Special Olympics Minnesota is celebrating 50 years of inclusion! We’ve been working hard to create a new world of inclusion and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities since 1973, and we can’t wait to see what the next 50 years have in store!

Earn limited-edition 50th Anniversary incentive items by participating!

Download fundraising toolkit (PDF)

How does the 50th Anniversary fundraising campaign work?

This is an easy fundraising opportunity: Your team keeps 50% of the funds you raise! There is no need to opt in, complete an application or coordinate. We have already created a fundraising page for each individual on your team; they just need to share it with their network. We will even provide a fundraising toolkit to everyone once the campaign kicks off on Monday, May 15.

There is no obligation to participate in or promote this campaign.

Fundraising campaign timeline

March 30-April 16 – HODs and team captains check their team’s roster and notify [email protected] if any edits should be made.
Late April – All athletes, coaches and Unified partners receive more information about the campaign.
Monday, May 15 – Campaign kicks off and fundraising begins.
Sunday, June 25 at Summer Games – Campaign ends.

Incentive pick-up dates

Incentives may be picked up at the following dates and locations. Items that are not picked up by the end of August will be shipped out in September.

June 17 & 18 — Summer Games (South View Middle School in the gym)
June 24 & 25 — Summer Games (Stillwater High School in Athlete Village)
Friday, August 18 — State Equestrian competition (Northwest Saddle Club)
Saturday, August 19 — State Bocce & Softball competitions (M Health Fairview Sports Center)

FAQs

The 50th Anniversary fundraiser supports all Special Olympics Minnesota teams, athletes, coaches and Unified partners. It’s a great way for us to highlight the impact and progress Special Olympics Minnesota has made in the community over the last 50 years.

The 50th Anniversary fundraiser begins on Monday, May 15. On that date the fundraising site will go live and you’ll be able to access your page.

Visit the 50th Anniversary fundraising website (launching on May 15!) and use the search function to search for your name. From there you can copy and paste the link to your individual fundraising page and share it with friends, family or post it on social media!

Unfortunately no. Each person can only participate with 1 delegation.

Yes! The more you fundraise, the more you earn. You’ll be able to see all the incentive items available on the fundraising website that launches on May 15.

This campaign is a 50/50 revenue share: Your team keeps 50% of all funds (up to your team’s expense budget for the previous year) raised by all athletes, coaches and Unified partners on your team. The remaining 50% supports other Special Olympics Minnesota programs. The funds that your team keeps will go into your Centralized Account to help cover important expenses associated with your team.

Yes! Checks and cash can be mailed to:

Special Olympics Minnesota
900 2nd Ave S, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55402

You can also bring checks to Summer Games when you pick up your incentive item(s). Please note that only online donations submitted through the fundraising website (launching on May 15) are eligible for the 50/50 revenue share.

Yes, but only if the check notes who the amount should be designated to. If you are turning checks or cash in when you pick up your incentive, you’ll let the staff/volunteers know that it should go on your page. Please note that only online donations submitted through the fundraising website (launching on May 15) are eligible for the 50/50 revenue share.

No. You cannot use the money you fundraise for personal purchases.

The cutoff date for earning incentives is Sunday, June 25. Fundraising will still be open after that date, but any donations received after June 25 will not count toward incentives.

Incentives will be available for pickup at Summer Games weekends, June 17 & 18 and June 23-25. If you’re not attending Summer Games or are unable to collect your incentive items at that time, you’ll be able to pick them up at an event later in the summer. The incentive item pick-up schedule following Summer Games is still being finalized. Any items that are not picked up at the end of the summer will be mailed out.

Please contact [email protected] if there are any errors with your account or if you would like to increase your fundraising goal.

You are not required to participate in this fundraiser, but the campaign gives you the opportunity to earn some awesome incentives and support your team!

Funds will be distributed to teams’ Centralized Accounts in late summer/early fall.