Special Olympics Hawaii joins a number of nonprofit organizations struggling with funding woes tied to difficult economic times.

The organization's board expects to end the year with a $50,000 deficit, said Nancy Bottelo, president and CEO of Special Olympics Hawaii.

The shortfall has resulted in some belt-tightening at the organization's Honolulu headquarters, including tapping into a reserve fund and not filling a vacant position. But the staff remains committed to keeping the programs solid, Bottelo said, with no competitions cut this year.

"It's truly a time that's going to be tough for everybody," Bottelo said. "There are so many not-for-profits in Hawai'i, and everybody is just struggling to make ends meet."

To help compensate for the downturn, the organization has scheduled additional fundraising events, including a Walk-a-Thon tentatively set for Nov 22.

The staff of six full-time employees also agreed not to add any new programs, to forgo matching contributions to individual 401(k) retirement accounts this year and to take on additional duties to avoid hiring another employee.

The organization targets more than 2,000 individuals statewide with intellectual disabilities and provides sports training and competition to them. Funding for its approximately $2 million annual budget is evenly generated through fundraisers, donations and volunteer efforts to provide everything from uniforms to transportation for athletes and their families at no charge, Bottelo said.

Stephanie Zane, 41, began competing in Special Olympics at the age of 8 and was selected to travel to the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland, in 2003. She said she enjoys making new friends and going to new places with the organization's help.

Bottelo said she's found in previous years that individuals in Hawai'i donate more when times are hard, although foundations and corporations may not. But she isn't sure if it will be the same this year.

"It feels real scary," said Bottelo, pointing out that people are also worried about huge institutions like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two of the nation's largest mortgage providers. "But it just means we have to be a lot smarter in how we raise money, and we have to find ways to continue to do it."