Wheelchair Foundation

What Wheelchair Foundation does

Wheelchair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000 by philanthropist Kenneth E. Behring, operating as a division of the Behring Global Educational Foundation (Federal Tax ID 84-4053692). Its mission is to deliver manual wheelchairs to people with physical disabilities in 154+ countries who cannot afford or access one. As of the latest reporting, the Foundation has delivered or committed more than 1.2 million wheelchairs through a network of 250+ distribution partners that includes governments, NGOs, Rotary Clubs, hospitals, and faith-based relief organizations such as the Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries, Catholic Charities, LDS Charities, and the Knights of Columbus.

The Foundation's product is a custom-designed, durable, foldable manual wheelchair (approximately 45 lbs, 300 lb capacity, five seat sizes from 12" to 20") built in China with sealed bearings, composite rims, heavy-duty front casters, and fire-resistant nylon upholstery engineered for rough developing-country terrain. Wheelchairs are sourced directly from Chinese manufacturers and shipped via ocean freight in containers of 260-280 units, with a delivered cost of approximately $200 per chair against a developing-country retail benchmark of up to $1,700. The Foundation operates a Danville, California international headquarters, a Fort Lauderdale regional office, and a Shanghai office supporting China sourcing and distribution, with a small paid staff of roughly 11-50 supplemented by a large volunteer and Rotary Club network.

Revenue is generated entirely from charitable giving across multiple channels: tax-deductible individual donations at $200 per wheelchair (one-time or recurring), container sponsorships of $56,000 for 280 wheelchairs (or $28,000 with the Foundation's matching program), stock and appreciated-securities gifts, planned giving through bequests, retirement plan designations, and charitable trusts, employer matching gifts, and event-driven fundraising including the annual Drive Fore Mobility Golf Tournament, the Festival of Colors gala, anniversary galas, and Wine for Wheels gatherings. The Foundation runs the From the Heart / Del Corazón schools program (50+ schools, 50,000+ to 200,000+ students reached) as a parallel awareness and youth-fundraising channel, and is led by President David Behring (since 2003), Wine for Wheels founder Jeff Behring, and a lean executive team in California, Florida, and China.

Name

Wheelchair Foundation

Legal name

Behring Global Educational Foundation (Wheelchair Foundation is a division of this 501(c)3 charitable foundation; Federal Tax ID 84-4053692)

Website

https://wheelchairfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wheelchair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that designs, sources, and delivers durable manual wheelchairs to people with physical disabilities in 154+ countries through 250+ distribution partners, funded by individual donations, container sponsorships, planned giving, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Disability Aid Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobility Aids (Wheelchairs, Scooters, Walkers, Canes) (HLAHAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) & Wheelchair/Stretcher Transport (HLAFANAJ)

Keywords

• Humanitarian mobility aid
• Wheelchair donation program
• Disability services nonprofit
• Charitable mobility assistance
• Global disability outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Danville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual tax-deductible donations: Primary revenue stream: tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals via online portal, phone, or mail at $200 per wheelchair; donors receive a personalized certificate with recipient photo. Recurring/one-time giving accepted.
2. Container sponsorships: Major-gift program: $56,000 sponsors a full 280-wheelchair container (or $28,000 with matching); sponsors choose the destination country and are invited on the distribution trip. This is the largest unit-of-giving model.
3. Stock/ETF and appreciated securities donations: Donations of stocks, ETFs, bonds, and mutual funds with capital-gains tax incentives; up to 30% of adjusted gross income deductible in the year of gift.
4. Planned giving (bequests, life insurance, retirement plans): Charitable remainder trusts, IRA/401(k) beneficiary designations, will bequests, life insurance policy gifts, and charitable trusts providing long-tail revenue.
5. Corporate matching gifts: Employer matching gift program doubles individual donations; forms sent to the Account Manager at HQ.
6. Event-driven fundraising (golf tournaments, galas): Annual Drive Fore Mobility Golf Tournament (23rd edition Aug 17, 2026), Festival of Colors Gala, anniversary galas, and Wine for Wheels gatherings driving sponsorships, tickets, silent/live auctions, and individual giving.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion6 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Wheelchair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers custom-designed, durable, foldable manual wheelchairs to children, teens, and adults with physical disabilities in 154+ countries who cannot afford or access one. Wheelchairs are manufactured to specification in China, shipped in bulk 260-280 chair sea containers, and distributed through 250+ NGO, government, Rotary Club, and relief organization partners at approximately $200 per chair delivered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wine for Wheels: International grassroots advocacy and wine-tasting-based volunteer fundraising program supporting the Wheelchair Foundation mission.
• From the Heart (Del Corazón)

Products and services

• Standard Manual Wheelchair
• Get a Wheelchair (U.S. Individual Application Program)
• Container Sponsorship Program Major-gift program where a $56,000 donation (or $28,000 with the Wheelchair Foundation matching program) sponsors a full 280-wheelchair sea container. Sponsors can choose the destination country from 157 approved destinations and are invited on the distribution trip. The Foundation matches donations from unrestricted funds when the matching program is applied.
• From the Heart Schools Program K-12 schools-based awareness, empathy, and student-led fundraising program. Reaches 50,000+ students from 50+ schools, with a broader Del Corazón program engaging 200,000+ students and 5,000 teachers. Includes awareness assemblies, K-12 disability-awareness curriculum, and student/teacher distribution trips to Latin America (13 trips completed). Directed by Kimberlee Walsh (Director of Community Outreach).
• Wine for Wheels Program International association of philanthropic volunteers that hosts wine-tasting gatherings across the United States to raise awareness and donations for the Wheelchair Foundation mission. Founded by Jeff Behring. Operates a separate wineforwheels.org site.
• Planned Giving / Bequests Program Charitable planned-giving program offering specific, residual, and contingent bequests; life insurance policy gifts; IRA/401(k) beneficiary designations; charitable remainder trusts; and appreciated securities gifts. Provides tax-deduction limits up to 30%-50% of AGI depending on gift type.
• Stock / ETF and Appreciated Securities Donations Program Donations of stocks, ETFs, bonds, and mutual funds with capital-gains tax incentives. Up to 30% of adjusted gross income deductible in the year of gift. Processed by the Donor Relations and Account Manager teams at Danville HQ.
• Corporate Matching Gifts Program Donor submits employer matching gift form to the Wheelchair Foundation to double the impact of their individual donation. Forms are processed by the Account Manager at the Danville, California headquarters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,242,028 wheelchairs delivered or committed to date
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship - parent organization, flagship - core delivery partner, core - distribution partner, core - recurring delivery partner, core - disaster/relief partner, flagship - national scale distribution, regional - in-country distribution, core - government co-delivery partner, core - volunteer fundraising network, minor - regional u.s. partner, minor - historical co-delivery partner, minor - early awareness partner, minor - awareness media partner, flagship - iconic co-distribution, flagship - supply chain, regional - china event partner, minor - recognition partner, minor - event partner, minor - volunteer organization partner, minor - volunteer partner, core - active rotary partner, core - flagship event venue, core - event venue and minor - alumni distribution partner.

• Behring Global Educational Foundationflagship - parent organizationOthersWheelchair Foundation is a division of Behring Global Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. Behring Global Educational Foundation is the parent organization; it shares Federal Tax ID 84-4053692 with Wheelchair Foundation. The Wheelchair Foundation's 2000 founding by Kenneth E. Behring establishes a deep institutional link.
• Rotary International (Rotary Clubs and Rotarians)flagship - core delivery partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerRotary Clubs have been vital partners since March 2001. Rotarians have collectively sponsored the delivery of more than 1 million wheelchairs worldwide, contributing more than a quarter of all distributions to date. Specific districts/clubs include District 6960 ($1.4M+ for 14,400 wheelchairs), District 5170 Tri-Valley Evening (Guatemala), Rotary Club of Sanibel-Captiva ($28,000 at 2025 Wheels for Wheels), Rotary Club of Nakuru, Rotary Club of Davis Sunrise, and the Bonita Naples Rotary Club.
• Salvation Armycore - distribution partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes Wheelchair Foundation wheelchairs in the U.S. to people who need one but cannot afford one. Listed as a U.S. relief organization redistribution partner.
• Goodwill Industriescore - distribution partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes Wheelchair Foundation wheelchairs in the U.S. to people who need one but cannot afford one.
• Catholic Charitiescore - distribution partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes Wheelchair Foundation wheelchairs in the U.S. to people who need one but cannot afford one.
• Knights of Columbuscore - recurring delivery partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-delivered 5,000 wheelchairs to physically disabled residents of Afghanistan in September 2003 alongside LDS Charities, the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Defense, and Wheelchair Foundation. In November 2007, the Knights of Columbus sponsored delivery of 2,000 wheelchairs on Veterans Day weekend to Veterans and VA facilities in Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, and Washington, DC.
• LDS Charitiescore - disaster/relief partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-delivered 5,000 wheelchairs to physically disabled residents of Afghanistan in September 2003 alongside Knights of Columbus, the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Defense, and the Wheelchair Foundation.
• China Disabled Person's Federationflagship - national scale distributionStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn September 7, 2001, Ken Behring signed a cooperative agreement with the China Disabled Person's Federation in Beijing, starting the country's first nationwide effort to deliver life-changing wheelchairs to people without mobility or the means to acquire one.
• Cruz Jiminián Foundationregional - in-country distributionChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn March 6, 2026, Dr. Félix Antonio Cruz Jiminián (president of the Cruz Jiminián Foundation) co-led a free wheelchair distribution in the National District of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with the Wheelchair Foundation; dozens of citizens with disabilities and mobility limitations benefited. Former MLB player José Veras also participated.
• U.S. Department of Statecore - government co-delivery partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-delivered 5,000 wheelchairs to physically disabled residents of Afghanistan in September 2003 as part of a multi-agency humanitarian coalition. U.S. Government transportation funding of wheelchair shipments was suspended after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and only resumed years later.
• U.S. Department of Defensecore - government co-delivery partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-delivered 5,000 wheelchairs to physically disabled residents of Afghanistan in September 2003 as part of a multi-agency humanitarian coalition.
• Wine for Wheelscore - volunteer fundraising networkGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational association of philanthropic volunteers who host gatherings across the U.S. to raise awareness and donations for the Wheelchair Foundation mission. Operates a separate wineforwheels.org site. Founded by Jeff Behring.
• Honor Flights of the Bay Areaminor - regional u.s. partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn September 2024, the Wheelchair Foundation provided wheelchairs to Honor Flights of the Bay Area to assist in the travel of WWII, Korean, and Vietnam Veterans.
• Vietnam Veterans of Diablo Valley, Californiaminor - historical co-delivery partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn November 2006, the Vietnam Veterans of Diablo Valley, California delivered wheelchairs to physically disabled residents of Vietnam; they raised the funds to sponsor the wheelchairs.
• Robert A. Schuller / Hour of Power television showminor - early awareness partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerIn January 2003, Rev. Robert A. Schuller welcomed Ken Behring and the Wheelchair Foundation mission for the first time on the Hour of Power television show, providing high-profile media exposure.
• Smithsonian Magazineminor - awareness media partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerIn April 2001, the Wheelchair Foundation ran a premier ad in Smithsonian Magazine as a key early awareness channel.
• Nelson Mandelaflagship - iconic co-distributionOthersOn August 6, 2002, Ken and Patricia Behring traveled to South Africa to distribute wheelchairs with Nelson Mandela, marking one of the foundation's most prominent distribution events.
• Chinese wheelchair manufacturersflagship - supply chainOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerWheelchair Foundation purchases wheelchairs from several manufacturers in China that build a quality product designed to be easily maintainable in developing countries. This Chinese supply chain underpins the ~$200 per wheelchair delivered cost.
• Jiangsu Province Foundation for Disabled Personsregional - china event partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized the 33rd National Disabled Day celebration in May 2024, with 160 individuals participating in charity activities alongside the Jiangsu Province Department of Civil Affairs and Wuxi City TV station.
• Pledge to Humanityminor - recognition partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerNamed Jeff and David Behring as Change Makers of the Year at Diablo Country Club in September 2025; the Wheelchair Foundation was featured in the recognition event.
• Wine for Wheels Florida Veterans Day Dinner partnersminor - event partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerFlorida office partners with local organizations for events like the November 11, 2025 Florida Veterans Day Dinner; co-branded events extend the foundation's reach in the Southeast U.S.
• School of Imagination and Happy Talkersminor - volunteer organization partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerJosh Routh volunteers with these disability-focused organizations; Wheelchair Foundation works with them to expand disability awareness and recipient identification.
• Tahoe Donner 4-Wheel Drive Clubminor - volunteer partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity organization that supports Josh Routh's accessibility adventures; raises visibility for the wheelchair mobility mission.
• District 5170 Tri-Valley Evening Rotarycore - active rotary partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri-Valley Evening Rotary's Guatemala Wheelchair Distribution and Literacy Project 2023 distributed over 140 wheelchairs to poor and indigenous people in Guatemala City, Antigua, and surrounding villages with the help of experienced Rotarians and local clubs.
• Rotary Club of Nakuru / Rotary Club of Davis Sunrisecore - active rotary partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in a joint Rotary Club wheelchair distribution video on the Wheelchair Foundation YouTube channel; co-sponsors international wheelchair distributions.
• Blackhawk Country Clubcore - flagship event venueGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for the annual Drive Fore Mobility Golf Tournament (23rd edition August 17, 2026) supporting the Wheelchair Foundation mission.
• Blackhawk Museumcore - event venueGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted the Wheelchair Foundation 25th Anniversary celebration on March 22, 2025, and previously the Blackhawk Automotive Museum was led by David Behring.
• Princeton Alumni (Class of 1977)minor - alumni distribution partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn March 2007, a group of Princeton alumni celebrated their 30th graduation anniversary with a Guatemala wheelchair distribution trip, led by David Behring (Princeton class alumnus and Wheelchair Foundation President).

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Joni and Friends: Joni and Friends is a faith-based disability ministry that provides wheelchairs (notably through the Wheels for the World program) to people with disabilities internationally. It uses a comparable short-term mission trip distribution model and shares Wheelchair Foundation's donor-funded approach.
• Motivation Charitable Trust: Motivation is a UK-based disability charity that designs and supplies low-cost, all-terrain wheelchairs and supports disability rights globally. It overlaps with Wheelchair Foundation on rough-terrain manual chairs but has built a stronger posture-and-seating specialty catalog.
• Hands for Humanity / Joni Eareckson Tada (Wheels for the World): Wheels for the World, a Joni and Friends program, refurbishes and distributes wheelchairs globally through short-term mission trips. It overlaps with Wheelchair Foundation on donated-wheelchair delivery to LMICs but relies on refurbished used chairs rather than newly manufactured units.

Broad incumbents

• Direct Relief: Direct Relief is a major humanitarian medical aid organization that ships mobility aids and medical equipment globally. It operates at a much larger scale than Wheelchair Foundation and serves overlapping beneficiary populations through NGO and government channels.
• World Vision International: World Vision is a large Christian humanitarian organization with global disability-inclusion programs that distribute mobility aids in LMICs. It is a broad incumbent that overlaps with Wheelchair Foundation on disability programming but operates at vastly greater scale and scope.
• LDS Charities: LDS Charities is the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, operating large-scale wheelchair distribution programs worldwide. It is both a co-delivery partner of Wheelchair Foundation (Afghanistan 2003) and a broad-incumbent comparable given its much larger humanitarian footprint.

Direct peers

• Mobility Worldwide: Mobility Worldwide (formerly PET International) builds and distributes the Personal Energy Transportation (PET) mobility cart to disabled individuals in developing countries. Like Wheelchair Foundation, it operates a volunteer-driven, donor-funded model distributing rugged, low-cost mobility devices globally.
• Free Wheelchair Mission: Free Wheelchair Mission is a California-based nonprofit that designs and distributes wheelchairs to people with disabilities in developing countries, with a similar donor-funded, containerized distribution model. It is the most directly comparable peer to Wheelchair Foundation in mission, geographic reach, and per-unit economics.
• Hope Haven International: Hope Haven is a faith-based nonprofit that designs, manufactures, and distributes wheelchairs to people with disabilities worldwide, including a specialty Roughrider chair for rugged terrain. Its product-engineering and global-distribution approach is closely comparable to Wheelchair Foundation's custom-built manual chair program.
• Walkabout Foundation: Walkabout Foundation is a nonprofit that provides wheelchairs and rehabilitation services to people in the developing world, with comparable donor-funded wheelchair distribution and awareness campaigns. It overlaps directly with Wheelchair Foundation's mission and global distribution footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxU7_wK5iWLfjjZs4A4LCfw
• Facebookfacebook.com/wheelchairfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wheelchair-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/wheelchairfoundation
• Xx.com/wheelchairfdn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Wheelchair Foundation