What Ohio Special Olympics Inc does

Special Olympics Ohio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1975 and headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, operating as the state affiliate of the global Special Olympics movement. The organization delivers year-round sports training and athletic competition to approximately 20,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities across all 88 Ohio counties, offering 19 Olympic-style sports through traditional, unified, and Young Athletes programming (ages 2-7). Complementary programming includes Healthy Athletes (free health screenings and fitness education), Athlete Leadership, and Unified Champion Schools, which embeds inclusive sports into K-12 institutions. All programs are delivered at no cost to athletes.

The organization is supported by a multi-tier corporate sponsor roster and a calendar of fundraising and competitive events, including Polar Plunge (across 7+ Ohio locations), Law Enforcement Torch Run, Plane Pull, Tee It Up Golf Outing, and State Summer, Winter (indoor and outdoor), and Fall Games tournaments. Presenting partnerships include G&J Pepsi (Polar Plunge) and OSU Wexner Medical Center (State Summer Games, a partnership spanning 50+ years); The Ohio State University hosts Summer Games at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium and now Ohio Stadium. Revenue is generated entirely through donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising event participation — there are no fees charged to athletes or participant revenue streams. Distribution is executed through four regional directorates (Northeast, Northwest, South Central, Southwest) with a full-time leadership team spanning CEO Jessica Stewart, VPs of Advancement, Inclusion & Engagement, Sports & Field Operations, Marketing & Communications, plus a CFO, CIO, directors of Major Gifts, Development, LETR, Health Strategies, UCS, Athlete Leadership, and accounting. A volunteer Board chaired by Phil Weaver (Partner at PwC) with officer representation from JPMorgan Chase, KPMG, Bath & Body Works, and the Cleveland Cavaliers provides governance and fundraising leadership. Cleveland was officially awarded the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games, representing the organization's largest near-term expansion.

Name

Ohio Special Olympics Inc

Legal name

Special Olympics Ohio

Website

https://sooh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Special Olympics Ohio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing year-round sports training and competition in 19 Olympic-style sports to approximately 20,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities across all 88 Ohio counties, free of charge to athletes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive / Disability Sports Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

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), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Adaptive sports programs
• Intellectual disability athletics
• Nonprofit sports organization
• Special needs competitions
• Inclusive youth athletics

Headquarters

HQ city

Westerville

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 Fundraising: Primary revenue from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events including Polar Plunge, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Tee It Up Golf Outing, Plane Pull, and other community fundraising activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Special Olympics Ohio provides year-round sports training and Olympic-style athletic competition free of charge to approximately 20,000 Ohio athletes with intellectual disabilities, spanning 19 sports across training programs and statewide competitions. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, funding delivery through donations, corporate sponsorships, and signature fundraising events such as the Polar Plunge.

Product overview

Special Olympics Ohio is a non-profit organization providing a comprehensive portfolio of sports and training programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The core offerings include Traditional Sports (19 Olympic-style sports), Unified Sports (inclusion-based team sports), Young Athletes (ages 2-7), Healthy Athletes (health screenings), Athlete Leadership, and Unified Champion Schools. The organization operates a calendar of state-level competitions including Summer Games, Winter Games (indoor and outdoor), and Fall Games (equestrian, softball, golf, flag football). Major fundraising events include the Polar Plunge and Law Enforcement Torch Run. Athletes benefit from all programs at no cost, with services spanning 88 Ohio counties and serving approximately 20,000 athletes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Year-round sports training program Community-based, year-round sports training in 19 Olympic-style sports (e.g., athletics, aquatics, bocce, bowling, basketball, floor hockey, soccer, skiing, snowshoeing, volleyball, and others) for Ohio athletes with intellectual disabilities. Training is delivered at the local level through volunteer coaches and partner agencies, and is offered free of charge to participants.
• State Summer Games Annual statewide Olympic-style summer competition serving as the flagship competition event for Ohio athletes with intellectual disabilities. Athletes qualify through local/county programs and compete across multiple sports; the event also serves as a selection pathway to USA Games and World Games.
• State Winter Games Annual statewide winter competition for Ohio athletes with intellectual disabilities, featuring snow- and ice-based Olympic-style sports such as floor hockey, bowling, snowshoeing, and skiing, and serving as the organization's cold-weather competition counterpart to the State Summer Games.
• Polar Plunge fundraising event Signature statewide peer-to-peer fundraising event for Special Olympics Ohio in which participants commit a minimum amount in donations in exchange for plunging into cold water at designated sites across Ohio, generating a significant share of the organization's annual revenue.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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 presenting partner, partner, host venue partner and core.

• G&J Pepsipresenting partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting partner for Polar Plunge events and other fundraising activities. Supports Special Olympics Ohio programs through sponsorship and community engagement.
• SheetzpartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing support for events including Polar Plunge (providing free hot chocolate and coffee) and other programs.
• Buckeye Automotive Group/Marathon PetroleumpartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Law Enforcement Torch Run and Fall Games events.
• Knights of ColumbuspartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting partner for Law Enforcement Torch Run (Ohio LETR) supporting the organization.
• Buffalo Wild WingspartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Special Olympics Ohio programs.
• Ohio State Moose AssociationpartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting partner for Special Olympics Ohio programs.
• Good Shepherd Foundation/Jersey Mike'spartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting the organization.
• American Legion - Department of OhiopartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerFall Games sponsor and supporting partner for multiple events.
• OSU Wexner Medical Centerpresenting partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for State Summer Games and major events. Celebrating 50+ year partnership with Ohio State University.
• Morgan StanleypartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerFall Games sponsor supporting Special Olympics Ohio.
• Alternative Residences Two IncpartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting the organization.
• SPIRE Academyhost venue partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SPIRE Institute/Academy to host State Flag Football Tournaments at their Geneva, Ohio facility.
• Greater Cleveland Sports CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnering on bid to host 2030 Special Olympics USA Games in Cleveland. Represents Northeast Ohio's bid to welcome 5,500+ athletes.
• Cleveland CavalierspartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerProud sponsor of Polar Plunge events in Cleveland for multiple years.
• Major League Soccer (MLS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNearly decade-long partnership hosting Unified Sports All-Star Games. Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati both participate.
• Bowling Green State Universityhost venue partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue host for State Indoor Winter Games, providing facilities for basketball, swimming, and other indoor sports competitions.
• The Ohio State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner50+ year partnership hosting State Summer Games at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium and Ohio Stadium. OSU Wexner Medical Center serves as presenting sponsor.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Best Buddies International: National nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through one-to-one friendship, leadership, and inclusive programs (including Unified Champion-style integration). Comparable in target population (intellectual disabilities), state-affiliate structure, and donor/corporate-sponsor model.
• Move United: National nonprofit network delivering adaptive and inclusive sports programming across the U.S. for people with disabilities. Comparable as a peer disability-sports nonprofit with member programs, regional structure, fundraising events, and a mission-focused delivery model that overlaps with Special Olympics Ohio's.
• Challenger Division (Little League): Adaptive baseball/softball program for children with intellectual and physical disabilities operating as a division within Little League. Comparable as a peer adaptive-sports program serving athletes with intellectual disabilities through school and community networks and competition events.
• Special Olympics New York: One of the largest Special Olympics state affiliates, structurally and operationally comparable to Special Olympics Ohio in mission, athlete scale, sports offerings, fundraising event portfolio, and affiliate-of-Special-Olympics-International governance.
• Special Olympics Pennsylvania: Peer Special Olympics state affiliate operating a similar portfolio of 19+ sports, Unified Champion Schools, Polar Plunge-style fundraising, and state-level competitions in a comparable-sized U.S. state. Closest direct operational peer to Special Olympics Ohio.

Emerging players

• Achilles International: Adaptive running and walking organization serving athletes with disabilities through community-based training programs. Comparable in mission-driven adaptive-sports delivery and volunteer model, but narrower sport scope (running/walking) than Special Olympics Ohio's 19-sport portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA): National nonprofit focused on neuromuscular disease with programming that includes adaptive sports and summer camps. Comparable as a peer disability nonprofit with fundraising-event infrastructure and corporate partnerships, but its primary mission is medical research rather than sports competition.
• Easterseals: Long-established national nonprofit providing disability services including recreational programming. Comparable as a peer disability-services nonprofit with state affiliates, but with a broader service mandate beyond sports.
• Paralympic Sport USA: National governing body for U.S. Paralympic athletes across multiple adaptive sports. Comparable as a peer in adaptive-sport programming, events, and athlete-development pipelines, but with a stronger elite-competition focus and physical-disability primary population.
• Special Olympics International: Global parent/founder of the Special Olympics movement and the accrediting body for state programs including Special Olympics Ohio. Comparable in mission, brand, and program model, but operates at a global, federation level rather than as a single-state affiliate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SOOhio
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SpecialOlympicsOhio1975
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpecialOlympicsOhio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/specialolympicsohio
• Instagraminstagram.com/specialolympicsoh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Ohio Special Olympics Inc