Challenged Athletes INC

Tax-deductible

San Diego, CA501(c)(3)Since 1996Human ServicesEIN 33-0739596Revenue $12.8M in FY2026

On file with the IRSchallengedathletes.org9591 Waples St, 92121-2953 · San Diego, CATax-exempt since Feb 1997Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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IT is the mission of the Challenged Athletes foundation to provide opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics.the Challenged Athletes foundation believes that involvement in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 1,200 volunteers and 41 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2026 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2026
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2026, this tax year; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 7
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.0M a year · 8% of revenue · last 7 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 7 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 7 filings
Spent on programs
81%
of spending
Looks good: 81% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.2M
to officers and key staff · 9% of spending
Top officer’s pay lower than 51% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 9% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
7
named funders · $372K
Looks good: 7 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$6.2M
16% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 16% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
16
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 16 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$12.8M
-11% vs prior year
Spent
$13.8M
To programs
81%
Net assets
$32.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2026
Revenue
$12.8M
FY2026▼ -11%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$12.9M
FY2021$10.7M
FY2022$15.1M
FY2023$12.9M
FY2024$16.7M
FY2025$14.4M
FY2026$12.8M
Expenses
$13.8M
FY2026▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$11.2M
FY2021$9.1M
FY2022$12.7M
FY2023$13.4M
FY2024$15.1M
FY2025$12.8M
FY2026$13.8M
Net assets
$32.5M
FY2026▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$14.0M
FY2021$20.1M
FY2022$23.6M
FY2023$22.0M
FY2024$26.1M
FY2025$29.8M
FY2026$32.5M

From the FY2026 Form 990 (year ending March 2026) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2026. IRS ruling in Feb 1997.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

81 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 81% · $11.2M Management & general 4% · $532K Fundraising 15% · $2.0M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

24 people listed on the 990; $1.2M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2025); the FY2026 filing did not itemize Part VII
Chief Development Officer
$210,534Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Executive Director
$186,929Pt VII · Sec A
SR Directory Ne Region
$156,313Pt VII · Sec A
Chief People Officer
$154,301Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of Marketing
$143,383Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Accounting Officer
$142,201Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Programs Officer
$134,176Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President & Founder
$62,443Pt VII · Sec A

Jeff Holbrook Termed 1225’s $211K as Chief Development Officer is at the 49th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3122 $10–100M human services nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2026FY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Dan Otto———$264,345——
Jeff Holbrook Termed 1225$210,534—————
Kristine Entwistle$186,929$195,744$190,487$162,039$162,887$151,639
Virginia Tinley—$60,051$64,500$89,500$180,729$154,108
Kara Sterner—$144,464$156,403$111,946——
Adam Klipper$156,313—————
Lauren Friedman Termed 0526$154,301—————
Doug Olson——$145,213$150,822$144,996$142,548

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides grants, adaptive sports equipment, coaching, and athletic programming to help individuals with physical disabilities pursue active, competitive lifestyles.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $8.8M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Access for athletes through caf's grant distribution cycle each year, we are able to provide adaptive sports equipment, prosthetics, training, coaching, mentoring and competition grants to physically disabled people aged 3 - 90 years old to enable them enhance their lives through sports.

$5.1Mprogram expense
02

San diego triathlon challenge (SDTC) & tour de cove a celebration of life and sport that encompasses not only the community of san diego, but all constituents of the caf family. This four day event engaged over 200 challenged athletes and 1000 fundraisers at our community challenge weekend.

$1.9Mprogram expense
03

Caf-idaho offers clinics, programs, grants, and community events to individuals with physical disabilities, while also supporting families, encouraging volunteers, and appreciating our supporters. These opportunities not only provide access to sports but also foster a sense of community, allowing individuals to meet others.

$1.8Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
See all 7 funders →
Grants paid · 8 grants · $30.5M · 2019–2025
Unitemized GrantFY2025$4,486,188
Unitemized GrantFY2024$4,003,020
Unitemized GrantFY2023$5,992,294
Unitemized GrantFY2022$4,909,167
Unitemized GrantFY2021$4,384,337
Unitemized GrantFY2020$3,015,848
The San Diego FoundationCA · FY2020$5,219
Unitemized GrantFY2019$3,749,087

By the numbers

The FY2026 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$12.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$14.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$414K
Investment incomeLn 3$127K
Money outPt IX
$13.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$11.2M
Managementcol C$532K
Fundraisingcol D$2.0M
Owns and owesPt X
$32.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.5M
Total assetsLn 16$38.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
24
listed · VII A
PaidVII A8
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b16
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$14.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$448K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$1.4M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$5.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$414K
Investment incomeLn 3$127K
Total revenueLn 12$12.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$171K
SavingsLn 2$4.4M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$4.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$32.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$132K
Other assetsLn 15$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$38.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.2M
Net assetsLn 32$32.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 541
VolunteersI 61,200
Fiscal year endsHeaderMarch
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY26End FY26
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.4M$4.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$29.5M$32.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$154K$132K
Total assetsLn 16$34.6M$38.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.8M$6.2M
Net assetsLn 32$29.8M$32.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$5.4M$5.4M
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$184K$184K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$444K$145K$205K$95K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.4M$2.0M$184K$1.2M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$92K$50K$9K$32K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$280K$152K$29K$99K
Payroll taxesLn 10$299K$162K$31K$106K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$141K$106K$9K$26K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$376K$297K$79K
OccupancyLn 16$267K$163K$13K$91K
TravelLn 17$153K$129K$383$23K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$2.7M$2.5M$52K$228K
All other expensesLn 24e$31K$31K
Total functional expensesLn 25$13.8M$11.2M$532K$2.0M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2026 Latest Viewing $12.8M$13.8M−$963K$32.5M 990 PDF
FY2025 $14.4M$12.8M$1.6M$29.8M 990 PDF
FY2024 $16.7M$15.1M$1.6M$26.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $12.9M$13.4M−$575K$22.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $15.1M$12.7M$2.5M$23.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $10.7M$9.1M$1.6M$20.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $12.9M$11.2M$1.6M$14.0M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2026 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $12,831,092 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $15,016,816$14,520,086
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $227,536$414,451
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $134,373$126,812
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$995,972−$2,230,257
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $14,382,753$12,831,092
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $4,854,965$5,588,473
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,941,156$4,507,199
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,957,582$3,698,458
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $12,753,703$13,794,130
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,629,050−$963,038
Part VI · Governance 16 of 17 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members16
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $12,831,092 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $14,473 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$4,972,375
VIII-1e Government grants$447,572
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$9,100,139
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$1,389,915
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$14,520,086
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $414,451$414,451
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $126,812$126,812
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$2,244,730−$2,244,730
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $414,451 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$2,103,445$12,831,092
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $13,794,130 across 13 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $5,404,658$5,404,658
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $183,815$183,815
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $144,907 · Management $204,551 · Fundraising $95,008$444,466
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,975,371 · Management $183,877 · Fundraising $1,232,847$3,392,095
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $50,096 · Management $9,413 · Fundraising $32,180$91,689
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $152,362 · Management $28,816 · Fundraising $98,509$279,687
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $161,920 · Management $31,083 · Fundraising $106,259$299,262
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $106,215 · Management $8,720 · Fundraising $26,395$141,330
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $296,899 · Fundraising $79,444$376,343
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $162,601 · Management $13,328 · Fundraising $90,630$266,559
IX-17 TravelPrograms $129,259 · Management $383 · Fundraising $23,397$153,039
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,450,693 · Management $52,218 · Fundraising $227,534$2,730,445
IX-24e All other expensesFundraising $30,742$30,742
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $11,218,796 · Management $532,389 · Fundraising $2,042,945$13,794,130
Part X · Balance sheet $38,727,026 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $243,847$170,954
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $4,188,504$4,370,255
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $22,870$177,545
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $18,763$173,298
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $312,745$391,001
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $153,861$131,734
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $29,539,738$32,246,746
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $128,484$1,065,493
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $34,608,812$38,727,026
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $444,301$551,132
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $3,044,666$3,254,852
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,166,924$1,310,332
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $128,484$1,065,493
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $4,784,375$6,181,809
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $4,451,009$4,802,189
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $25,373,428$27,743,028
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $29,824,437$32,545,217
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $34,608,812$38,727,026
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $32,545,217 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$12,831,092
XI-2 Total expenses$13,794,130
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$963,038
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$29,824,437
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$3,683,818
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$32,545,217

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2026 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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