Special Olympics Indiana
Special Olympics Indiana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1969 that delivers year-round sports training and competition for 20,000+ athletes with intellectual disabilities across 92 Indiana counties, funded entirely by donations and corporate partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersIndianapolis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Special Olympics Indiana does
Special Olympics Indiana (SOIN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and state-level affiliate of Special Olympics Inc., founded in 1969 and headquartered in Indianapolis. The organization delivers year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults age 8 and older with intellectual disabilities, serving more than 20,000 athletes and Unified partners across all 92 Indiana counties through 10 geographic Areas. Programs span over 20 Olympic-type sports — including Alpine skiing, basketball, bocce, bowling, cycling, equestrian, flag football, golf, pickleball, powerlifting, soccer, softball, swimming, track and field, and volleyball — and extend to early-childhood (Young Athletes, ages 2–7), leadership (Athlete Leadership University), health (Healthy Athletes screenings, Train 4 Life), and school-based inclusion (Unified Champion Schools) initiatives. The organization reports 1,876 trained coaches and 8,500+ volunteers supporting competitions and is overseen by an 11–50-person staff including Regional Managers across Central, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest Indiana.
The organization's portfolio includes annual state competitions (Summer Games, Fall Sports, Bowling, Basketball Tournaments, Winter Games), major fundraising events (Polar Plunge, Plane Pull Challenge, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Champions Golf Classic, Breakfast With Champions, State Conference), and participation pathways to USA Games (held quadrennially) and World Games. Underlying infrastructure is operational rather than technology-driven: a county/area/state hierarchy, donor and sports databases, regional field management, and volunteer-driven program delivery. There is no proprietary technology platform; the "core technology" is the programs, certified coaching infrastructure, and event operations supporting 20+ sports and health initiatives. No public software products, APIs, or AI/ML components are disclosed.
Special Olympics Indiana operates as a donation-funded nonprofit with no disclosed pricing for athlete participation (all programs are free to athletes and Unified partners). Revenue is generated entirely through individual donations, foundation grants, corporate partnerships, and event-based fundraising. The corporate partner roster includes Duke Energy (Champion Partner), Pacers Sports & Entertainment (presenting sponsor for State Basketball Tournament), KPMG, FedEx, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Jersey Mike's Subs, Knights of Columbus, and Indy Fuel. Strategic alliances include the Champions Together partnership with the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), engaging 300+ Indiana high schools across 4 Unified Sports state championships. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; Form 990 filings are referenced for public financial transparency.
Special Olympics Indiana firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Special Olympics Indiana
- Legal name
- Special Olympics Indiana
- Website
- https://soindiana.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Special Olympics Indiana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1969 that delivers year-round sports training and competition for 20,000+ athletes with intellectual disabilities across 92 Indiana counties, funded entirely by donations and corporate partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Special Olympics Indiana industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adaptive Sports Programs for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disability & Adaptive Sport Governing Bodies (Paralympic & Sport-Specific) (MPAKAFAL), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Olympic & Multi-Sport Movement Organizations (NOCs, Olympic Committees) (MPAKACAI)
Keywords
Where Special Olympics Indiana is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Indianapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Special Olympics Indiana business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Special Olympics Indiana operates entirely on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Major fundraising events include Polar Plunge ($1 million raised in 2026), Plane Pull Challenge ($139,000 raised in 2025), Champions Golf Classic, and Law Enforcement Torch Run activities including Cop on a Rooftop ($47,000 raised in 2025).
- Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support, in-kind donations, and volunteer resources. Partners include Duke Energy, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, KPMG, FedEx, Coca-Cola Consolidated, and others across various sponsorship tiers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Special Olympics Indiana product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Special Olympics Indiana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities throughout Indiana. Its offerings include ongoing training in multiple sports, regional and state-level competitions, the school-based Unified Champion Schools inclusion program, and athlete wellness services, all provided at no cost to participants.
Product overview
Special Olympics Indiana is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of sports, health, and leadership programs for people with intellectual disabilities. The core offerings include year-round sports competitions across over 20 Olympic-type sports (Summer Games, Basketball Tournaments, Fall Games, Bowling Tournaments, Winter Games) and participation in national/international Games. Supporting programs include Athlete Leadership University for leadership development, Train 4 Life for fitness, Young Athletes for early childhood (ages 2-7), Healthy Athletes for health screenings, and Unified Champion Schools for school-based inclusion. Fundraising events include Polar Plunge, Plane Pull Challenge, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Champions Golf Classic, and State Conference. The organization operates through 10 geographic Areas and 92 county programs across Indiana, serving over 20,000 athletes with support from volunteers and coaches.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Unified Sports: Program that joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team, inspired by the principle that playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.
- Unified Champion Schools
- Young Athletes
- Train 4 Life
- Athlete Leadership University
Products and services
- Year-Round Sports Training Ongoing sports training in multiple disciplines offered throughout the year to children and adults with intellectual disabilities across Indiana, provided at no cost to participants.
- Athletic Competitions and State Games Regional and state-level athletic competitions where trained athletes with intellectual disabilities compete in sanctioned events, free of charge.
- Unified Champion Schools Program A school-based inclusion program offered to Indiana K-12 schools that integrates students with and without intellectual disabilities through inclusive sports, leadership activities, and whole-school engagement.
- Athlete Wellness Services Health and wellness services provided to athletes in conjunction with training and competitions to support overall well-being.
Quantifiable outcome
- Team Indiana 5th place at 2026 USA Games with 54 total medals (24 gold, 19 silver, 11 bronze) out of 52 state delegations
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Special Olympics Indiana
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Special Olympics Indiana technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Special Olympics Indiana partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) - Champions TogethercoreChampions Together partnership encouraging IHSAA member high schools to become Unified Champion Schools with Unified Sports and inclusive leadership activities
- Duke EnergycoreChampion Partner supporting Special Olympics Indiana events and programs
- Pacers Sports & EntertainmentcorePresenting sponsor for basketball tournaments and partnership supporting various events
- Pacers Sports and EntertainmentcorePresenting sponsor for Special Olympics Indiana State Basketball Tournament
- Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA)coreChampions Together partnership launched 2013-14, sponsoring 4 Unified Sports state championships and engaging 300+ Indiana high schools
- Indy FuelminorSports Partner providing support for Special Olympics Indiana programs
- Knights of ColumbusminorChampion Partner supporting Special Olympics Indiana events
- Jersey Mike's SubsminorChampion Partner providing event and program support
- FedExminorSponsor for Plane Pull Challenge event
- KPMGminorCorporate sponsor for Special Olympics Indiana basketball programs
- Coca-Cola ConsolidatedminorPolar Plunge event partner
- SDIminorPolar Plunge event partner
- TaftminorPolar Plunge event partner
- Indiana LionsminorPartner for Winter Games event
- Duke EnergyminorPartner for The Erskine Impact initiative honoring Carl Erskine
- Fraternal Order of EaglesminorPartner for The Erskine Impact initiative
- Orbis EducationminorPartner for The Erskine Impact initiative
- Lakeside HealthcareminorPartner for The Erskine Impact initiative
- United WayminorPartner for The Erskine Impact initiative
- FedExminorCorporate sponsor for Plane Pull Challenge
- Indianapolis International AirportminorHost venue for Plane Pull Challenge event
- CHAminorPartner for Plane Pull Challenge
- BF&SminorPartner for Plane Pull Challenge
- Markey'sminorPartner for Plane Pull Challenge
- SignaramaminorPartner for Plane Pull Challenge
- Ironworkers Local 22minorPartner for Plane Pull Challenge
- Butler UniversityminorHost venue for Athlete Leadership University Fall 2026 sessions
- University of Minnesota RecWellminorHost venue for 2026 USA Games basketball competitions in Minneapolis
- National Sports CenterminorHost venue for 2026 USA Games soccer competitions in Blaine
- Indiana State UniversityminorHost campus for Summer Games along with Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
- Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyminorHost campus for Summer Games along with Indiana State University in Terre Haute
- Perfect North SlopesminorHost venue for Winter Games in Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Special Olympics Indiana competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Special Olympics California: Largest U.S. state Special Olympics affiliate by athlete count. Offers the same mission, sport portfolio, and program model as Special Olympics Indiana at larger scale.
- Special Olympics Pennsylvania: Large state-level Special Olympics affiliate with similar structure, county-based program delivery, and event fundraising. Direct operational and mission peer.
- Special Olympics Illinois: Neighboring Midwest state affiliate with comparable population base, Unified Champion Schools footprint, and event-based fundraising. Direct peer on mission, programs, and partner types.
- Special Olympics Florida: State-level Special Olympics affiliate with similar athlete, volunteer, and program scale, plus comparable fundraising event structure. Closely aligned operational and revenue model to Special Olympics Indiana.
- Special Olympics Texas: Another large state-level Special Olympics affiliate providing year-round sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities. Directly comparable mission, program portfolio, and fundraising model to Special Olympics Indiana.
- Special Olympics Ohio: Adjacent Midwest state affiliate offering parallel sports, health, and leadership programs for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Comparable geography and donor market dynamics.
Emerging players
- Best Buddies International: Nonprofit focused on one-to-one friendships, leadership development, and inclusive opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Overlaps with SOIN's Unified programs and Athlete Leadership University.
- National Down Syndrome Society: Advocacy and programming organization serving a population that significantly overlaps with Special Olympics athletes. Comparable donor base, volunteer engagement, and awareness-event model.
Regional players
- Indiana Sports Corp: Indiana-based nonprofit that bids for and hosts major sporting events. Overlaps with SOIN's venue partnerships and event-organization capabilities within the same state sports ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- Move United: National organization providing adaptive sports opportunities for people with disabilities across many categories beyond intellectual disability. Overlapping mission with broader scope and a chapter network model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Special Olympics Indiana social profiles
Digital presenceSpecial Olympics Indiana financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Special Olympics Indiana leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Special Olympics Indiana funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Special Olympics Indiana 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 Indiana
What does Special Olympics Indiana do?
Special Olympics Indiana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities throughout Indiana. Its offerings include ongoing training in multiple sports, regional and state-level competitions, the school-based Unified Champion Schools inclusion program, and athlete wellness services, all provided at no cost to participants.
Is Special Olympics Indiana a public or private company?
Special Olympics Indiana is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Special Olympics Indiana founded?
Special Olympics Indiana was founded in 1969. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Special Olympics Indiana based?
Special Olympics Indiana is headquartered in Indianapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Special Olympics Indiana make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships.
Who are Special Olympics Indiana's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Special Olympics California, Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Special Olympics Illinois, Special Olympics Florida, Special Olympics Texas and Special Olympics Ohio. Emerging players are Best Buddies International and National Down Syndrome Society. Indiana Sports Corp is listed as a regional player. Move United is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Special Olympics Indiana have an API?
No public API is recorded for Special Olympics Indiana.
What industry is Special Olympics Indiana in?
Special Olympics Indiana's product category is Adaptive Sports Programs for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKACAH, Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics), with a secondary code of MPAKAFAL, Disability & Adaptive Sport Governing Bodies (Paralympic & Sport-Specific). Its NAICS code is 81341 and its SIC code is 8300.