Special Olympics Maryland

What Special Olympics Maryland does

Special Olympics Maryland, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1970 and headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, operating as the state affiliate of the global Special Olympics movement. It delivers year-round, free sports training and athletic competition in 26 Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, serving approximately 15,588 athletes and unified teammates through 23 Area Programs covering all Maryland counties, plus school-based delivery via the Unified Champion Schools program and early-childhood engagement through the Young Athletes Program (ages 2-7). Programs are provided at no cost to participants and span competitive sports, athlete leadership development, and the Healthy Athletes health-screening initiative (Fit Feet, Opening Eyes, Special Smiles, Strong Minds, etc.).

The organization's revenue model is diversified across individual donations, planned gifts, stock and vehicle donations, corporate sponsorships (BGE/Exelon, CareFirst, M&T Bank, SECU, Allegis, Constellation, Coca-Cola), and event-driven fundraising. Its three signature fundraising events — the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), the Polar Bear Plunge (30 years running at Chesapeake Bay), and the Deep Creek Dunk — together constitute the organization's primary revenue engines, with LETR alone having raised $3,500,000 in 2019. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, executed through a network of approximately 2,000 volunteer coaches, five regional directors, dedicated Senior Directors across Development, Annual Giving, Grants & Foundations, and Special Events, and media partnerships with WBAL TV/radio and 98 Rock.

Internal technology infrastructure is limited to the Games Management System (GMS) for athlete registration and certification tracking, the SO Learn e-learning platform for coach education, and a virtualsomd.com portal for remote programming — none of which involve proprietary AI/ML capabilities. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors chaired by David Sweiderk (SECU) with Jim Schmutz as President & CEO.

Name

Special Olympics Maryland

Legal name

Special Olympics Maryland, Inc.

Website

https://somd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Special Olympics Maryland is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 that provides free year-round sports training and competition in 26 Olympic-type sports for approximately 15,588 children and adults with intellectual disabilities across Maryland via 23 Area Programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Sports Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM), Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK), Disability & Adaptive Sport Governing Bodies (Paralympic & Sport-Specific) (MPAKAFAL)

Keywords

• Adaptive sports programs
• Intellectual disability athletics
• Inclusive sports training
• Nonprofit sports organization
• Unified sports competition

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors can make direct donations through the organization's website, with options to donate to specific plungers or general fund.
2. Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR): The LETR is the largest fundraising partner of Special Olympics Maryland, raising $3,500,000 in 2019 through Torch Run events, T-shirt sales, Cops on Rooftops, Police Plunge, and various fundraising events.
3. Polar Bear Plunge: Annual fundraising event where participants jump into icy waters of Chesapeake Bay to raise money. Major annual fundraiser for over 30 years.
4. Deep Creek Dunk: Weekend fundraising event at Deep Creek Lake featuring Goosebump, Grapes & Growlers activities.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Partnerships with corporations including Allegis, Constellation, CareFirst, M&T Bank, BGE, and others for sponsorship support.
6. Planned Gifts and Bequests: Legacy gifts including bequests in wills, living trusts, insurance policies, and IRA/retirement plan beneficiary designations.
7. Stock and Securities Donations: Accepts donations of appreciated assets allowing donors to deduct full fair market value while avoiding capital gains liability.
8. Vehicle Donations: Vehicle donation program through partnership with Duke Silvea and Major Motor Sales.
9. Matching Gifts: Many companies match employee charitable contributions, with some doubling or tripling gift amounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Special Olympics Maryland provides free, year-round sports training and athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Programs are delivered through 23 Area Programs across Maryland counties, school-based Unified Champion Schools, and state-level competitions covering sports such as swimming, basketball, soccer, tennis, bowling, golf, and more. Supporting offerings include the Young Athletes early childhood program, Athlete Leadership development, Healthy Athletes health screenings, and major fundraising events like the Polar Bear Plunge, Deep Creek Dunk, and Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Product overview

Special Olympics Maryland provides a comprehensive portfolio of sports programs and services for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The core offerings include year-round sports training and competition in 15 Olympic-type sports (Alpine Skiing, Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cycling, Golf, Kayaking, Powerlifting, Soccer, Snowshoe, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, and Unified Sports). These are delivered through multiple channels: community-based Area Programs, school-based Unified Champion Schools programs, and the Young Athletes early childhood program. The organization also operates signature fundraising events including the Polar Bear Plunge, Deep Creek Dunk, and Law Enforcement Torch Run. Supporting infrastructure includes the Games Management System (GMS) for registration and competition management, and the SO Learn platform for coach education and certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR): A major fundraising initiative for Special Olympics Maryland, the largest fundraising partner of the organization.
• Polar Bear Plunge
• Deep Creek Dunk

Products and services

• Sports Training and Competition Programs Year-round sports training and athletic competition programs for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, offering Olympic-type sports including Alpine Skiing, Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cycling, Golf, Kayaking, Powerlifting, Soccer, Snowshoe, Softball, Swimming, and Tennis, delivered free of charge across Maryland.
• Unified Champion Schools School-based program bringing together students with and without disabilities on Unified Sports teams for inclusive athletic experiences in educational settings, operating in compliance with Maryland's 2008 Fitness and Athletics Equity for Students with Disabilities Law.
• Young Athletes Program Sport and play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities from birth to 7 years old, introducing basic sport skills like running, kicking, and throwing.
• Athlete Leadership Program Program developing skills in public speaking, leading teams, self-advocacy, and financial literacy for athletes to take on leadership roles.
• Healthy Athletes Program Health screening and wellness program providing free health services to athletes across eight disciplines including Fit Feet (podiatry), Opening Eyes (optometry), Special Smiles (dentistry), Strong Minds, Fun Fitness, Healthy Hearing, MedFest, and Healthy Young Athletes.
• Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Annual fundraising initiative and awareness campaign conducted by law enforcement to support Special Olympics Maryland athletes, involving law enforcement agencies carrying the Flame of Hope across the state with over 20 events scheduled in 2026.
• Polar Bear Plunge Annual fundraising event where participants jump into the icy waters of the Chesapeake Bay to support Special Olympics Maryland athletes, running for over 30 years with participation from corporate teams, schools, first responders, and individuals.
• Deep Creek Dunk Winter fundraising event at Deep Creek Lake where participants dunk into icy waters to raise funds for Special Olympics Maryland, featuring Goosebump and Grapes & Growlers activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 15,588 athletes and unified teammates currently enjoy life-changing benefits of participation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1981The Law Enforcement Torch Run began in 1981 and is the largest fundraising partner of Special Olympics Maryland, raising $3,500,000 in 2019. The program involves law enforcement agencies carrying the Flame of Hope across the state, with over 20 events scheduled in 2026 including runs through all Maryland counties.
• Maryland State Police (MSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaryland State Police is a key partner supporting the Polar Bear Plunge event and Law Enforcement Torch Run, with troopers participating in fundraising events and torch runs across the state.
• Towson UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTowson University hosts the annual Summer Games, one of the largest Special Olympics competitions in Maryland, providing facilities for Cheerleading, Swimming, Bocce, and Athletics (Track & Field) events.
• WBAL TVmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal television station partner providing media coverage for Special Olympics Maryland events and programs.
• WBAL Radio / 1090 AMsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio station partner providing promotional coverage for events and programs.
• 98 RocksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio station partner supporting event promotion and community engagement.
• Kennedy Krieger InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner whose President & CEO Bardley Schlaggar serves on the SOMD Board of Directors.
• American Legion / Sons of the American LegionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans organization supporting Special Olympics Maryland through volunteer and fundraising efforts.
• Knights of ColumbussupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic fraternal organization supporting as a volunteer and fundraising partner.
• Baltimore RavensmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFL team partner, with Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships Chris Wack serving on the Board of Directors.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Maryland Athletic Association: Regional youth sports governance body in Maryland hosting scholastic competitions; tangentially comparable as a community-based competition organizer in the same geography, though focused on mainstream rather than adaptive athletics.

Broad incumbents

• Special Olympics International: Global parent organization of the Special Olympics movement. Sets accreditation standards, hosts World Games, and licenses the brand used by SOMD; not a direct competitor but the governing body whose reputation and policy choices shape state-affiliate outcomes.
• Move United: National nonprofit (formerly Disabled Sports USA) providing adaptive sports programming across a broader set of physical disabilities rather than specializing in intellectual disabilities. Comparable as a peer in adaptive/community sports but with a wider mission scope than SOMD's intellectual-disability focus.

Emerging players

• Best Buddies International: National nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through one-to-one friendships, leadership programs, and inclusive employment — overlapping mission around inclusion but different primary activity mix (not sports-centric).
• National Down Syndrome Society: National disability advocacy organization with overlapping beneficiary population (individuals with intellectual disabilities including Down syndrome) but focused on advocacy and inclusion broadly rather than year-round sports training and competition.

Direct peers

• Special Olympics Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania state affiliate of Special Olympics, offering the same year-round sports training, competitions, and inclusive programming model. Comparable in scale, regional structure, and reliance on Polar Bear Plunge-style signature fundraising events.
• Special Olympics Delaware: Delaware state affiliate operating the same Special Olympics model of year-round training, competition, and LETR-driven fundraising; comparable in mission, sports offerings, and community-based delivery despite a smaller population base.
• Special Olympics DC: District of Columbia state affiliate of Special Olympics, providing directly comparable programming, competition structure, and donor base in an adjacent Mid-Atlantic market to Special Olympics Maryland.
• Special Olympics Virginia: Direct state-affiliate peer within the Special Olympics movement serving Virginia athletes with intellectual disabilities. Highly comparable in mission, program structure (Area Programs, Unified Champion Schools, Young Athletes), and LETR-driven fundraising model.

Others

• Kennedy Krieger Institute: Maryland-based pediatric healthcare and research organization serving children with developmental disabilities and neurological conditions; a current SOMD Board partner addressing the same beneficiary population through clinical rather than sports programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SpOlympicsMD
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCayflK9gdAsEGQSOHP7JDUQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpecialOlympicsMD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/specialolympicsmaryland
• Instagraminstagram.com/specialolympics_md
• TikToktiktok.com/@spolympicsmd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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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 Maryland