The Venture Out Project®
The Venture Out Project (TVOP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 that runs wilderness backpacking, canoeing, rafting, climbing, and ski trips for LGBTQ+ adults, youth, and families, with sliding-scale pricing, scholarships, and free day events across multiple US regions, led from Western Massachusetts with a permanent Vermont retreat base.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersNorthampton, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Venture Out Project® does
The Venture Out Project® (TVOP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 by Perry Cohen that organizes wilderness trips, day hikes, and identity-specific programming for the LGBTQ+ community. Headquartered in Western Massachusetts, with a permanent 40-acre retreat facility — Basecamp at Beaver Falls in Halifax, VT — TVOP runs overnight backpacking, canoe camping, white water rafting, climbing, skiing, and trail-service trips alongside free local day hikes led by volunteers across at least eight US regions. Programs explicitly accommodate trans, non-binary, BIPOC, plus-size, and youth participants, with sliding-scale pricing (typically $1,000-$1,775 for overnights, free day events with optional donations), per-trip scholarships, and free gear lending to address access barriers.
The organization also delivers "Beyond Bathrooms" transgender inclusion workshops for schools, camps, and corporate clients, extending its community-building mission into B2B education. Revenue is generated through participant fees, tax-deductible donations, brand and grant sponsorships (REI, Eddie Bauer, Marmot, L.L. Bean), merchandise (TVOP Shop), and event-based fundraising, with no proprietary technology platform — registration runs on off-the-shelf tools (Enrollsy, Luma, RunReg). Operating with a small core staff and a distributed volunteer network, TVOP has served approximately 500+ participants across 50+ adventures since inception and was nationally recognized in mainstream outdoor and travel media as one of the first wilderness outfitters run by and for queer and transgender people.
The Venture Out Project® firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Venture Out Project®
- Legal name
- The Venture Out Project
- Website
- https://ventureoutproject.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Venture Out Project (TVOP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 that runs wilderness backpacking, canoeing, rafting, climbing, and ski trips for LGBTQ+ adults, youth, and families, with sliding-scale pricing, scholarships, and free day events across multiple US regions, led from Western Massachusetts with a permanent Vermont retreat base.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Venture Out Project® industry classification
Industry- Product category
- LGBTQ+ Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Services
- NAICS
- Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Adult Skill-Building Expeditions & Courses (Leadership, Survival, Navigation) (THAAAOAC), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO), Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG)
Keywords
Where The Venture Out Project® is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Northampton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Venture Out Project® business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Program Fees: Fees charged for overnight adventures, day hikes, workshops, and events. Uses sliding scale pricing model to ensure accessibility. Fees cover operating costs for programs.
- Donations: Accepts donations to support their mission of making outdoor recreation accessible to LGBTQ+ community. Donations are tax-deductible as they are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
- Merchandise (TVOP Shop): Sells branded merchandise through their TVOP Shop.
- Event Fundraising: AOTA Trail Fest serves as a fundraiser, with participants encouraged to set up fundraising pages.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | Pay-as-you-go | Overnight Adventures - Sliding Scale |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | AOTA Trail Fest - Race Fees |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Day Events - Various Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Venture Out Project® product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Venture Out Project (TVOP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes wilderness backpacking trips, front country outdoor events, and seasonal adventures (skiing, snowshoeing, rafting, canoe camping) for LGBTQ+ adults, youth, and families. The organization also delivers transgender inclusion workshops and training for educators, summer camps, and other organizations, and operates Basecamp at Beaver Falls, a 40-acre retreat facility in Vermont that hosts its programs.
Product overview
The Venture Out Project® is a nonprofit outdoor adventure organization serving the LGBTQ+ community through a portfolio of experiential programs rather than a traditional software product. The core offering is a diverse suite of outdoor recreation experiences including overnight wilderness adventures (backpacking, canoe camping, white water rafting), day events (hikes, climbing nights, community gatherings), and seasonal activities (skiing, snowshoeing). Identity-specific programming serves subgroups including trans/non-binary individuals, BIPOC, women, and plus-sized participants. The organization also provides educational workshops on transgender inclusion for external organizations. Programs operate primarily from Basecamp at Beaver Falls in Vermont with partner locations across the country. The offering functions as a direct service model rather than a technology platform, with no software products, APIs, or digital integrations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Queer Overnight Adventures Multi-day wilderness backpacking trips for LGBTQ+ adults, youth, and families, ranging from novice to advanced skill levels. Includes standard backpacking, advanced backpacking, identity-specific trips (women, trans/non-binary, BIPOC, plus-size), base camping, youth backpacking and canoe camping, and family camping.
- Canoe Camping and White Water Rafting Expeditions Multi-day calm-water canoe camping trips with American Canoe Association-certified guides from L.L. Bean Outdoor Programs, and 3-5 day white water rafting expeditions down Desolation Canyon in Utah with Holiday River Expeditions.
- Queer Day Hikes and Front Country Events Single-day outdoor events including Thursday Night Hikes, climbing nights (e.g., at Onsight Rock Gym, Boardworks), birding walks, pride bike rides, trail runs, and community-building activities led by TVOP volunteers across the country.
- Winter Adventures (Ski, Snowboard, Snowshoe) Seasonal winter programs including resort-based ski/snowboard weekends with cabin accommodation, beginner-friendly Nordic (cross-country) skiing instruction, backcountry ski/snowboard/snowshoe expeditions to heated mountain cabins, and winter day hikes with snowshoe and spike orientation.
- AOTA Trail Fest Annual LGBTQ+ trail running festival featuring a 21k competitive prediction run, 5k fun hike/run, and kid's fun run with non-gendered prize categories.
- Squats & Summits Conditioning Program Four-week strength and conditioning workout program designed in collaboration with Pioneer Valley Community Fitness to physically prepare participants for a follow-up hiking and camping backpacking trip.
- Forest Bathing / Forest Therapy Experiences Restorative sensory-guided nature therapy experiences facilitated by trained guides (Tam Willey of Toadstool Walks), focused on cultivating relationships with the natural world and community through slow, contemplative outdoor exploration.
- Trail Maintenance Service Work Service-focused trips combining trail rehabilitation work (log laying, trail building, drainage improvement) with group bonding and exploratory day hikes.
- Queer Outdoor Adventure Photography Workshop Photography skill-building workshop led by a professional photographer in partnership with Marmot, covering composition, outdoor photography techniques, and camera basics.
- Trans Inclusivity Training (Beyond Bathrooms) Transgender inclusion workshops offered with sliding scale pricing for educators, adventure professionals, summer camps, and organizations, designed to help institutions affirm their LGBTQ+ community members.
- Basecamp at Beaver Falls Retreat Venue 40-acre private retreat property in Halifax, Vermont, offering private event space with meadows, forested foothills, riverside access, and wide flat trails, with camping and indoor lodging accommodations for retreats and programs.
- TVOP Shop Branded Merchandise Branded merchandise sold through the TVOP Shop storefront, supporting the nonprofit's operations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ LGBTQ+ participants served since 2014
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Venture Out Project®
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Venture Out Project® technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Venture Out Project® partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Perry Cohen (Founder)coreFounder who established TVOP in 2014 with vision to create outdoor adventure outfitter by and for queer people. Retired as Executive Director after 10 years but continues leading occasional trips and supporting gender/diversity training.
- Basecamp at Beaver Fallscore40-acre private retreat property in Southern Vermont with TVOP's Property & Events Manager (Rel) overseeing operations. Provides accommodations including camping and indoor lodging for retreats and programs.
- L.L. Bean Outdoor ProgramsmajorCollaboration for canoe camping trips. L.L. Bean provides certified guides under American Canoe Association for paddling instruction, gear, and safety training on calm water canoe trips.
- Holiday River ExpeditionsmajorCollaboration for white water rafting trips down Desolation Canyon in Utah. Provides guides and equipment for 3-5 day rafting adventures.
- Unlikely Hikers (Jenny Bruso)minorCollaboration to provide Plus-Size Intro to Backpacking Trip. Additional funding provided by REI to keep participant costs low and provide appropriate gear.
- Outside Safe SpaceminorWorked together to reserve BIPOC spots on Queer Rafting Trip.
- Pioneer Valley Community FitnessminorCollaboration for Squats & Summits program - 4-week Strength and Conditioning workout followed by hiking and camping trip.
- Toadstool WalksminorTam Willey of Toadstool Walks leads Forest Therapy Experiences weaving connections with nature, each other, and selves. Also guides Queer Rites of Passage program.
- QPOCHikersminorPlanned Earth Day event in Seattle with priority BIPOC registration.
- Spruce Tone Films and Transwave FilmsminorCreated the REI-presented Venture Out Project documentary film showcasing Perry's story and TVOP participants.
- Northfield Mountain Recreation AreaminorHost venue for AOTA Trail Fest event in Northfield, MA.
- Onsight Rock GymminorHost venue for Queer Climbing Nights in Tennessee. Provides climbing facility and equipment rentals.
- Boardworks (Bend, OR)minorHost venue for Queer Climbing Nights in Oregon. Progression-based bouldering gym with free entry for members and first-time visitors.
- Radical Adventure Riders (RAR)minorCollaboration for Pride Ride bike event in San Luis Obispo, CA.
- Hikes and DykesminorLocal queer hiking group collaborating on Morro Bay hike in California.
- Latino OutdoorsminorCollaboration for Sunset Scorpion Stroll in New Mexico.
- NM WildminorCollaboration for Sunset Scorpion Stroll in New Mexico.
- Feminist Bird Club ABQ-SFminorCollaboration for Queer Birding & Breakfast event in New Mexico.
- Run SLO ClubminorCollaboration for Pride Run event in California.
- East Bay Queer Run ClubminorCollaboration for Trail Run event in Oakland, CA.
- Queer AscentsminorMonthly climbing gym meetup collaboration in San Luis Obispo, CA.
- Garage Grown GearminorPartnership for Ultralight Gear 101 workshop in Minnesota. Hosted at their warehouse with hands-on gear experience.
- All Bodies on BikesminorPride Ride event collaboration. Jacob from TVOP leads All Bodies on Bikes chapter in Western Mass.
- Connecticut River ConservancyminorCollaboration for Pride Paddle & Pull event removing invasive water chestnut from waterways.
- Reproductive Freedom Fund of NHminorCollaboration for Queer Waterfall Hike as part of Repro Fund's Reprolympics series to raise funds for queer care.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Venture Out Project® competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Out Adventures: Out Adventures is a LGBTQ+-focused small-group adventure travel company running curated international trips; it is the closest commercial analog to TVOP's LGBTQ+ outdoor adventure positioning, though it operates for-profit internationally whereas TVOP is a US-domestic nonprofit.
- Olivia Travel: Olivia Travel is a LGBTQ+ travel company historically focused on lesbian/queer women, offering group trips, cruises, and resort stays; comparable to TVOP in serving a defined LGBTQ+ segment via experiential group travel, but at a larger scale and broader activity mix.
Broad incumbents
- Outward Bound USA: Outward Bound is the largest US wilderness adventure education nonprofit, running multi-day backpacking, canoeing, and expedition courses for youth and adults; TVOP founder Perry Cohen is an Outward Bound alumnus and TVOP's expedition-style backpacking and canoe camping offerings are directly modeled on Outward Bound's pedagogy, but Outward Bound serves a general audience rather than LGBTQ+ specifically.
- National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): NOLS is the leading US wilderness skills and leadership expedition school running multi-week backcountry courses; comparable to TVOP in adult skill-building expeditions and wilderness leadership development, but at much larger scale and with a general (not LGBTQ+-specific) audience.
- American Alpine Club: The American Alpine Club is a national member-based organization supporting climbers and mountaineers through huts, grants, and conservation; comparable to TVOP as an outdoor community organization, though it serves the broader climbing community rather than an LGBTQ+ niche and operates at significantly larger scale.
- Appalachian Mountain Club: The Appalachian Mountain Club is a large Northeast outdoor recreation nonprofit operating hiking, backpacking, and outdoor skills programming across New England; comparable to TVOP in New England outdoor education programming and community-building model, though AMC serves a general audience and operates at much larger scale with significant owned lodge infrastructure.
Emerging players
- Unlikely Hikers: Unlikely Hikers is a community and meetup network for plus-size, queer, and BIPOC hikers led by Jenny Bruso; TVOP explicitly partners with Unlikely Hikers on the Plus-Size Intro to Backpacking Trip, making it a directly collaborating peer in the inclusive outdoor space.
- Outdoor Afro: Outdoor Afro is a nonprofit celebrating and reconnecting Black Americans with nature through local events and community leaders; comparable to TVOP as a mission-driven, identity-affirming outdoor organization building community through programming, though focused on racial rather than sexual/gender identity.
- Flash Foxy: Flash Foxy is a women-centered climbing community and event organizer running women's climbing festivals and meetups; comparable to TVOP as a smaller-scale, community-led outdoor nonprofit running identity-specific programming and events, though focused on women in climbing rather than LGBTQ+ broadly.
- Brown Girls Climb: Brown Girls Climb is a nonprofit creating representation and community for women and non-binary people of color in climbing; directly comparable to TVOP's identity-specific outdoor programming model, though focused on climbing and racial/gender identity rather than wilderness expeditions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Venture Out Project® social profiles
Digital presenceThe Venture Out Project® financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Venture Out Project® leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
The Venture Out Project® funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Venture Out Project® 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 The Venture Out Project®
What does The Venture Out Project® do?
The Venture Out Project (TVOP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes wilderness backpacking trips, front country outdoor events, and seasonal adventures (skiing, snowshoeing, rafting, canoe camping) for LGBTQ+ adults, youth, and families. The organization also delivers transgender inclusion workshops and training for educators, summer camps, and other organizations, and operates Basecamp at Beaver Falls, a 40-acre retreat facility in Vermont that hosts its programs.
Is The Venture Out Project® a public or private company?
The Venture Out Project® is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Venture Out Project® founded?
The Venture Out Project® was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Venture Out Project® based?
The Venture Out Project® is headquartered in Northampton, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Venture Out Project® make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations, merchandise (TVOP Shop) and event Fundraising.
Who are The Venture Out Project®'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Out Adventures and Olivia Travel. Broad incumbents are Outward Bound USA, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), American Alpine Club and Appalachian Mountain Club. Emerging players are Unlikely Hikers, Outdoor Afro, Flash Foxy and Brown Girls Climb.
Does The Venture Out Project® have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Venture Out Project®.
What industry is The Venture Out Project® in?
The Venture Out Project®'s product category is LGBTQ+ Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAGAOAG, Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps), with a secondary code of THAAAOAC, Adult Skill-Building Expeditions & Courses (Leadership, Survival, Navigation). Its NAICS code is 721214 and its SIC code is 7000.