What Special Olympics Massachusetts does

Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit state chapter of the global Special Olympics movement, headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts and operating across the Commonwealth. The organization delivers year-round sports training and competition across 23 sports — including Alpine Skiing, Basketball, Swimming, Pickleball, and Unified Soccer — to 22,462 registered athletes with intellectual disabilities, supported by 1,534 certified coaches, 1,208 annual competitions, and 531 Unified Champion Schools partnerships. Programmatic offerings fall into five pillars: Transformative Sports, Inclusive Schools (Unified Champion Schools), Leadership Development, Community-Led Fundraising, and Health & Fitness (including the Train 4 Life wellness initiative and the Healthy Athletes Program), plus early-intervention programming through the Young Athletes curriculum for ages 2–7.

The underlying technology is deliberately lightweight and operational rather than productized. Athlete and volunteer registration is handled through JotForm; the Sport Leagues Dashboard is built on Google Sites for athletes and coaches; photo assets live on SmugMug; and video content is distributed via YouTube. There is no public API, no SDK, and no proprietary software platform — the "platform" is essentially a curated integration of low-cost SaaS tools tuned for nonprofit service delivery. SOMA also runs the Athlete Fitness Dashboard for tracking Fit-5 Guide progress, competition-readiness tips, and mental-health resources.

The business model is donation- and sponsorship-funded. All programming is free to athletes, Unified Partners, and families, with revenue sourced from individual donations, multi-tiered corporate sponsorships (Arbella, Point32Health, Olympia Moving, Bank of America, Liberty Mutual, Boston Bruins Foundation, New England Revolution, etc.), high-touch fundraising events (Polar Plunge, Xtra Mile, Hall of Fame, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Summer Games), and foundation grants (notably a multi-year Yawkey Foundation relationship valued at $400K+ across 2022 and 2025). Go-to-market operates through a community-led, event-driven, and direct-to-consumer model: volunteer recruitment, athlete registration through local programs and schools, word-of-mouth referrals, and flagship events that double as marketing, fundraising, and engagement touchpoints. Headquarters resides in the Yawkey Sports Training Center, named in recognition of the foundation's long-term support.

Name

Special Olympics Massachusetts

Legal name

Special Olympics Massachusetts

Website

https://specialolympicsma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Special Olympics Massachusetts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit state chapter delivering free year-round sports training and competition across 23 sports to 22,462 Massachusetts athletes with intellectual disabilities, supported by 1,534 coaches and 531 school partnerships and funded entirely through donations, corporate sponsorships, fundraising events, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Sports Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK)

Keywords

• Adaptive sports programs
• Inclusive athletic training
• Intellectual disability sports
• Unified sports competitions
• Athlete leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

Marlborough

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting athletes and programs. Donors can give through the website with Arbella insurance discount incentive (5% off car insurance for $50+ donations).
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Annual corporate partnerships with named sponsors at various levels. Partners include Arbella (Home and Auto Insurance), Point32Health (Health Insurance), Olympia Moving (Logistics), PLAN of MA & RI (Special Needs Trust), plus major sponsors Bank of America, Liberty Mutual, Boston Bruins Foundation, New England Revolution, and others.
3. Fundraising Events: Revenue from flagship events including Polar Plunge (40+ events, icy water fundraising), Xtra Mile endurance races (Boston Marathon, Falmouth Road Race), and Law Enforcement Torch Run. Event participation fees and fundraising pledges generate revenue.
4. Foundation Grants: Charitable grants from foundations including Yawkey Foundation ($300,000 partnership in 2022, $100,000 grant in 2025) supporting inclusive sports programs and organizational sustainability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Special Olympics Massachusetts provides year-round sports training, competition, and athletic programming across 23 sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Offerings include Transformative Sports, Inclusive Schools programming, Leadership Development, Young Athletes, Unified Sports, and health/fitness initiatives like Train 4 Life. All programs are provided free of charge to athletes and families and are funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Special Olympics Massachusetts is a non-profit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of sports and wellness programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The core offering consists of year-round sports training and competition across 23 sports, including Transformative Sports, Inclusive Schools programming, and Leadership Development initiatives. Supporting programs include the Train 4 Life wellness program and Healthy Athletes initiative providing fitness, nutrition, and mental health resources. The organization runs major annual events including Summer Games, Polar Plunge, Xtra Mile (marathon team), Hall of Fame, and Law Enforcement Torch Run. Technology platforms include athlete registration via JotForm, a Sport Leagues Dashboard on Google Sites, and a Coaches Portal for certification management. No public API is offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 22,462 participants served across Massachusetts
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Arbella InsuranceflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Home and Auto Insurance Partner. Offers 5% discount off car insurance for donations of at least $50 to Special Olympics. Partnership includes Bowl for a Goal unified bowling fundraiser with New England Revolution.
• Point32Health (Tufts Health Plan)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Health Insurance Partner. Works with SOMA to provide resources helping individuals with and without intellectual disabilities live healthy lives. Supports sports and training events including Summer Games, State Flag Football Tournament, and State Soccer Cup. Tufts Health Plan is the only health plan in Massachusetts serving all populations regardless of age or circumstance.
• Olympia Moving & StoragecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Logistics Partner. Contributes year-round with volunteerism, corporate fundraising, and in-kind donations of trucks and crews at events including Jolly Jaunt and Summer Games.
• Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Massachusetts & Rhode Island (PLAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Special Needs Trust Partner. Provides educational webinars and resources to help families with financial planning. Partnership supports Special Olympics athletes in all Massachusetts counties.
• Boston Bruins FoundationflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerSince 2018, pledged to support sports opportunities for athletes of all abilities. Partnership represents one of the largest and most impactful relationships for SOMA, promoting inclusion, confidence, and health. Supports 50/50 raffles at games.
• New England RevolutionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear-round partnership devoted to improving soccer programming for athletes with intellectual disabilities and promoting inclusion. Marquee initiative is the New England Revolution Unified Soccer Team playing in MLS Special Olympics Unified Exchange series. Hosts Bowl for a Goal fundraiser raising $100,000 in 2024.
• Bank of AmericacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor partner of Special Olympics Massachusetts School Day Games. Provides volunteer support and opportunities for athletes to address employees and share stories building awareness.
• Liberty MutualcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides critical funds annually to Special Olympics programming throughout Massachusetts.
• New England PGAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in programming and financial support. Golf pros raise money through Annual Birdies 2 Benefit charity tournament. Hosts fall Drive, Pitch, Putt event for Special Olympics athletes.
• 98.5 the Sports Hub (Beasley Media Group)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerTop-rated sports radio station partnership instrumental in raising funds, recruiting volunteers, and supporting all major programs including marquee event Summer Games. Station aligned with Patriots, Bruins, Celtics, and Revolution partners.
• Dunkin'coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual September campaign in conjunction with National Coffee Day in Bristol County. Campaign raises around $30,000 annually.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Special Olympics Connecticut: Direct peer state chapter of the Special Olympics movement operating in Connecticut, offering the same model of year-round sports training, competition, Unified Sports, and fundraising events for athletes with intellectual disabilities in an adjacent New England geography.
• Special Olympics New York: Another large Special Olympics state chapter operating the same athlete registration, sports training, and competition framework in New York; directly comparable in program structure, fundraising events, and school-based programming model.
• Special Olympics Rhode Island: Neighboring New England Special Olympics state chapter delivering parallel year-round sports and Unified Sports programming; directly comparable in scope, mission, and community-led fundraising approach.

Broad incumbents

• Special Olympics International: Global parent organization of the Special Olympics movement; provides the brand, governance, trademarks, and USA/World Games pipeline that SOMA operates under, and is comparable as the umbrella entity whose mission and programs SOMA executes at the state level.
• Best Buddies International: National nonprofit focused on inclusion and friendship for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; comparable in serving the same population with structured one-to-one friendship, employment, and leadership programs, though not sports-focused.
• Move United: National adaptive sports organization offering sports, recreation, and educational programs for people with disabilities across chapters; comparable in mission scope and multi-sport adaptive programming, though covering physical disabilities more broadly than intellectual disabilities.

Regional players

• The Arc of Massachusetts: Massachusetts-based disability services and advocacy organization serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; comparable as a regional disability-focused nonprofit with overlapping donor, volunteer, and family networks.

Emerging players

• National Down Syndrome Society: National nonprofit focused on individuals with Down syndrome, a population that overlaps with SOMA's intellectual-disability athlete base; comparable in advocacy, programming, and fundraising for a related disability community.

Others

• YMCA of Greater Boston: Regional YMCA affiliate operating community recreation and youth programming through the same local-partnership channel SOMA uses; comparable as a community-program distribution partner and overlapping venue/audience for inclusive sports initiatives.
• Boston Athletic Association: Operator of the Boston Marathon and a board partner of SOMA; comparable as an event-organizing nonprofit that enables SOMA's Xtra Mile fundraising platform and shares Boston-based event, sponsor, and volunteer networks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SpOlympicsMA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SOMA450
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpecialOlympicsMassachusetts
• Instagraminstagram.com/specialolympicsma
• TikToktiktok.com/@spolympicsma
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/special-olympics-massachusetts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Special Olympics Massachusetts