First Descents
First Descents is a Denver-based nonprofit founded in 2001 that provides free week-long outdoor adventure programs — rock climbing, kayaking, and surfing — to young adults aged 18-45 impacted by cancer, multiple sclerosis, caregiver burden, or healthcare worker burnout, funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What First Descents does
First Descents is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 that provides free, week-long outdoor adventure programs — including rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, and surfing — to young adults aged 18-45 who were diagnosed with cancer or multiple sclerosis between ages 15-39. Programs are delivered at iconic outdoor locations across the United States (with select international offerings) and include lodging, gear, professional guided instruction, and chef-prepared meals at no cost to participants. The organization operates three core program lines — Core Programs, Community Adventures (alumni-led local meetups), and Prescribe Adventure (a healthcare provider referral initiative spanning 1,000+ hospitals and cancer centers) — and has reached 22,752 supporters and completed 7,791 Out Living It Projects.
The business model is donation-driven across three funding streams: individual contributions and community fundraising, corporate partnerships (including a $750,000 multi-year commitment from Vytalogy Wellness announced in May 2026), and foundation grants. Programs are offered free of charge, with the organization absorbing all program costs; there is no proprietary technology platform, no software product, and no participant fee revenue. Go-to-market is community-led, combining direct website applications, healthcare provider referrals through the Prescribe Adventure initiative, alumni word-of-mouth, alumni ambassador programs, and endurance fundraising events (Leadville Trail 100 MTB/Run, TCS NYC Marathon).
Operationally, the organization runs a lean team of 11-50 employees from its Denver headquarters (621 Kalamath St. Ste 175, EIN 81-0539964) and extends program delivery through trained guides, healthcare partnerships, and a decentralized alumni volunteer network. The Heli marketplace partnership (announced 2026) creates an additional digital distribution channel. As a nonprofit, First Descents is governed by a board of directors, has no parent company, and discloses financials through annual reports rather than revenue statements.
First Descents firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- First Descents
- Legal name
- First Descents
- Website
- https://firstdescents.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- First Descents is a Denver-based nonprofit founded in 2001 that provides free week-long outdoor adventure programs — rock climbing, kayaking, and surfing — to young adults aged 18-45 impacted by cancer, multiple sclerosis, caregiver burden, or healthcare worker burnout, funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
First Descents industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Outdoor Adventure Programs
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB), Climbing & Via Ferrata Guiding / Instruction (THAAALAH), Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC), Hiking, Trekking & Mountain Guiding (THAJABAA)
Keywords
Where First Descents is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
First Descents business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations and Fundraising: First Descents relies on charitable contributions from individual donors, fundraising events, and the Out Living It Project where community members raise funds to support programs. The organization has 22,752 supporters and has raised $5,540,000 through these channels.
- Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Multi-year corporate partnerships provide significant funding. Vytalogy Wellness committed $750,000 in multi-year funding. Corporate partners also provide employee volunteerism and experiential programming activations.
- Foundation Grants: Partnerships with foundations provide programmatic and operational funding. The organization lists Foundation Partnerships as a dedicated page and channel for securing grant funding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Core Programs - Free |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
First Descents product offering
Product offeringCore offering
First Descents provides free, week-long outdoor adventure programs—including rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, and surfing—for young adults aged 18-45 diagnosed with cancer or multiple sclerosis between ages 15-39. All program logistics (lodging, gear, professional instruction, and chef-prepared meals) are covered at no cost to participants. The organization also operates locally-led Community Adventures and a healthcare referral initiative (Prescribe Adventure) to extend ongoing peer support.
Product overview
First Descents is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of free outdoor adventure programs for young adults impacted by cancer, multiple sclerosis, and other serious health conditions. The organization operates three core program offerings: Core Programs (week-long outdoor adventures including rock climbing, kayaking, and surfing), Community Adventures (locally led meetups and activities), and Prescribe Adventure (a healthcare partnership initiative for patient referrals). Programs are supplemented by the Out Living It Project platform for fundraising and community engagement. First Descents also partners with Heli as its official nonprofit partner for outdoor adventure marketplace connections.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Core Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- $5.54M raised from 22,752 supporters demonstrating strong community and donor engagement
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use First Descents
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
First Descents technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
First Descents partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- HelicoreFirst Descents became the official nonprofit partner of Heli, an online marketplace designed to connect the outdoor community with the best adventure experiences worldwide. This partnership enables First Descents to leverage Heli's platform for adventure booking and extends the organization's reach through Heli's adventure marketplace.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
First Descents competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Epic Experience: Nonprofit providing free outdoor adventure programs for cancer survivors and thrivers, including skiing, hiking, and rafting. Directly comparable in free-program delivery, cancer survivor focus, and adventure-based programming.
- Athletes for Cancer: Nonprofit that uses outdoor adventure and action sports to empower cancer survivors and thrivers. Closely aligned in mission, target population, and adventure therapy modality.
- Project Koru: Nonprofit delivering outdoor adventure experiences (surfing, skiing, paddling) for young adult cancer survivors. Directly competes for the same participant demographic, donor base, and adventure therapy positioning.
- Reel Recovery: Nonprofit offering fly fishing retreats and outdoor adventure experiences for men recovering from cancer. Comparable therapeutic wilderness model and cancer-focused mission, with a narrower gender and modality focus.
- Send It Foundation: Nonprofit offering outdoor adventures including skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking for young adults (21-40) affected by cancer. Closely comparable age range, mission, and adventure-based therapeutic model.
- Camp Mak-A-Dream: Free residential camp for children, teens, and young adults impacted by cancer, offering outdoor adventure and community programming. Comparable free residential model and cancer-focused mission, with broader age range.
- True North Treks: Nonprofit providing free outdoor adventures and backpacking trips specifically for young adults impacted by cancer. Directly comparable in mission, target demographic, free-program model, and outdoor adventure modality.
Broad incumbents
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Large national nonprofit serving the MS community through research, advocacy, and program support. Comparable in serving MS patients but operates at vastly larger scale with a much broader portfolio of services beyond outdoor recreation.
- Livestrong Foundation: Major nonprofit supporting cancer survivors through programs, resources, and advocacy. Comparable in cancer survivorship mission but operates at much larger scale and with a broader service portfolio beyond outdoor adventure.
Emerging players
- Outdoor Outreach: Nonprofit providing outdoor adventure experiences for underserved youth, including those impacted by serious illness. Comparable outdoor adventure delivery model, though broader mission across at-risk youth populations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
First Descents social profiles
Digital presenceFirst Descents financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
First Descents leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
First Descents funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
First Descents 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 First Descents
What does First Descents do?
First Descents provides free, week-long outdoor adventure programs—including rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, and surfing—for young adults aged 18-45 diagnosed with cancer or multiple sclerosis between ages 15-39. All program logistics (lodging, gear, professional instruction, and chef-prepared meals) are covered at no cost to participants. The organization also operates locally-led Community Adventures and a healthcare referral initiative (Prescribe Adventure) to extend ongoing peer support.
Is First Descents a public or private company?
First Descents is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was First Descents founded?
First Descents was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is First Descents based?
First Descents is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does First Descents make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships and foundation Grants.
Who are First Descents's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Epic Experience, Athletes for Cancer, Project Koru, Reel Recovery, Send It Foundation, Camp Mak-A-Dream and True North Treks. Broad incumbents are National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Livestrong Foundation. Outdoor Outreach is listed as an emerging player.
Does First Descents have an API?
No public API is recorded for First Descents.
What industry is First Descents in?
First Descents's product category is Nonprofit Outdoor Adventure Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAOAG, Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs, with a secondary code of THAAALAB, Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing). Its NAICS code is 61162 and its SIC code is 7900.