Description: The Wheelchair Foundation is a non-profit organization leading an international effort to deliver to a wheelchair to every person in the world who needs one but cannot afford one. For these individuals the Wheelchair Foundation offers hope, freedom, self-reliance and mobility. The Foundation was established: June 13, 2000.

Our Wheelchair: The Wheelchair Foundation provides rugged wheelchairs to mobility-impaired individuals free of charge. The delivered cost to the Foundation of each wheelchair varies between $120 and $190 depending upon the remoteness of the distribution location and local importation costs. A comparable wheelchair sells retail in California for approximately $500. Quantity purchasing and bulk delivery by ocean freight containers of 280 wheelchairs are the keys to ensuring efficient use of donated funds. The wheelchairs are built in 5 sizes from child to adult widths and have movable arm and foot rests.

Funding: The Wheelchair Foundation asks donors to make $75 contributions in order to help purchase and distribute a wheelchair to someone in need who cannot afford one. Our largest funding sources are Rotary Clubs, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and the U.S. government.

Fundraising and Administration Costs: Less than 20 percent of the funds received by the Foundation are used to cover administration and fundraising costs. We are working to reduce this percentage.

Donations: The Wheelchair Foundation gladly accepts tax deductible donations to aid disabled people all over the world. For every $75.00 tax-deductible donation, donors may choose to receive a beautiful presentation folder with a 5x7 inch, color photograph of a wheelchair recipient, along with a certificate stating the person’s name and age.

Distributing Organizations: The Wheelchair Foundation has ongoing relationships with one or more governmental or non-governmental partners in each country. These partners are chosen by their ability to import containers tax-free, identify recipients, and distribute the wheelchairs to needy individuals.

U.S. Distributions: The Wheelchair Foundation does donate full-containers wheelchairs for distribution in the United States through the Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries.

Global Need: An estimated 100 million people worldwide need a wheelchair but cannot afford one. Some international organizations think the number could be as high as 4% of the population of developing countries.

Our Goal: It is the goal of the Wheelchair Foundation to deliver 1 million wheelchairs in the next 5 years.

For More Information: Write, call, email or visit our website: www.wheelchairfoundation.org