Special Olympics Utah

What Special Olympics Utah does

Special Olympics Utah is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in 1971 and headquartered in Draper, Utah. It provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities across the state of Utah. The organization operates as a state-level affiliate of the global Special Olympics movement (founded 1968) and offers programs including Unified Sports, Unified Champion Schools (73 schools, 168 teams), Healthy Athletes screenings, Young Athletes Clubs for ages 2-7, and Inclusive Leadership development. Major annual events include Summer Games at Southern Utah University, Fall Sports Classic, Winter Games, Polar Plunge Series, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Walk 4 Inclusion, and Pull for a Purpose Truck Pull. In 2025, the organization impacted 6,400+ athletes and mobilized 1,200+ volunteers across Utah.

The organization is funded through a diversified mix of individual donations, corporate sponsorships (including Goldman Sachs, Swire Coca-Cola, Jersey Mike's, LiveView Technologies, and Miller Sports + Entertainment), signature event fundraising, merchandise sales through soutstore.com, and modest registration fees ($25 for Walk 4 Inclusion). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: the organization reaches athletes through school programs, volunteer recruitment, law enforcement partnerships, and signature fundraising events that double as community awareness vehicles. The organization's board includes representation from Goldman Sachs (Joshua Griffeth, Finance Chair) and ANDE (Daniel Alldridge, Co-Chair).

Operational technology is minimal: the organization has no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML capabilities, no mobile app, and no public API. Technology is limited to a Canva-based website (sout.org), social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, YouTube SOUT-TV), an e-commerce merchandise storefront, and email newsletters. The Healthy Athletes program provides free health screenings including Special Smiles, Opening Eyes, Healthy Hearing, Fit Feet, and Strong Minds. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed in the available data.

Name

Special Olympics Utah

Legal name

Special Olympics of Utah

Website

https://sout.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Special Olympics Utah is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing year-round sports training and athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities across Utah. Founded in 1971, it serves 6,400+ athletes annually through programs, competitions, and health screenings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Sports and Disability Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Spectator Sports (71121), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000)

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), Olympic & Multi-Sport Movement Organizations (NOCs, Olympic Committees) (MPAKACAI), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Adaptive sports programs
• Nonprofit sports training
• Inclusive athletic competition
• Intellectual disability services
• Community health screenings

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

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: Donations from individuals supporting athletes and programs
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Partnerships with businesses like Goldman Sachs, Swire Coca-Cola, and others that sponsor events and programs
3. Special Events Fundraising: Revenue from signature events including Polar Plunge Series, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Walk 4 Inclusion, Pull for a Purpose Truck Pull, and Summer Games
4. Corporate Month of Giving: Jersey Mike's Month of Giving campaign where percentage of sales is donated
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise through soutstore.com including event t-shirts and apparel
6. Registration Fees: Modest registration fees for participation (Walk 4 Inclusion registration is $25)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Special Olympics Utah provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in eight Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The core offering includes Unified Sports (combining athletes with and without disabilities on the same teams), Unified Champion Schools programming in 73 Utah schools, free Healthy Athletes health screenings, and signature state-level competitions such as Summer Games, Winter Games, Fall Sports Classic, and DanceSport Championship. Programs and health services are delivered free of charge to athletes and families, funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events such as Polar Plunge, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Walk 4 Inclusion, and Pull for a Purpose.

Product overview

Special Olympics Utah operates as a portfolio of sports and wellness programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The core offerings include Unified Sports (competitive teams pairing athletes with and without disabilities), the Unified Champion Schools program, and the Healthy Athletes screening initiative. Major annual competitions include the Summer Games (Athletics, Soccer, Swimming, DanceSport), Fall Sports Classic (Flag Football, Bocce, Cheer), and Winter Games (Snowshoe, Alpine Skiing). Signature fundraising events include the Polar Plunge Series, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Walk 4 Inclusion, and the Pull for a Purpose Truck Pull. Supporting programs include Young Athletes Clubs for children ages 2-7, Unified Fitness Club, and Inclusive Leadership development. The organization functions as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in 1971.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR): Annual fundraising event where law enforcement officers run alongside Special Olympics athletes to carry the Flame of Hope
• Polar Plunge
• Walk 4 Inclusion
• Pull for a Purpose

Products and services

• Unified Sports Year-round sports training and athletic competition pairing athletes with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports partners (without disabilities) on the same teams, the foundational program of Special Olympics Utah.
• Unified Champion Schools Program engaging students with and without intellectual disabilities in inclusive sports and leadership activities within educational settings across 73 Utah K-12 schools.
• Healthy Athletes Screenings Free health screening program providing Special Smiles (dental), Opening Eyes (vision), Healthy Hearing, Fit Feet (podiatry), and Strong Minds (mental wellness) services to athletes at competitions.
• Summer Games Annual state-level competition featuring more than 1,000 athletes and Unified partners competing in Athletics (track & field), Soccer, Swimming, and DanceSport at Southern Utah University in Cedar City.
• Fall Sports Classic Annual competition event featuring Flag Football, Bocce, and Cheer at Zions Bank Stadium and Salt Lake Academy in Herriman.
• Summer Sports Classic Annual two-day event featuring Softball, Bowling, and Cycling competitions at various venues across Utah with supporting partner sponsorships from Panda Express and Carl's Jr.
• DanceSport Championship Dance competition program where athletes compete in Solo, Duo, and Team dance categories. Special Olympics Utah hosted the first Special Olympics DanceSport Championship in November 2022, establishing dance as an official competitive program.
• Polar Plunge Series Annual winter fundraising event series where participants jump into icy water to raise funds, featuring events across Utah including Daybreak, America First Field, Ogden, and Cedar City.
• Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Grassroots fundraising movement where law enforcement officers carry the Flame of Hope through communities across Utah, culminating in the Summer Games Final Leg ceremony.
• Walk 4 Inclusion Annual community walk event at Murray Park celebrating inclusion, featuring music, games, activities, and the Inclusion Pledge for athletes, families, and community members. $25 registration with a $50 fundraising goal.
• Pull for a Purpose Truck Pull Annual team fundraising event where groups of 8-10 pull a semi-truck across the America First Stadium parking lot, powered by Swire Coca-Cola at America First Stadium in Sandy.
• First Annual Health & Wellness Fair Annual community event featuring vital health services, activities, resources, and education for community members with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with admission, snacks, and giveaways provided free of charge.
• Special Olympics Utah Branded Merchandise Sale of branded event t-shirts, apparel, and branded items via the online e-commerce storefront at soutstore.com.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,400+ athletes impacted across Utah
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Utah Royals & RSLcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-powered Pull for a Purpose Truck Pull event with Swire Coca-Cola at America First Stadium, bringing community engagement to their venue.
• Salt Lake BeescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted Bee Charitable Night at their stadium, turning baseball game into platform for impact with special check presentation.
• Southern Utah UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Special Olympics Utah Summer Games in Cedar City. Provides Eccles Coliseum and campus facilities for competitions and Opening Ceremonies.
• Southern Utah University (continued partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner2026 Summer Games venue - campus hosts athlete arrival, Opening Ceremonies at Eccles Coliseum, competition venues, Olympic Town, and Closing Ceremonies.

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Best Buddies International: Direct peer — nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and inclusive living. Comparable mission focus on the ID population and a similar volunteer/donor-driven operating model.
• Move United: Direct peer (formerly Disabled Sports USA) — national nonprofit providing adaptive sports opportunities (skiing, cycling, water sports) for people with disabilities. Comparable mission and program model, with broader disability scope beyond intellectual disabilities.
• Special Olympics Texas: Direct peer — the largest U.S. state Special Olympics affiliate. Same mission, program portfolio, and event structure, but operating at materially greater scale (athlete population, budget, and sponsor portfolio) — useful for benchmarking scaling pathways.
• Special Olympics Colorado: Direct peer — a sibling state-level Special Olympics affiliate serving Coloradans with intellectual disabilities. Operates the same Unified Sports, Healthy Athletes, and signature event model (Polar Plunge, Torch Run) in a neighboring state, making it the most direct comparable for benchmarking athlete reach, fundraising, and program design.
• Special Olympics Southern California: Direct peer — large state-level Special Olympics affiliate operating in a major media market with comparable program portfolio and signature event model. Useful benchmark for fundraising scale, corporate sponsor mix, and program expansion in a more populous state.

Broad incumbents

• Special Olympics International: Parent organization and global movement founded in 1968. Operates as the umbrella for U.S. state affiliates and programs worldwide; sets competition standards, branding, and global partnerships (e.g., World Games, USA Games) that Special Olympics Utah feeds into and benefits from.
• Easterseals: Broad incumbent — large national disability services nonprofit providing medical, educational, and workforce programs. Overlaps with Special Olympics Utah only on disability mission; broader service scope and national footprint make it a strategic comparable for fundraising and program diversification.

Emerging players

• National Down Syndrome Society: Emerging peer — national nonprofit advocating for individuals with Down syndrome, many of whom are eligible for Special Olympics programming. Overlaps on a subset of the ID population served and shares donor/advocacy channels, though NDSS is advocacy-led rather than sport-delivery.
• BlazeSports America: Emerging peer — nonprofit advancing adaptive sports for veterans, youth, and adults with physical disabilities. Smaller in scale than Special Olympics Utah but operates a similar sports training and competition model for a different disability population.
• Challenger Division (Little League): Emerging peer — Little League's adaptive baseball division serving children with physical and intellectual disabilities. Comparable in serving youth with intellectual disabilities through sport, but narrower sport scope (baseball only) and operates within the Little League franchise structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/solympicsut
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1llVLPOFO-nsqfFOEMSDcg
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpecialOlympicsUtah
• Instagraminstagram.com/specialolympics_utah
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/special-olympics-utah

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Special Olympics Utah