Special Olympics District of Columbia

What Special Olympics District of Columbia does

Special Olympics District of Columbia (Special Olympics DC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1969 and headquartered at 415 Michigan Avenue NE in Washington, D.C. As the local chapter of the Special Olympics movement, it delivers year-round sports training and athletic competition to more than 2,500 children and adults with intellectual disabilities across the District of Columbia, entirely free of charge to participants. The organization operates 10 Olympic-type sports (basketball, bocce, bowling, flag football, golf, soccer, speed skating, tennis, track & field, and volleyball) and runs a tiered portfolio including the Young Athletes Program (ages 2–7), the Motor Activities Training Program for athletes with severe disabilities, and Unified Sports that pair athletes with and without disabilities on the same teams. Complementary programs include the Healthy Athletes screening initiative (dental, vision, fitness, sports physicals), the Athlete Leadership Program, the Unified Champion Schools program active in 55+ DC public and private schools, and the SO College program hosted at five DC universities (American, Catholic, Georgetown, George Washington, Howard).

The organization funds operations through a diversified revenue model with no single dominant stream: individual donations, corporate sponsorships (BCBS, WGL, MLS Works, EventsDC, Brookfield Properties, CoStar, IOOF, Coca-Cola, Clark Construction), planned giving/bequests, and proceeds from signature fundraising events including the Night of Trees Gala, Polar Plunge, Law Enforcement Torch Run/Run for Inclusion 5K, Summer Games, Winter Games, Fall Classic, and Golf Scramble. Sponsorship is structured at $250 per athlete per season, covering facility, uniform, coaching, equipment, and medal costs. Health programming is materially supported by the Golisano Foundation and a collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a partnership with Lions Clubs International underwrites the Opening Eyes vision program. Distribution is delivered directly through school channels (Unified Champion Schools), community venues (adult sports programs), and host institutions (university college clubs), with the Lions Clubs, Golisano Foundation, CDC, and WWE/Becky Lynch serving as additional ecosystem partners. The organization is led by President & CEO Nicole J. Preston with a 14-person professional staff.

Name

Special Olympics District of Columbia

Legal name

Special Olympics of D.C.

Website

https://specialolympicsdc.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Special Olympics District of Columbia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1969, that delivers free year-round sports training, competition, health screenings, and inclusion programs to more than 2,500 children and adults with intellectual disabilities across Washington, D.C.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Sports and Disability Inclusion Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Health Services (8000), 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), Sports Medicine, Athletic Training & Rehabilitation Services (EDALAIAH)

Keywords

• Adaptive sports programs
• Intellectual disability services
• Unified sports competition
• Inclusive youth athletics
• Disability inclusion programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly giving programs and one-time donations from individual supporters
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Partnerships with companies for season sponsorships, event sponsorship (Polar Plunge, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Night of Trees Gala), Healthy Athletes, Young Athletes, and Education Based Programming
3. Fundraising Events: Major annual events including Law Enforcement Torch Run 5K, Night of Trees Gala, Polar Plunge, Golf Scramble, Run for Inclusion 5K, and Marine Corps Marathon participation
4. Planned Giving/Bequests: Estate planning vehicles and legacy giving programs for long-term donor relationships

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Special Olympics DC delivers free year-round sports training and athletic competition in 10 Olympic-type sports to children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Washington, D.C. The organization supplements sports with free health screenings, athlete leadership development, and school- and university-based inclusion programming (Unified Champion Schools, SO College, Young Athletes Program). All programs are provided at no cost to athletes and are funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Special Olympics DC is a nonprofit organization providing a portfolio of sports, health, and inclusion programs serving more than 2,500 children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Washington, D.C. The core offerings center on Year-Round Sports Programs (10 Olympic-type sports) and the Young Athletes Program (ages 2-7), supplemented by the Motor Activities Training Program for athletes with severe disabilities. The Unified Sports program brings together athletes with and without disabilities on the same teams. Health services include the Healthy Athletes program offering free screenings in dental, vision, and fitness. Education and leadership development is delivered through the Athlete Leadership Program, Unified Champion Schools (K-12), and SO College (university). Seasonal events include Summer Games, Winter Games, and Fall Classic championships, plus fundraising events like the Night of Trees Gala, Polar Plunge, and Law Enforcement Torch Run. All programs are provided at no cost to participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Year-Round Sports Programs Year-round sports training and competition opportunities in 10 Olympic-type sports — Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Flag Football, Golf, Soccer, Speed Skating, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball — for athletes with intellectual disabilities in Washington, D.C.
• Young Athletes Program Sport and play program for children ages 2–7 with and without intellectual disabilities that introduces basic sport skills and develops motor, social, emotional, and learning skills.
• Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) Program designed for athletes with severe or profound intellectual disability who are unable to participate in Official Special Olympics sport competitions, providing fun, sport-specific activities appropriate for any ability level.
• Unified Sports Brings together people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same sports teams for training and competition in basketball, soccer, volleyball, bocce, tennis, bowling, and track and field.
• Healthy Athletes Provides free health screenings, education, and referrals for follow-up care including MedFest (sports physicals), Special Smiles (dental), FUNfitness (flexibility/strength), and Opening Eyes (vision) to athletes with intellectual disabilities.
• Athlete Leadership Program Empowers athletes to develop leadership skills through courses including Global Messenger, Working with the Media, Email/Internet, and Athlete Representative training, with participation in the Athlete Input Council.
• Unified Champion Schools School-based program combining Unified Sports, Inclusive Youth Leadership, and Whole School Engagement to create inclusive classroom and school climates and reduce bullying, currently active in 55+ DC public and private schools.
• SO College Special Olympics College Club program functioning as official student organizations connecting college students and individuals with intellectual disabilities through sports, events, and leadership at universities including American University, Catholic University, Georgetown, George Washington, and Howard.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor providing support for Special Olympics DC programs and events
• WGLmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting Special Olympics DC initiatives
• MLS WorksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLS Works partnership supporting soccer and sports programs
• EventsDCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEventsDC partnership for hosting sports events and competitions
• Brookfield PropertiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor and partner for events including Night of Trees Gala venue sponsorship
• IOOFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting Special Olympics DC programs
• CoStarmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor for Special Olympics DC events and initiatives
• Clark Construction GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdditional corporate partner supporting Special Olympics DC
• Coca-ColaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor for Night of Trees Gala
• Lions Clubs InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Opening Eyes vision program providing free glasses to athletes through Healthy Athletes
• Golisano FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder of Special Olympics Health programs globally, enabling Healthy Athletes programming
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Healthy Athletes programming and health initiatives for people with intellectual disabilities
• American UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for Special Olympics College Club with student volunteers and Unified Sports programming
• The Catholic University of AmericamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for Special Olympics College Club and Summer Games venue (DuFour Athletic Center)
• Georgetown UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome to NIRSA National Championship-winning Georgetown Unified Flag Football Team; hosts college club activities
• The George Washington UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for Special Olympics College Club with student volunteers
• Howard UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for Special Olympics College Club; Howard Unified Basketball Team won inaugural HBCU Capitol City Classic
• WWE (in partnership with Becky Lynch)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for School of Strength program with WWE superstar Becky Lynch providing fitness videos and resources

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Challenger Division (Little League): Adaptive baseball/softball program for children with physical and intellectual disabilities; competes for similar athletes, families, and youth-sports sponsorship dollars in DC-area communities.
• Best Buddies International: National nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through one-to-one friendships, leadership, and inclusive jobs — overlapping in mission and donor base in the DC region.
• Disabled Sports USA: National adaptive-sports nonprofit providing year-round programming for people with disabilities; a thematic peer in mission and corporate-sponsorship overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Move United: National umbrella organization for adaptive sports in the U.S., offering similar disability-sport programming and a chapter network that overlaps with Special Olympics DC's athlete base.

Regional players

• DC Scores: DC-based youth development nonprofit using soccer and poetry to engage public school students; competes for DC public-school partnerships, corporate sponsors, and youth-volunteer pools.
• Girls on the Run DC: DC-area youth empowerment nonprofit combining running with life-skills curriculum; competes for DC school access, corporate wellness sponsorships, and 5K fundraising-event participation.

Direct peers

• Special Olympics Maryland: Sibling Special Olympics state chapter serving athletes with intellectual disabilities in Maryland, offering nearly identical year-round sports, Healthy Athletes, and Unified Champion Schools programs in an adjacent Mid-Atlantic market.
• Special Olympics Virginia: Adjacent Special Olympics state chapter with the same product portfolio (10+ sports, Unified Champion Schools, Healthy Athletes) and donor model, operating in the same Mid-Atlantic regional context.

Others

• National Down Syndrome Society: National advocacy and program organization serving a population that overlaps significantly with Special Olympics DC's athlete base; competes for similar disability-focused donor dollars.
• American Diabetes Association (DC): Major health-focused nonprofit whose CEO previously led Special Olympics DC; competes in the same DC corporate-sponsor and individual-donor market with similar gala-style fundraising formats.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/specialolyDC
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpecialOlympicsDC
• Instagraminstagram.com/specialolympicsdc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/specialolympicsdistrictofcolumbia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 District of Columbia