Special Olympics British Columbia is a 3-star rated, financially transparent charity. It has a below average results reporting grade and its overhead spending is within Ci’s reasonable range. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity’s reserve funds can cover two years and eight months of annual program costs.

Founded in 1980, Special Olympics BC (SOBC) is part of the Special Olympics movement in the province of British Columbia. It is affiliated with Special Olympics Canada and Special Olympics International. SOBC’s vision is that sport will open hearts and minds towards people with intellectual disabilities and create inclusive communities across British Columbia. The charity does not disclose how it allocates its program spending.

SOBC reports that an estimated 51,000 Canadians have intellectual disabilities and one to three per cent of the global population has an intellectual disability – as many as 200 million people. Special Olympics BC provides high-quality year-round sport programs and competitions that help people with intellectual disabilities celebrate personal achievement, gain confidence, and make friends. There are now more than 5,200 Special Olympics athletes aged two and older participating in year-round programs in 55 communities across BC. 

SOBC offers training for 18 sports including summer sports such as basketball and golf, as well as winter sports such as cross-country skiing and curling. These are offered to children aged eight and up. The charity also runs youth programs for children from ages two to 18, a year-round fitness program, and athlete health initiatives. From 2011 to 2016, SOBC delivered 3,249 Healthy Athletes screenings in six disciplines.

Special Olympics British Columbia is financially transparent. Its audited financial statements are publicly available on its website.

Special Olympics British Columbia received $2.4m in donations and special events fundraising in F2022. It also received $838k in government funding, representing 28% of total revenues. Its administrative and fundraising costs are 15% of revenues. For every dollar donated, 85 cents are available for programs which is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.  

SOBC has $7.2m in reserve funds, of which $1.7m is donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, SOBC can cover 264% or two years and eight months of annual program costs.  

This charity review is an update that has been sent to Special Olympics British Columbia for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.  

Updated August 18, 2023 by Victoria Allder.