Special Olympics: A Corporate Social Opportunity A partnership with Special Olympics is good business. Here’s why: Special Olympics has 97 percent name recognition in the United States. 70 percent of the public reports feeling more positive about companies that support Special Olympics. 50 percent of the public has contributed money to a Special Olympics Program within the past year. 85 percent of the public believes that corporate partnerships with Special Olympics “make a difference” in the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. 77 percent of the public would be “extremely” likely to spend a little more to purchase a product or service if they thought it was helping Special Olympics. Performance Research, 2001 Other Supporting Statistics 70 percent of global chief executives agree that social responsibility is vital to the profitability of any company. (PWC/World Economic Forum, 2001) 56 percent of shareholders believe that socially responsible companies are more profitable than less-responsible companies. (Global CSR Monitor, 2003) CSR-oriented companies have 18 percent higher profits. (Institute of Business Ethics, 2003) 23 percent of shareholders have bought or sold shares because of a company’s social and environmental performance. (Global CSR Monitor, 2003) The Global Investors Opinion Survey, focused mostly on developed countries, confirmed that institutional investors are prepared to pay a premium of more than 20 percent for shares of companies that demonstrate good corporate governance. (McKinsey & Company, 2002) 130 million Americans would be likely to switch retailers or products to one associated with a good cause. (Cone/Roper Cause Marketing Survey, 1999) Two-thirds of Americans have greater trust in those companies aligned with a social issue. (Cone/Roper Cause Marketing Survey, 1999) Back to Benefits of Partnership Home

Contact Information
Tanya Baskin, Vice President, Corporate Partnerships, +1 (202) 628-3630 or tbaskin@specialolympics.org. For more information about corporate sponsorship and partnerships on a regional, national, state/provincial or local level, contact the appropriate Special Olympics region or Program. To locate a region or Program, use our Program Locator.