The Foundry Community Rowing and Sailing Center

What The Foundry Community Rowing and Sailing Center does

The Cleveland Foundry is a Cleveland, Ohio-based nonprofit operating community rowing and sailing facilities on the Cuyahoga River and, as of June 2026, at the Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center on Lake Erie. The organization was founded around 2015-2017 by Mike and Gina Trebilcock and runs a multi-module programming portfolio covering youth and adult rowing and sailing, collegiate sailing, community outreach (Row. Sail. Dream.), swim safety, event-space rentals, and premium on-water experiences (The Canim and The Providence). Its physical platform includes a 55,000 sq. ft. waterfront campus with indoor rowing tanks described as one of only a handful in the country, sailing simulators, ergometers, and event venues.

The Foundry's revenue mechanics combine individual program registration fees (youth and adult classes, collegiate season passes), unit-priced simulator and Tank House rentals ($100/appointment and team rates), facility rentals for weddings and corporate events, and charitable contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners. Pricing is structured for accessibility: financial assistance is available across programs, and Discovery Sails offers a $20 future-program credit per introductory sail. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven — mobile outreach brings programming into schools and recreation centers across 63 zip codes, while direct programming runs at the waterfront facilities and through a Cleveland Metroparks partnership at E. 55th Street Marina.

Major institutional backing includes Cleveland Metroparks ($18.5 million capital investment), Parker Hannifin Corporation, the Jack Joseph and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation, and corporate partners such as University Hospitals, Dollar Bank, First Federal Lakewood, and Cohen & Co. In 2025 the organization engaged 317 students in on-water programming across 97 schools and 78 cities in Northeast Ohio.

Name

The Foundry Community Rowing and Sailing Center

Legal name

The Cleveland Foundry

Website

https://clevelandfoundry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Sports and Recreation Services

NAICS

Marinas (713930)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

Keywords

• Community rowing programs
• Youth sailing instruction
• Adult rowing classes
• Community sailing center
• Water sports education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Youth Rowing and Sailing Programs: Registration fees for structured youth programs including competitive teams, camps, and instructional courses for grades K-12
2. Adult Programs: Fees for adult sailing and rowing classes including beginner courses, intermediate training, and fitness-focused rowing sessions
3. Collegiate Sailing Program: Season-based fees for college students: Sundays $335, Wednesdays $250, or both days for $550
4. Sailing Simulator Rentals: $100 per appointment for sailing simulator experiences, typically booked in minimum 2-hour sessions for groups up to 8 sailors
5. Tank House Rentals: Rental revenue from corporate groups, school teams, and organizations using the indoor rowing facility for team-building or off-season conditioning
6. Event Space Rentals: Venue rental for weddings, corporate events, meetings, and celebrations in the 55,000 sq. ft. waterfront facility including the Carriage House, Community Room, and Crane Bay Loft
7. Donations and Grants: Charitable contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners to support financial assistance and mission expansion
8. Signature Experiences (The Canim and The Providence): Planned luxury sailing experiences aboard historic vessels - The Canim (1930 wooden motor yacht) and The Providence (52-foot mini tall ship) for private charters and events

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Cleveland Foundry is a nonprofit community rowing and sailing center that delivers year-round rowing and sailing instruction, competitive team training, recreational programs, and water access for youth (K-12), collegiate, and adult participants in Greater Cleveland. The organization operates a 55,000 sq. ft. waterfront rowing facility on the Cuyahoga River and the Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center on Lake Erie, supported by indoor rowing tanks, sailing simulators, and a school-based community outreach program.

Product overview

The Cleveland Foundry is a nonprofit community rowing and sailing center offering a comprehensive portfolio of water sports programs and facilities. The organization operates a multi-module program architecture consisting of core programming (Youth and Adult Rowing and Sailing), community outreach (Row. Sail. Dream.), training facilities (Tank House, Sailing Simulators), two major venues (Cleveland Foundry Rowing Center on the Cuyahoga River and Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center on Lake Erie), and ancillary services (Event Spaces, Swim Clinics, Signature Experiences). Programs span from introductory Learn-to-Row and Learn-to-Sail experiences through competitive racing teams, serving ages 5 through adult across Northeast Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Row. Sail. Dream. Community engagement initiative that brings free rowing and sailing experiences directly to schools and organizations across Greater Cleveland, removing financial, geographic, and informational barriers to water sports access.

Products and services

• Youth Sailing Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 317 students engaged in on-water programming in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Cleveland MetroparksflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Major partnership to develop and operate the Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center at E. 55th Street Marina. Cleveland Metroparks invested $18.5 million in the facility which opened June 2026. The Foundry operates year-round sailing programming at the center, including youth learn-to-sail, interscholastic racing, adult classes, and boating safety education.
• Rhythm and Stroke LLCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Swim clinic partnership with Coach André and Kimberly Morton of Rhythm and Stroke LLC to provide coached swim lessons and safety testing at Cleveland State University Natatorium for Foundry youth participants.
• US Sailing REACH InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024STEM curriculum partnership with US Sailing's REACH initiative, integrating science, technology, engineering and math concepts into sailing programs for students.
• Cleveland Metropolitan School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner for the Row. Sail. Dream. outreach program bringing free rowing and sailing experiences to students across Cleveland schools.
• School of One (Cleveland Metropolitan School District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundry is the only boathouse in the United States that is home to a public school. The School of One is located on The Foundry campus, providing unique access for students.
• Cleveland State University NatatoriumminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocation partner for swim clinic programming, providing pool facilities for youth water safety certification.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Community Rowing Inc. Boston-based nonprofit community rowing center offering youth and adult programs, indoor tanks, and learn-to-row pathways. Closest structural analog to The Foundry's rowing center model in another major US rowing market.
• Community Boating Inc. Nonprofit community sailing center on the Charles River in Boston offering inclusive sailing instruction and rentals. Directly comparable membership/lesson model and mission-driven community sailing focus.
• Milwaukee Community Sailing Center: Lakefront nonprofit sailing center providing youth and adult instruction on Lake Michigan. Comparable Great Lakes community sailing operations, facility rental, and outreach programs.
• Chicago Community Sailing Center: Nonprofit sailing school on Lake Michigan offering youth programs, adaptive sailing, and adult lessons. Direct peer given comparable urban-Great Lakes context and nonprofit operating model.
• Three Rivers Rowing Association: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit community rowing organization offering youth and adult programs. Comparable community rowing center model serving an inland waterway city.
• Sausalito Community Sailing Center: Nonprofit sailing center offering lessons and rentals in the San Francisco Bay Area. Comparable community sailing nonprofit with public-access mission.

Regional players

• Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association: Western New York community rowing nonprofit serving the Buffalo region. Geographically adjacent to Cleveland with overlapping Great Lakes youth rowing pipeline.

Others

• US Sailing Association: National governing body for sailing in the US and partner of The Foundry via the REACH STEM initiative. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
• USRowing: National governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. Ecosystem participant relevant to The Foundry's competitive youth and collegiate programs.
• Cleveland Metroparks: Flagship partner of The Foundry for the Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center. Public park operator providing waterfront infrastructure and capital; relationship is collaborative rather than competitive.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Foundry216
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Foundry216
• Facebookfacebook.com/foundry216
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-foundry-community-rowing-and-sailing-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/foundry216
• TikToktiktok.com/@foundry216

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 The Foundry Community Rowing and Sailing Center