About Us
Our Mission
Wheelchair Foundation is a nonprofit organization leading an international effort to raise awareness of the need and challenges of people living with physical disabilities, to promote the joy of giving, foster global friendship, and deliver a wheelchair to every child, teen, and adult who needs one but cannot afford one or does not have access to a wheelchair. For these individuals, Wheelchair Foundation brings Hope, Mobility, and Freedom.
Wheelchair Foundation is a Division of Behring Global Educational Foundation. It is a 501(c)3 charitable foundation and the Federal Tax ID is 84-4053692.
About Our Wheelchairs
Wheelchair Foundation provides a durable, foldable, and cost-effective manual wheelchair designed to help restore mobility and freedom to people in need around the world.
Josh’s Story: Transforming Lives, One Wheelchair at a Time
For nearly two decades, father and son duo Don and Josh Routh have been dedicated volunteers for Wheelchair Foundation, spreading mobility, hope, and joy across the globe. Together, they have traveled to 23 countries on over 43 trips, delivering or sponsoring the delivery of 23,000 wheelchairs to those in need. Their journey is one of compassion, resilience, and an unwavering belief in the power of mobility to change lives.
Our Team
At Wheelchair Foundation, our people are at the heart of everything we do. From our headquarters in Danville, California to our outreach in Florida, our dedicated teams work every day to deliver hope, mobility, and freedom around the world.
Meet the teams that make our mission possible:
FAQs
How can I get a wheelchair?
You can submit a request for a manual wheelchair in the United States by emailing us at info@wheelchairfoundation.org. You will need to fill out our application packet, waiver/ liability form, and provide a brief medical recommendation.
How do you decide who gets a wheelchair?
We distribute wheelchairs worldwide through a network of NGOS conducting ongoing humanitarian relief efforts in recipient countries.
What is the goal of the Wheelchair Foundation?
Our goal is to further the awareness that a wheelchair is no longer an unaffordable item in developing countries throughout the world.
What wheelchairs are available?
The Wheelchair Foundation provides and distributes standard manual wheelchairs only.
How many people need wheelchairs but cannot afford one?
It is estimated that 80-100 million people worldwide need a wheelchair, and between 65-95% of those who need one do not have access to one. The need is especially high in landmine-affected countries such as Angola, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bosnia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique where physical disability rates are extremely high.
How much do I have to donate to deliver a wheelchair to a physically disabled person?
$200 helps purchase, ship, and deliver a new wheelchair to a person in need and supports the mission of Wheelchair Foundation. To sponsor a container of 260 to 280 wheelchairs, please see our Program page.
Can I designate which country I want my donation to go?
We collect donations and then send containers of 260 to 280 wheelchairs each
to our distribution partners in countries that have been identified as in great
need. For sponsoring a container, you can pick a developing country from our list
of approved destinations where we enjoy established and successful distribution
relationships. There are currently 157 countries on the list.
How will my donation be acknowledged?
For every $200 tax-deductible donation, you will receive a personalized certificate of appreciation with a color photograph of a wheelchair recipient, a person who had their quality of life greatly improved by the gift of a wheelchair.
Are all of the wheelchairs distributed internationally, or are some provided within the united states?
The Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries, Catholic Charities, and other relief
organizations are working with us here in the U.S. to distribute wheelchairs to people
that need one but cannot afford one. Some groups and organizations do sponsor
280 wheelchair containers to the U.S., at a cost of $56,000 per container.
How can I help?
You can help in the following ways.
- Corporate Sponsorship. Help us find corporations that have interests in countries that need our help. We can target their sponsorship to specific countries and needs, and we will put their logo on the wheelchair identifying them as sponsors of an entire wheelchair container. They will be heroes, and so many people will be given a new lease on life.
- Your tax-deductible donation can transform someone’s will to survive into a chance to thrive.
- Get the word out! Tell your friends that you are now a part of the most ambitious relief mission of its kind in the history of our civilization!
- Have a fund-raiser! A dinner or cocktail party in your home can serve as a venue to
tell people about helping others. Local businesses, organizations and schools can
all help. We will supply everything you need to help us change the world.
How can I change or cancel my monthly donation?
Send an email to info@wheelchairfoundation.org explaining that you want to
change your donation amount or cancel it completely.
Do you accept physical wheelchair donations?
Unfortunately, we do not accept physical wheelchair donations, as we don’t have
the storage or distribution network to handle them.
Do you offer electric/power/specialty wheelchairs or scooters?
We only provide and distribute manual wheelchairs.
Do you rent out wheelchairs?
We do not rent out our wheelchairs.
I’m missing a part, or a part of my wheelchair is broken. Can you help with repairs?
Unfortunately, we do not offer repair services.