Special Olympics Washington
Special Olympics Washington is a Seattle-based nonprofit providing year-round sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across 13 areas of Washington State. Founded in 1975, it funds programs through donations, government grants, corporate partnerships, and signature fundraising events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Special Olympics Washington does
Special Olympics Washington is a nonprofit charitable organization established in 1975 as the Washington State chapter of Special Olympics, the global movement founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968. The organization provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, operating across 13 geographic areas throughout Washington State and serving as the only such program in the state. Core programs include athletic competition in 12+ sports (Bocce, Cheerleading, Figure Skating, Gymnastics, Pickleball, Snowshoeing, Speedskating, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Tennis, Volleyball), Unified Sports that combine athletes with and without disabilities on the same teams, Unified Champion Schools for K-12 inclusive education, SO College for university engagement, Young Athletes for early childhood (ages 2-7), Health Initiatives providing free screenings, and Athlete Leadership development programs.
The organization's technology infrastructure is modest, centered on a web-based portal (Portals.SpecialOlympics.org) for athlete and volunteer registration, profile management, and program coordination, supplemented by a donation processing platform and standard social media channels. Its business model is entirely nonprofit: no fees are charged to athletes. Revenue is generated through individual and corporate donations, government grants (notably $3.6M+ from the Dan Thompson Memorial Developmental Disabilities Community Services Account in 2023), corporate sponsorships (Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Seattle Storm, Jersey Mike's), and signature fundraising events including the Polar Plunge and Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR). The organization relies on a large volunteer base (4,000+ for State Games) and maintains institutional partnerships with Seattle Public Schools, University of Washington, and YMCA of the Inland Northwest to extend program reach. Leadership is under President and CEO Mary K. Do, appointed December 2024, succeeding David Wu.
Special Olympics Washington firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Special Olympics Washington
- Legal name
- Special Olympics Washington
- Website
- https://specialolympicswashington.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Special Olympics Washington is a Seattle-based nonprofit providing year-round sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across 13 areas of Washington State. Founded in 1975, it funds programs through donations, government grants, corporate partnerships, and signature fundraising events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Special Olympics Washington industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adaptive Sports and Disability Inclusion Programs
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM)
Keywords
Where Special Olympics Washington is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Special Olympics Washington business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization relies on donations from individuals and corporate partners to fund year-round sports training, athletic competitions, and health initiatives for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
- Government Grants: Special Olympics Washington received over $3.6 million in government grants from the Dan Thompson Memorial Developmental Disabilities Community Services Account in 2023.
- Event-Based Fundraising: Signature fundraising events including Polar Plunge, Law Enforcement Torch Run, and other campaigns generate revenue through participant registrations and donations.
- Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Partnerships with corporations like Seattle Storm, Jersey Mike's, and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health provide financial support through sponsorship agreements and cause marketing campaigns.
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Special Olympics Washington product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Special Olympics Washington provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Washington State. The organization also runs Unified Sports (combining athletes with and without disabilities), inclusive school and college programming, early-childhood Young Athletes, athlete leadership development, and free Healthy Athletes health screenings. Participation is offered free of charge to athletes, funded through donations, government grants, and signature fundraising events.
Product overview
Special Olympics Washington is a non-profit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of sports programs and community initiatives for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The core offerings include year-round athletic competition across 12 Olympic-type sports (Bocce, Cheerleading, Figure Skating, Gymnastics, Pickleball, Snowshoeing, Speedskating, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Tennis, Volleyball, and more), supplemented by Unified Sports programs that combine athletes with and without disabilities on the same teams. Supporting programs include the Unified Champion Schools initiative for K-12 inclusive education, Special Olympics College Clubs for campus engagement, the Young Athletes early childhood program, the Athlete Leadership Program for developing advocacy skills, and Health Initiatives/Healthy Athletes providing free health screenings. Signature fundraising events include the Polar Plunge and Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR). The organization operates an Athlete and Volunteer Portal (Portals.SpecialOlympics.org) for registration and program management, and sends delegations to national competitions as Team Washington.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Athletic Sports Programs
Companies that use Special Olympics Washington
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Special Olympics Washington technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Special Olympics Washington partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and moderate.
- Kid Spark EducationminorKid Spark Education partnered with Special Olympics Washington to co-develop 12 inclusive lessons connecting sport, literacy, and invention for Pre-K through 1st-grade students as part of the Early Childhood STEM & Literacy Program.
- University of WashingtoncoreUniversity of Washington was named the First National Banner Unified Champion College in Washington State, recognizing its comprehensive Unified Champion Schools programming.
- Jersey Mike'smoderateJersey Mike's Month of Giving campaign supported Special Olympics Washington athletes ahead of the 2026 USA Games, with a portion of sales benefiting the organization.
- Seattle StormcoreSeattle Storm partnered with Special Olympics Washington for the organization's 50th Anniversary Celebration at Climate Pledge Arena, featuring joint promotional activities and community engagement.
- Virginia Mason Franciscan HealthcoreVirginia Mason Franciscan Health signed on as the first Alliance Partner for the Alliance for Inclusive Health, a groundbreaking health initiative for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Seattle Public SchoolscoreSpecial Olympics Washington and Seattle Public Schools partnered to bring Unified Champion Schools programming district-wide, expanding inclusive education initiatives.
- YMCA of the Inland NorthwestmoderateYMCA of the Inland Northwest and Special Olympics Washington partnered to provide Special Olympics athletes and their families opportunities to learn, grow and thrive at the YMCA through collaborative programming.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Special Olympics Washington competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Challenger Division (Little League International): Adaptive baseball program serving children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities. Operates as an inclusive parallel league structure with comparable athlete segments and volunteer-driven delivery, though focused on baseball specifically.
- Special Olympics Idaho: State chapter of Special Olympics serving Idaho with analogous programs, volunteer models, and fundraising events. Comparable in size, mission, and Pacific Northwest regional footprint.
- Move United (formerly Disabled Sports USA): National nonprofit providing adaptive sports opportunities for people with disabilities across the U.S. Directly comparable mission and adaptive-sports delivery model, with a broader disability scope (physical, sensory, and intellectual disabilities).
- Special Olympics Oregon: State chapter of Special Olympics in neighboring Oregon providing the same year-round sports training and competition model for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Most directly comparable peer in scale, mission, and operational structure.
Emerging players
- BlazeSports America: Nonprofit providing adaptive sports and recreation programs (wheelchair basketball, track, swimming) to children, adults, and veterans with disabilities. Smaller scale than Special Olympics Washington but comparable mission and direct-service delivery model.
- National Wheelchair Basketball Association: National governing body for wheelchair basketball in the U.S. Comparable adaptive-sports organizational structure and athlete development pathway, though focused on a single sport.
Regional players
- YMCA of Greater Seattle: Regional community recreation organization in Washington offering inclusive sports and wellness programming for people with disabilities. Partner (not competitor) of Special Olympics Washington via YMCA of the Inland Northwest alliance — comparable delivery infrastructure and donor base in the same geography.
Broad incumbents
- Special Olympics International: Parent global organization of the Special Olympics movement, founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, operating in 200+ countries with 5.7M+ athletes. Parent/incumbent that sets program standards, licensing, and competition pathways for state chapters.
- Best Buddies International: Nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through one-to-one friendship, leadership, and employment programs. Larger, broader-mission IDD organization with comparable donor base, K-12 school partnerships (Buddy Schools), and event fundraising.
Others
- Aspen Institute Project Play: National initiative advancing youth sports access and inclusion, with growing focus on adaptive and Special Olympics-style programming. Ecosystem/thematic peer for benchmarking, policy alignment, and partnership in the adaptive-sports and inclusive-recreation space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Special Olympics Washington social profiles
Digital presenceSpecial Olympics Washington financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Special Olympics Washington leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Special Olympics Washington funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Special Olympics Washington M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Special Olympics Washington
What does Special Olympics Washington do?
Special Olympics Washington provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Washington State. The organization also runs Unified Sports (combining athletes with and without disabilities), inclusive school and college programming, early-childhood Young Athletes, athlete leadership development, and free Healthy Athletes health screenings. Participation is offered free of charge to athletes, funded through donations, government grants, and signature fundraising events.
Is Special Olympics Washington a public or private company?
Special Olympics Washington is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Special Olympics Washington founded?
Special Olympics Washington was founded in 1975. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Special Olympics Washington based?
Special Olympics Washington is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Special Olympics Washington make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual and Corporate Donations are the primary driver. The others are government Grants, event-Based Fundraising and corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships.
Who are Special Olympics Washington's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Challenger Division (Little League International), Special Olympics Idaho, Move United (formerly Disabled Sports USA) and Special Olympics Oregon. Emerging players are BlazeSports America and National Wheelchair Basketball Association. YMCA of Greater Seattle is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Special Olympics International and Best Buddies International. Aspen Institute Project Play is listed as an others.
Does Special Olympics Washington have an API?
No public API is recorded for Special Olympics Washington.
What industry is Special Olympics Washington in?
Special Olympics Washington's product category is Adaptive Sports and Disability Inclusion Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKACAH, Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics), with a secondary code of MPAKADAM, Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers. Its NAICS code is 61162 and its SIC code is 7900.