SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTH CAROLINA

What SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTH CAROLINA does

Special Olympics South Carolina is a nonprofit organization providing year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities across South Carolina. Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Lexington, SC, the organization operates through 15+ local Area Programs covering different geographic regions of the state, each staffed by dedicated Area Directors. It serves 31,000+ athletes with intellectual disabilities across 30+ sports disciplines including basketball, swimming, tennis, golf, soccer, kayaking, bocce, powerlifting, and pickleball. Supporting programs include the Unified Champion Schools initiative for K-12 inclusion, the Healthy Athletes program providing free health screenings, the Young Athletes Program for children ages 2-7, the Athlete Leadership Program, and the Motor Activity Training Program for athletes with significant disabilities.

The organization operates as an independent 501(c)(3) under the Special Olympics brand umbrella and is staffed by 11 employees supported by a large volunteer base of certified coaches and community volunteers. Revenue is generated entirely through charitable contributions rather than commercial transactions. Funding streams include individual and corporate donations, corporate sponsorships (BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Dominion Energy, Publix, Capital Bank), event fundraising through the Give to Gain Gala, Truck Convoy, and Polar Plunge events, vehicle donations processed through Advanced Remarketing Services, planned giving and bequests, and donor-advised fund partnerships with BNY Mellon, Fidelity Charitable, and Schwab Charitable. The Law Enforcement Torch Run program operates as a major fundraising channel, with Horry County alone contributing over $1.5 million over 18 years.

The go-to-market motion is community-led: athletes register through local area programs, coaches complete sport-specific certification through Class A volunteer registration with three-year renewal cycles, and schools adopt the Unified Champion Schools three-component model (Inclusive Youth Leadership, Unified Sports, Whole School Engagement). Distribution spans direct community engagement through Area Programs, school-based partnerships with the South Carolina Department of Education, event-based participation in state-level competitions, and the Law Enforcement Torch Run network across South Carolina law enforcement agencies.

Name

SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTH CAROLINA

Legal name

Special Olympics South Carolina

Website

https://so-sc.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Special Olympics South Carolina is a nonprofit providing year-round sports training and competition for 31,000+ children and adults with intellectual disabilities across South Carolina through 15+ local Area Programs, 30+ sports, and supporting health, school, and leadership programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Sports and Disability Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), 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), Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM), Adaptive & Para-Sport Coaching (HSADAEAM), Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)

Keywords

• Adaptive sports programs
• Disability athletic training
• Inclusive school programming
• Special needs competition
• Volunteer sports coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

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. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The primary revenue stream comes from individual and corporate donations, including online donations via the website, credit card contributions by phone, and personal/business check donations. Special Olympics South Carolina's tax ID is 57-0680248.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Small businesses and corporate partners provide cash, in-kind donations, volunteers, and awareness support. Sponsorship tiers and partnership opportunities are available with contact through Harley Carpenter.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual events include the Give to Gain Gala (22nd annual in 2026), Truck Convoy for Special Olympics, Polar Plunge events, and various sports competitions that generate fundraising participation.
4. Vehicle Donations: Car donation program returning 80% of gross proceeds back to Special Olympics. Accepts cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, planes, snowmobiles, heavy machinery, trailers, and RVs. Processed through authorized agent Advanced Remarketing Services.
5. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Legacy gifts including bequests in Wills or Living Trusts, Insurance Policy beneficiary designations, and IRA/Retirement Plan designations. Managed through solegacygiving.org with Director of Bequests and Estate Gifts.
6. Donor-Advised Funds: Partners with BNY Mellon, Fidelity Charitable, and Schwab Charitable for DAF Direct donations. Funds can be designated for general use or specific thematic areas.
7. Home Loan Partnership: Capital Bank donates $1,000 for every home loan funded to support Special Olympics South Carolina programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Special Olympics South Carolina is a statewide nonprofit organization that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The organization offers more than 15 Olympic-style sports, inclusive school programming through Unified Champion Schools, free health screenings via the Healthy Athletes program, early-childhood motor skill development through Young Athletes, leadership development for athletes, and volunteer and coach certification pathways, all delivered through 15+ local Area Programs covering South Carolina.

Product overview

Special Olympics South Carolina is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of sports programs and services for athletes with intellectual disabilities. The core offering consists of year-round sports training and athletic competitions across 15+ sports disciplines. Supporting programs include Unified Champion Schools (school-based inclusion programming), the Healthy Athletes Program (health screenings), the Young Athletes Program (early childhood development), the Athlete Leadership Program (leadership development), the Law Enforcement Torch Run (fundraising initiative), and Coach/Volunteer certification programs. The organization operates through 15 local Area programs spanning the state, coordinating state-level competitions and youth activation summits. The portfolio is organized as a unified service offering rather than modular software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sports Programs and Competitions Year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities across 15+ sports disciplines including basketball, bowling, swimming, tennis, golf, soccer, flag football, volleyball, kayaking, bocce, softball, powerlifting, pickleball, and track and field.
• Unified Champion Schools School-based program that brings students with and without intellectual disabilities together through Unified PE classes, Unified Clubs, Youth Activation Summits, and Inclusive Youth Leadership opportunities to promote acceptance, respect, and inclusion.
• Healthy Athletes Program Provides free health screenings, health education, and referrals for athletes with intellectual disabilities, including vision, dental, hearing, fitness, and general health assessments.
• Young Athletes Program Early childhood initiative for children ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities that introduces basic sport skills and play activities to develop physical fitness and social skills.
• Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Fundraising and awareness initiative uniting law enforcement officers across South Carolina to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics, including Polar Plunge events, Torch Run ceremonies, and Final Leg participation for World Games.
• Athlete Leadership Program Program empowering Special Olympics athletes to develop leadership skills and take on meaningful roles including Global Messengers, Health Messengers, Fitness Ambassadors, Board Members, coaches, and volunteers.
• Volunteer Program Program offering opportunities for individuals to volunteer as coaches, event volunteers, unified partners, or general volunteers for single-day events or ongoing commitments throughout South Carolina.
• Coach Certification Program Training and certification pathway for volunteer coaches including Class A volunteer registration, sport-specific training, first aid certification, and Special Olympics Unified Sports Coaching Course with renewal every three years.
• Motor Activity Training Program Specialized program for athletes with significant intellectual disabilities who require more support, providing motor activities and training adapted to individual abilities.
• State-Level Competitions Annual state competitions including State Fall Games (multi-sport), State Golf Tournament, State Kayaking Competition, Pickleball Invitational, and Dennis Van Der Meer Tennis Invitational, providing competitive opportunities for athletes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 31,000 athletes receive year-round sports training and competition
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• BlueCross BlueShield of South CarolinamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is listed among key partners supporting Special Olympics South Carolina. The partnership likely involves health-related programming through the Healthy Athletes program and general organizational sponsorship.
• South Carolina Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Department of Education partners with Special Olympics South Carolina for the Unified Champion Schools program, enabling implementation of inclusive programming in schools across the state.
• South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special NeedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner supporting programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities and coordinating with local Area Directors for athlete registration and program delivery.
• Dominion EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner listed among supporters of Special Olympics South Carolina.
• MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider partner supporting Healthy Athletes programming and health services for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
• PublixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner listed among supporters of Special Olympics South Carolina.
• Capital BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFor every home loan funded, Capital Bank donates $1,000 to support Special Olympics South Carolina programs.
• Advanced Remarketing ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized agent for vehicle donation program, returning 80% of gross proceeds from car donations back to Special Olympics South Carolina.
• BNY Mellon, Fidelity Charitable, Schwab CharitableminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonor-Advised Fund sponsors that enable donors to make charitable contributions through DAF Direct, receiving immediate tax deductions and recommending grants over time.
• Atlas TechminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology partner listed among supporters of Special Olympics South Carolina.
• Business Development ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner listed among supporters of Special Olympics South Carolina.
• Knights of ColumbusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFraternal organization partner supporting Special Olympics South Carolina.
• Children's Relief FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit partner listed among supporters of Special Olympics South Carolina.
• The Long FamilyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFamily donor/partner supporting Special Olympics South Carolina.
• Horry County Sheriff's OfficecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw enforcement agency home to Marcus Rhodes, Director of J. Reuben Long Detention Center, who led LETR fundraising efforts raising over $1.5 million through Myrtle Beach Polar Plunge over 18 years. The agency is deeply involved with Area 16 program planning.
• Jonathan CalorecoreOthersAssistant Chief of SC Forestry Division and LETR Volunteer Director selected as team lead for Final Leg to 2025 World Games in Turin, Italy. Has brought Flame of Hope to 2022 USA Games in Orlando.
• Maggie BowerscoreOthersSergeant from Tega Cay Police Department selected to participate in Final Leg to 2025 World Games in Turin, Italy as a Torch Run Officer.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Sports Center for the Disabled: Colorado-based adaptive sports organization providing year-round sports instruction and competition for individuals with disabilities. Comparable in mission and delivery model (year-round instruction, coach certification, multi-sport programming) though focused on physical rather than intellectual disabilities primarily.
• Special Olympics North Carolina: Sibling state chapter of Special Olympics operating in adjacent geography (North Carolina) with identical mission, programming structure, and parent brand affiliation. Directly comparable in business model (donations, sponsorships, events) and product portfolio (sports training, Unified Champion Schools, Healthy Athletes).
• Special Olympics Georgia: Another Special Olympics state chapter with the same organizational mission and product offering for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Provides the closest structural and operational benchmark for evaluating Special Olympics South Carolina's scale and efficiency.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of the United States: National community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable in serving the IDD population through a state-chapter model and competing for similar donor and volunteer pools.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing services for people with disabilities including sports and recreation programs. Operates a similar affiliate network model serving the disability community and competes for related corporate partnerships and donor dollars.
• Best Buddies International: National nonprofit serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through one-to-one friendship programs, integrated employment, and inclusive living. Comparable in target population (IDD) and community-based delivery model, though with different core programming focus.
• Special Olympics International: The global parent organization and brand owner that Special Olympics South Carolina operates under. Provides global accreditation, brand standards, and resource sharing; comparable at the mission and program-design level though operating at vastly larger scale and as the network hub.
• Move United: National umbrella organization for adaptive sports in the United States (formerly Disabled Sports USA). Serves a broader range of disabilities (not just intellectual disabilities) and provides comparable community-based sports programming, making it a structural peer in the adaptive sports category.

Emerging players

• BlazeSports America: National nonprofit providing adaptive sports programs for children, adults, and veterans with physical disabilities, with growing programming for IDD populations. Operates in similar adaptive sports category with overlapping school-based and competition programming.

Regional players

• Challenged Athletes Foundation: National adaptive sports nonprofit providing grants and programming for athletes with physical disabilities. Operates at national scale with similar community-fundraising approach but with a different primary disability focus (physical rather than intellectual).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/special-olympics-south-carolina

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTH CAROLINA