THE ATHLETES' ABILITIES, WE ARE OPENING HEARTS AND MINDS AND CREATING COMMUNITIES OF ACCEPTANCE AND INCLUSION.
- $1.2 million spent. UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS:SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS (UCS) IS SHAPING A GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WILL LEAD US INTO A FUTURE OF INCLUSION. THE PROGRAM SPREADS ACCEPTANCE, INCLUSION, AND AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE FOR STUDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. NINETY-ONE PERCENT OF GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS PROGRAMS REPORTED STANDING UP FOR THEIR TEAMMATES WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, AND 94% OF UCS LIAISONS REPORTED LESS BULLYING.IN 2024, WE HAD MORE THAN 150 SCHOOLS COMMIT TO CREATING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND ACCEPTING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. THIS INCLUDES THREE COMPONENTS:1. UNIFIED SPORTS IS A PROGRAM IN WHICH PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES (ATHLETES) AND THOSE WITHOUT (PARTNERS) TRAIN AND COMPETE TOGETHER ON SPORTS TEAMS. IT IS INSPIRED BY A SIMPLE PRINCIPLE: PLAYING TOGETHER IS A QUICK PATH TO FRIENDSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING.2. INCLUSIVE YOUTH LEADERSHIP - STUDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES WORK TOGETHER TO LEAD AND PLAN ADVOCACY, AWARENESS, AND OTHER INCLUSIVE ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.3. WHOLE SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT INCORPORATES AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE INCLUSION, REACH THE ENTIRE SCHOOL, AND ALIGN WITH THE UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS MISSION.THESE COMPONENTS PROVIDE THE MOST OPPORTUNITY FOR CREATING POSITIVE SCHOOL CLIMATES. THROUGH THEIR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION AND AWARENESS, UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, BECOME PART OF THE SCHOOL'S SOCIAL FABRIC.THE ORGANIZATION CHANGES THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 100,000 STUDENTS THROUGH UCS, AND 96% OF THOSE ATHLETES EXPERIENCED IMPROVED SELF-CONFIDENCE.
- $817,204 spent. OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES: LEADERSHIP, AWARENESS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S OTHER PROGRAM COSTS INCLUDE BROADENING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. ATHLETE AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS: SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PROVIDES ATHLETES WITH TRAINING TO DEVELOP THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND USE THEIR VOICES AND ABILITIES TO INSPIRE OTHERS, INFLUENCE CHANGE, AND CREATE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES. ATHLETES CAN BECOME COACHES, OFFICIALS, TEAM CAPTAINS, SPOKESPEOPLE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS, AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. ATHLETES HELP GUIDE THE DIRECTION OF THE MOVEMENT AND ARE ADVOCATES OF ACCEPTANCE AND INCLUSION FOR ALL. IN 2024, THEY TRAINED MORE ATHLETE LEADERS THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, AND THEY CREATED FOUR NEW ATHLETE LEADERSHIP COUNCILS. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS: THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO ADVOCATE AND EDUCATE TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUSION AND THE WAYS IN WHICH IT BENEFITS THE LIVES OF EVERYONE AND OUR WORLD. WITH THE GOAL OF BETTER EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON OUR PROGRAMS AND MISSION, THE ORGANIZATION PROMOTES ITS MISSION AND PROGRAMS THROUGH A VARIETY OF CHANNELS, INCLUDING DIRECT MAIL, PRINTED AND DIGITAL GRAPHICS, EMAIL MARKETING, SOCIAL MEDIA, TRADITIONAL MEDIA OUTREACH, CONTENT CREATION, AND MORE. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF: THIS INCLUDES STAFF CONFERENCES AND TEAM TRAININGS, WHICH ARE PART OF SOSC'S SUCCESS. BY BUILDING A STRONG TEAM CULTURE AND ENCOURAGING EMPLOYEES TO GROW, THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE TOOLS TO ADVANCE SOSC'S SPORTS, WELLNESS, AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS. THIS SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYEES INCLUDES YEAR-ROUND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND AN ANNUAL STAFF CONFERENCE TO DEVELOP STRATEGIC PLANS, CREATE CONSISTENCY WITHIN PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND BUILD TEAM MORALE. RECRUITMENT: SOSC RECRUITS VOLUNTEERS TO EMPOWER ATHLETES TO REACH THEIR GOALS ON AND OFF THE SPORTS FIELD, BUILDING A STAFF-LED, VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION. IN 2024, SOSC GREW VOLUNTEER SUPPORT BY 123% COMPARED TO 2023. EVEN WITH THIS INCREASE, THE ORGANIZATION NEEDS MORE COACHES AND ONGOING VOLUNTEERS TO REACH MORE PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES. EMPLOYEES ARE DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A STRATEGIC VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SKILLED AND CAPACITY-BUILDING ROLES FOR VOLUNTEERS WITHIN SPORTS, WELLNESS, AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING, AS WELL AS BUILDING RESOURCES TO EMPOWER VOLUNTEERS. WITH MORE VOLUNTEERS SUPPORTING THE MISSION, WE KNOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW AND SERVE MORE ATHLETES.WHILE 2024 WAS VERY IMPACTFUL, SOSC IS ALSO PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE. THEY ARE SHIFTING THEIR FUNDRAISING APPROACH TO ONE THAT IS PARTNERSHIP-BASED RATHER THAN TRANSACTIONAL. THEY PLAN TO CONSOLIDATE THEIR CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE SYSTEMS FROM THREE INTO ONE. THEY CREATED A TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE, ACQUIRED NEW MEDIA MONITORING SOFTWARE, DEVELOPED CUTTING-EDGE COACH TRAINING VIDEOS, AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LAUNCHING A NEW WEBSITE. ALL OF THIS AND MORE SET THE FOUNDATION FOR CONTINUED GROWTH IN SPORTS, HEALTH, AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS IN THE YEARS TO COME.THE IMPACT SOSC MAKES THROUGH THE POWER OF SPORTS IS LIFE-CHANGING. WHEN THEY IMPACT ONE ATHLETE'S LIFE, IT HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT THAT POSITIVELY AFFECTS THEIR FAMILY, VOLUNTEERS, SCHOOLS, AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. IN FACT, IT HELPS BUILD A MORE ACCEPTING AND INCLUSIVE WORLD, WHICH BENEFITS ALL OF US.
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 October 13, 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 May 1996.
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 October 21, 2026.
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