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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: May 2026 Expires: May 2028

Northwest Association for Blind Athletes

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
6 11 14 16
(800) 880-9837
805 Broadway Street, Suite 750
Vancouver, WA, 98660
https://nwaba.org
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Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Northwest Association for Blind Athletes does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

NWABA does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least Every 2 Years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

Standard 11 (Financial Statements)
Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $1 million, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $1 million, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

NWABA does not meet this Standard because:

  • Although the organization received more than $1,000,000 in total income, NWABA states it does not have audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024.

Standard 14 (Budget)
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

NWABA does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided 2026 budget information, it indicated that the budget:

  • Did not identify total projected program service expenses broken down by major program category (sports outreach and Camp Spark, increasing visibility, sports adaptations program, and scholarship and grants program).
  • Did not identify total projected fundraising expenses.
  • Did not identify total projected administrative expenses.

Standard 16 (Annual Report)
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.

NWABA does not meet this Standard because the 2023-2024 annual report did not include:

  • Total expenses for each program in the same categories that appear in the organization's financial statements (sports outreach and Camp Spark, increasing visibility, sports adaptations program, and scholarship and grants program).

Northwest Association for Blind Athletes meets the remaining 16 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to provide life-changing opportunities through sports and physical activity to individuals who are blind and visually impaired."

Year, State Incorporated:
2007, WA

Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) reports that it is dedicated to improving the quality of life for blind or visually impaired children, youth, and adults in communities across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. The organization's programs offer opportunities in 15+ sports, mostly at no cost to the individual and family. NWABA’s programs and services serve individuals of all ages and abilities and include sports adaptation, sports outreach, virtual programs, and a residential sports camp for ages 8 to 21 years

For the year ended June 30, 2025, Northwest Association for Blind Athletes's program expenses were:

Sports outreach and Camp Spark $1,559,295
Increasing visibility $297,940
Sports adaptations program $216,115
Scholarship and grants program $11,992
Total Program Expenses $2,085,342

Chief Executive
William Henry, Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$124,128

Chair of the Board
Erik Selden

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Senior Vice President, Commercial Team Lead, Washington Trust Bank

Board Size
16

Paid Staff Size
17

*2024 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Telephone appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Television, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Membership appeals

Fundraising costs were 13% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $3,004,368, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Northwest Association for Blind Athletes's IRS Form 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025.

Source of Funds
Contributions $1,945,915
Special events, net $1,058,453
Program service fees $45,233
Investment income $40,068
Total Income $3,027,913

Programs: 77% Fundraising: 15% Administrative: 8%

Total Income $3,027,913
Total expenses: $2,705,189
  Program expenses $2,085,342
  Fundraising expenses $402,741
  Administrative expenses $217,106
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $322,724
Beginning Net Assets $1,372,028
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $1,723,154
Total Liabilities $402,859
Total Assets $2,126,013

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

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Report completed by:
BBB Great West - Pacific