SOMO News

Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities, has awarded Special Olympics Missouri the prestigious 4-star rating for good governance, sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

“This honor means so much to our organization and our more than 16,000 athletes around the state of Missouri,” said Mark Musso, President and CEO of Special Olympics Missouri. “We are extremely proud to be known as one of the premiere charities in the state.

“To now be recognized as only the second Special Olympics program in the country with a 4-star rating proves to our donors that they are investing in a program that is using their money both conservatively and responsibly.”

Charity Navigator works to help charitable givers make intelligent giving decisions by providing information on more than five thousand charities nationwide and by evaluating their financial health. It calculates each charity’s score based upon several broad criteria, including how much is spent per dollar raised, what percentage of funds goes to programs vs. administrative and fund-raising expenses, and the organization’s long-term financial health. It then assigns a rating from one to four, with four being the best rating.

Special Olympics Missouri is a year-round program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. More than 16,000 athletes participate in 21 Olympic-type sports throughout the state. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with their fellow athletes, their family and friends, and communities across Missouri.

Special Olympics Missouri is proud of our financial health, returning 82 percent of every dollar back to program services. We are privileged to be recognized with these honors: Better Business Bureau A+ Charity Accreditation, Charity Navigator 4-star rating and an inductee into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 2013.

Thank you for trusting us with your donations, volunteer time and your goodwill.