Special Olympics Minnesota
Special Olympics Minnesota is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides year-round sports training, competitions, health screenings, and leadership programs free of charge to 5,000+ children and adults with intellectual disabilities across Minnesota through 147 local delegations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Special Olympics Minnesota does
Special Olympics Minnesota is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1973 and headquartered in Minneapolis that delivers year-round sports training, athletic competitions, and complementary health, leadership, and school programs for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. In 2024, the organization served 5,000+ athletes across 147 local delegations and teams, hosted 47 events and competitions in 16 official sports (Alpine Skiing, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cornhole, Flag Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Poly Hockey, Powerlifting, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, and Track & Field), and delivered 1,029,671 total mission experiences through its sports, health, schools, leadership, and Young Athletes programs. The organization operates as an accredited program of Special Olympics Incorporated and provides all programming free of charge to participants.
Special Olympics Minnesota firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Special Olympics Minnesota
- Legal name
- Special Olympics Minnesota
- Website
- https://specialolympicsminnesota.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Special Olympics Minnesota is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides year-round sports training, competitions, health screenings, and leadership programs free of charge to 5,000+ children and adults with intellectual disabilities across Minnesota through 147 local delegations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Special Olympics Minnesota industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adaptive Sports and Disability Inclusion Services
- NAICS
- Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Amateur Event & Tournament Organizers (Meets, Invitationals, Opens) (MPAKACAL), Youth & Amateur Sports Tournaments (MPAGAMAF), Intramural & Recreational Sports Programs (EDAJAJAB)
Keywords
Where Special Olympics Minnesota is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Special Olympics Minnesota business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the mission of inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities. Multiple giving options including one-time gifts, monthly giving, and tribute gifts.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Partnerships with corporate sponsors at various levels (Presenting, Coach, Volunteer, Sport-specific sponsors) providing financial support in exchange for branding and marketing recognition.
- Fundraising Events: Revenue generated from signature events including Polar Plunge (20+ statewide locations), Plane Pull (plane towing competition), Truck Convoy, Move for Inclusion, SOMN Open golf tournament, and Ian Leonard's Bad Pants Open.
- Planned Giving & Estate Gifts: Bequests, planned gifts, and legacy donations through the Olympus Society recognition program for high-end contributors.
- Stock Transfers & DAFs: Tax-advantaged giving through stock transfers, donor-advised funds, and vehicle donations (75-80% of gross selling price to Special Olympics).
- United Way Write-In: Workplace giving program where donors designate donations to Special Olympics Minnesota through United Way by writing in the organization name.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels15 records
Special Olympics Minnesota product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Special Olympics Minnesota delivers year-round sports training and athletic competitions in 16 official sports (alpine skiing, basketball, bocce, bowling, cornhole, flag football, golf, gymnastics, poly hockey, powerlifting, snowboarding, snowshoeing, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field) for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The organization supplements athletic programming with Unified Champion Schools (357 schools in Minnesota), Inclusive Health screenings, Athlete Leadership development, and Young Athletes (ages 2-7). All programs are delivered free to athletes; the organization is funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, grants, and signature fundraising events (Polar Plunge, Plane Pull, Truck Convoy, golf tournaments).
Product overview
Special Olympics Minnesota is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs centered on year-round sports training and competitions for people with intellectual disabilities. The core offering includes 16 official sports (alpine skiing, basketball, bocce, bowling, cornhole, flag football, golf, gymnastics, poly hockey, powerlifting, snowboarding, snowshoeing, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field), complemented by supporting programs including Unified Champion Schools, Inclusive Health screenings, Athlete Leadership development, and Young Athletes (ages 2-7). Major fundraising events include Polar Plunge, Plane Pull, and the SOMN Open. The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games is a major upcoming event hosting thousands of athletes nationwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sports Training & Competitions Year-round sports training and athletic competitions in 16 official state-level sports, plus recreational and invitational competitions, serving more than 5,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities across Minnesota. Includes both traditional Special Olympics divisions and Unified Sports where athletes with and without disabilities compete on the same team.
- Unified Champion Schools K-12 school inclusion program with three components: Inclusive Student Leadership, Unified Sports, and Whole School Engagement, designed to create inclusive school environments where students with disabilities are meaningfully included in all activities. 357 schools in Minnesota participate in the program.
- Inclusive Health Health programs improving access to healthcare and fitness for people with intellectual disabilities, including fitness programs and free Healthy Athletes screenings in 8 disciplines (such as hearing, vision, and dental). Delivered in partnership with the Golisano Foundation, U.S. CDC, Twin Cities Orthopedics, and UCare.
- Athlete Leadership Programs that teach athletes with intellectual disabilities leadership skills through formal roles including Fitness Captains, Health Messengers, Athletes as Coaches, Athletes as Event Coordinators, LETR Ambassadors, Global Messengers, Athlete Representatives, and Athlete Leadership Council.
- Young Athletes
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,029,671 mission experiences provided in 2024 through sports, health, schools, and leadership programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Special Olympics Minnesota
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Special Olympics Minnesota technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Special Olympics Minnesota partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Affinity Plus Federal Credit UnioncorePresenting sponsor of the 26 Weeks of Giving campaign celebrating inclusion in partnership with the 2026 USA Games. Committed to creating spaces where everyone belongs through grants to Minnesota organizations working to create a more inclusive state.
- WaggleminorGolf apparel brand that has formed an active partnership with Special Olympics Minnesota, designing apparel for events and hosting fundraisers, with plans to deepen involvement as the Special Olympics USA Games come to Minnesota in 2026.
- Golisano FoundationcorePrimary funder of Special Olympics Health programming, creating a world where people with intellectual disabilities have every opportunity to be healthy.
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)coreCollaborating with Special Olympics Health programming to address health disparities faced by people with intellectual disabilities.
- Twin Cities Orthopedics (TCO)corePresenting sponsor providing athletes access to valuable health and fitness resources through a network of care locations throughout Minnesota including orthopedic care, urgent care, physical therapy, and fitness services.
- Landscape StructuresminorPresenting sponsor of Young Athletes program under the 'Play Like a Champion' initiative supporting early childhood sports play.
- ComcastminorPartner in Unified Champion Schools program supporting inclusive school environments across Minnesota.
- 2026 Special Olympics USA GamescoreNational Games bringing 4,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers and 75,000 fans from all 50 states to Minnesota June 20-26, 2026. Features 19 sports and shines a light on abilities of people with intellectual disabilities.
- Dave Dorn (Former President/CEO)coreRetired after two decades of inspiring leadership, succeeded by Bill Fish who previously served as Chief Development Officer.
- Statewide Sponsors (Affinity Plus, Cub Foods, Delta, Fox9, Jersey Mike's, LETR, SMSC, United Healthcare, U.S. Bank)coreStatewide sponsors supporting Special Olympics Minnesota through marketing partnerships and event sponsorship across multiple channels.
- UCare (Healthy Athletes Presenting Sponsor)minorPresenting sponsor of Healthy Athletes programming at regional competitions, supporting free health screenings for athletes.
- Starkey HearingminorOfficial Partner of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, reinforcing commitment to healthy hearing and fostering inclusion.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Special Olympics Minnesota competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Move United: National nonprofit (formerly Disabled Sports USA) providing adaptive sports opportunities and inclusion programs nationwide. Overlaps with SOMN's adaptive sports and Unified Schools mission but serves a broader disability population.
- Best Buddies International: National nonprofit focused on one-to-one friendships, leadership development, and inclusive employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Overlaps with SOMN's Athlete Leadership and Unified Champion Schools programs.
- Special Olympics Wisconsin: Sibling state-level Special Olympics chapter serving athletes with intellectual disabilities in Wisconsin. Operates the same accredited program model under Special Olympics Inc., with comparable sport offerings, LETR fundraising, and school-based programs.
- Special Olympics Illinois: One of the largest state-level Special Olympics chapters by athlete count. Operates the same accredited model with broader sport offerings and a more developed fundraising apparatus, providing a useful scale benchmark for SOMN.
- Special Olympics North Dakota: Sibling state-level Special Olympics chapter serving North Dakota. Direct programmatic peer with shared sport catalog, LETR program, and reliance on donations/event fundraising.
- Special Olympics Iowa: Sibling state-level Special Olympics chapter in Iowa, providing year-round sports training, competitions, and inclusion programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Shares mission, structure, accreditation, and fundraising model with SOMN.
Broad incumbents
- The Arc: National organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A peer in advocacy and inclusion programming that competes for similar mission-driven donor funding.
- Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including early intervention, autism services, and inclusive recreation. Competes for similar donor and corporate-partner dollars, though broader in scope than sports-focused programs.
Emerging players
- Challenger Division (Little League): Little League's adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. Comparable mission of structured athletic participation for disabled youth, though limited to baseball and a narrower age range.
- National Down Syndrome Society: National nonprofit providing programming, advocacy, and resources for individuals with Down syndrome—a major sub-segment of SOMN's athlete population. Overlaps in the inclusive health and community programming space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Special Olympics Minnesota social profiles
Digital presenceSpecial Olympics Minnesota financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Special Olympics Minnesota leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Special Olympics Minnesota funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Special Olympics Minnesota 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 Minnesota
What does Special Olympics Minnesota do?
Special Olympics Minnesota delivers year-round sports training and athletic competitions in 16 official sports (alpine skiing, basketball, bocce, bowling, cornhole, flag football, golf, gymnastics, poly hockey, powerlifting, snowboarding, snowshoeing, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field) for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The organization supplements athletic programming with Unified Champion Schools (357 schools in Minnesota), Inclusive Health screenings, Athlete Leadership development, and Young Athletes (ages 2-7). All programs are delivered free to athletes; the organization is funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, grants, and signature fundraising events (Polar Plunge, Plane Pull, Truck Convoy, golf tournaments).
Is Special Olympics Minnesota a public or private company?
Special Olympics Minnesota is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Special Olympics Minnesota founded?
Special Olympics Minnesota was founded in 1973. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Special Olympics Minnesota based?
Special Olympics Minnesota is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Special Olympics Minnesota make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, fundraising Events, planned Giving & Estate Gifts, stock Transfers & DAFs and united Way Write-In.
Who are Special Olympics Minnesota's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Move United, Best Buddies International, Special Olympics Wisconsin, Special Olympics Illinois, Special Olympics North Dakota and Special Olympics Iowa. Broad incumbents are The Arc and Easterseals. Emerging players are Challenger Division (Little League) and National Down Syndrome Society.
Does Special Olympics Minnesota have an API?
No public API is recorded for Special Olympics Minnesota.
What industry is Special Olympics Minnesota in?
Special Olympics Minnesota's product category is Adaptive Sports and Disability Inclusion Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKACAH, Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics), with a secondary code of MPAKACAL, Amateur Event & Tournament Organizers (Meets, Invitationals, Opens). Its NAICS code is 711211 and its SIC code is 8600.