What Lakeshore Foundation does

Lakeshore Foundation is an Alabama-based 501c3 nonprofit organization headquartered at 4000 Ridgeway Drive, Birmingham, that promotes independence and quality of life for people with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions. Founded in 1925 and celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, the foundation operates a single-site integrated campus combining 92 aquatic, fitness, and recreation programs, 12 competitive adapted sports including national governing body management of USA Wheelchair Rugby, Boccia United States, and USA Para Powerlifting, a Sports Science & Performance Center offering team camps and athlete services scholarships, 20+ active research projects, and 14 local, national, and global disability advocacy initiatives. It is one of a small number of facilities designated as an official U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site, giving it custodial authority over elite Paralympic athlete development in the Southeast.

The organization's revenue mechanics are diversified across individual memberships (monthly subscriptions with financial assistance and scholarships available, plus a $10 guest fee), corporate sponsorships from BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama, Regions Bank, ACIPCO, and Saatva, recurring monthly giving through the Sustainers Club, planned giving via a FreeWill partnership, research grants, and donations. Its customer base spans individuals with physical disabilities, Paralympic and adapted athletes, Alabama veterans (who receive free membership), family members and caregivers, and youth with and without disabilities. Lakeshore distributes its programs through direct on-site access at the Birmingham facility and extends its national brand through the 'Nothing Without Us!' disability advocacy podcast launched in October 2025 and hosted by Alie B. Gorrie.

Name

Lakeshore Foundation

Legal name

Lakeshore Foundation

Website

https://lakeshore.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lakeshore Foundation is a Birmingham, Alabama-based 501c3 nonprofit, founded in 1925, that operates an integrated adapted fitness, competitive Paralympic sports, research, and disability advocacy campus serving people with physical disabilities, veterans, and elite athletes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adapted fitness and disability services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability & Adaptive Sport Governing Bodies (Paralympic & Sport-Specific) (MPAKAFAL), Sports Medicine, Athletic Training & Rehabilitation Services (EDALAIAH)

Keywords

• Adapted fitness programs
• Disability recreation services
• Paralympic training facilities
• Aquatic therapy programs
• Disability advocacy initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lakeshore Foundation delivers adapted fitness, aquatic, recreation, and competitive sports programming for people with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions at its Birmingham, Alabama facility. It serves as an official U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site, operates as a national governing body for USA Wheelchair Rugby, Boccia United States, and USA Para Powerlifting, runs a Sports Science & Performance Center, conducts 20+ research projects, and executes 14 local, national and global disability advocacy initiatives.

Product overview

Lakeshore Foundation is a Birmingham, Alabama-based nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs for individuals with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions. The organization operates as a multi-faceted platform combining fitness facilities (92 aquatic, fitness, and recreation programs), 12 competitive sports programs including USA Wheelchair Rugby, Boccia United States, and USA Para Powerlifting, a research division with 20+ projects, 14 advocacy initiatives, and a Sports Science & Performance Center. The foundation also produces the 'Nothing Without Us!' disability advocacy podcast and provides free membership for Alabama veterans. The organization celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization (LNASO): National adapted sports organization under Lakeshore Foundation managing USA Wheelchair Rugby, Boccia United States, and USA Para Powerlifting programs.
• Nothing Without Us!
• Sports Science and Performance Center

Products and services

• Lakeshore Membership Program Membership-based access to the Birmingham, Alabama facility for individuals with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions, with tiered pricing, scholarships/financial assistance, and free membership for Alabama Veterans.
• Aquatics Programs Adapted aquatic fitness and recreation programs delivered at the Birmingham facility, included among the foundation's 92 aquatic, fitness and recreation programs.
• Fitness Programs General and diagnosis-specific fitness classes and adapted exercise equipment access for members with physical disabilities or chronic health conditions.
• Athletics & Recreation Athletics and recreation programs covering adapted sports and recreational activities for individuals with disabilities.
• Veterans Program Free membership program for all Alabama veterans offering adapted sports and recreational activities at the Birmingham facility.
• USA Wheelchair Rugby National adapted sports organization team for wheelchair rugby, governed through the Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization (LNASO) and one of the foundation's 12 competitive sports.
• Boccia United States National adapted sports organization team for boccia, governed through LNASO as one of the foundation's competitive sports programs.
• USA Para Powerlifting National adapted sports organization team for para powerlifting, governed through LNASO as one of the foundation's competitive sports programs.
• Sports Science & Performance Center Sports science and performance center providing training facilities, services, team camps, learning lab resources, and athlete services scholarships for athletes with disabilities.
• Research Program Research program with over 20 active research projects conducted at the foundation's research facility, including study enrollment opportunities for participants.
• Advocacy Initiatives Local, national and global advocacy initiatives focused on disability rights, accessibility, and policy reform; the foundation lists 14 such initiatives.
• Community Health Program Community health programs addressing key health areas in partnership with external organizations, with featured work showcased on the foundation site.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SaatvacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 December 2025Saatva became the Official Mattress and Restorative Sleep Provider of the Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization (LNASO) and its national teams including USA Wheelchair Rugby, Boccia United States, and USA Para Powerlifting. Saatva will provide 14 full mattresses, 62 twin mattresses, premium bedding, and pillows to support athlete wellness and recovery. The partnership coincides with Lakeshore Foundation's 100th anniversary.
• BlueCross BlueShield of AlabamacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Lakeshore Foundation, supporting the foundation's mission and programs.
• Regions BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Lakeshore Foundation, supporting the foundation's mission and programs.
• American Cast Iron Pipe Company (ACIPCO)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Lakeshore Foundation, supporting the foundation's mission and programs.
• U.S. Olympic & Paralympic CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLakeshore Foundation serves as an official U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site, providing elite training facilities for Paralympic athletes and national adapted sports teams.
• FreeWillminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership to help supporters create wills, establish planned giving, and manage beneficiary designations online. FreeWill's tools facilitate legacy giving including appreciated stock giving, IRA giving, and estate planning.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Move United: Formerly Disabled Sports USA, Move United is a national nonprofit network that delivers adaptive sports and recreation programs across member organizations. It is the most direct functional peer to Lakeshore Foundation in scope and mission of community-based adaptive sports delivery.
• National Ability Center: Park City, Utah-based nonprofit offering adaptive recreation, sports, and outdoor programs for individuals with disabilities. Operates a single-site facility model similar to Lakeshore, with comparable mix of recreation, competitive sport, and community programming.
• National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD): Winter Park, Colorado-based adaptive sports nonprofit delivering year-round adaptive recreation and competitive programming. Closely mirrors Lakeshore's combination of recreation, competitive sport, and instruction across multiple disability categories.
• Challenge Aspen: Colorado-based adaptive sports nonprofit offering recreational and competitive experiences for individuals with disabilities. Comparable mission, recreation-to-competition program mix, and community-outreach emphasis.
• BlazeSports America: Atlanta-based adaptive sports nonprofit with a multi-sport competition and youth-development focus. Directly comparable as a regional adaptive sports organization delivering both community programming and competitive team pipelines.

Emerging players

• Angel City Sports: Los Angeles-based adaptive sports nonprofit running the Angel City Games and year-round adaptive sport programs. Comparable in competitive sport delivery and youth/adult athlete development, though younger and more event-anchored than Lakeshore.

Broad incumbents

• Special Olympics: Global organization providing year-round sports training and competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Tangentially comparable as the largest disability-sport governing body; differs in disability population served but overlaps in adapted-sports training and competition infrastructure.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit network delivering disability and rehabilitation services, including adaptive recreation programming. Comparable in serving people with disabilities across a broad service portfolio, but operates as a broader healthcare-and-services network rather than a sport-specialist.

Others

• United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC): National governing body for U.S. Olympic and Paralympic sport, of which Lakeshore is a designated Training Site. Not a competitive peer, but the upstream organization whose designation, funding, and policy decisions materially shape Lakeshore's operating model.
• Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation: National nonprofit focused on spinal cord injury research, advocacy, and quality-of-life programs including adaptive sport grants. Comparable in mission alignment with paralysis/disability populations and in funding adaptive sport access, but does not directly operate facility-based programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lakeshorefound
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LAKESHORETV1
• Facebookfacebook.com/118036534904018
• Instagraminstagram.com/lakeshorefoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lakeshore-foundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lakeshore Foundation