Achieve Tahoe

What Achieve Tahoe does

Achieve Tahoe is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1967 and headquartered in Truckee, California, that provides year-round adaptive outdoor recreation for people with disabilities. The organization is the founding chapter of Move United (formerly Disabled Sports USA) and serves approximately 890 participants annually, delivering 4,018 lessons per year with the support of 346 trained volunteers and a small staff of roughly 15–20. Its service area is concentrated in the Lake Tahoe region, anchored by long-standing partnerships with Alpine Meadows, Palisades Tahoe, and Northstar ski resorts.

The core offering combines specialized adaptive equipment (mono-skis, bi-skis, sit-skis, outriggers, hand cycles, adaptive kayaks and sailboats) with PSIA adaptive-certified instructional methodology developed over nearly six decades. Winter programming spans alpine and cross-country skiing and snowboarding; summer programming includes kayaking, sailing, waterskiing, archery, rock climbing, hiking, camping, hand cycling, and off-road driving. The organization serves a broad disability spectrum across 40+ categories, with deliberate outreach to veterans with disabilities (via Semper Fi Fund) and low-income participants.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit stack: program fees, individual and corporate donations, foundation grants, merchandise, special-event fundraising (a recent gala raised more than $260K), capital campaign contributions, and a legacy giving program. Recent capital infusions include a $50,000 Hartford grant (June 2024) for adaptive equipment and a $75,262 Truckee Tahoe Airport District grant (2023) to expand the sailing program. Customer segments comprise individual participants and families seeking inclusive recreation, with institutional referrals flowing from veterans' organizations and disability foundations.

Name

Achieve Tahoe

Legal name

Achieve Tahoe

Website

https://achievetahoe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Achieve Tahoe is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1967 that delivers year-round adaptive outdoor recreation—including skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, and sailing—to people with disabilities in the Lake Tahoe region, serving 890 participants annually through specialized equipment and trained volunteer instructors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Recreation and Disability Sports Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Adaptive & Para-Sport Coaching (HSADAEAM), Hiking, Trekking & Mountain Guiding (THAJABAA), Rock Climbing, Via Ferrata & Mountaineering (THAJABAE)

Keywords

• Adaptive sports programs
• Disability recreation services
• Adaptive ski instruction
• Nonprofit outdoor recreation
• Accessible adventure sports

Headquarters

HQ city

Truckee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Participants pay fees for lessons and equipment rentals. Sliding scale and scholarship assistance available based on financial need.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, memorial funds (e.g., Jeff Pearlstein Memorial), corporate sponsorships, and major gifts. Light of Achievement Gala raised over $260,000.
3. Grants: Foundation grants including Katherine Hayes Rodriguez Scholarship Fund, grants from The Hartford ($50,000), Truckee Tahoe Airport District ($75,262), and others.
4. Merchandise Sales: Logo apparel and merchandise sold online and at program center.
5. Special Events: Revenue from events like Ability Challenge fundraiser, Foam Fest, and Wine Tasting events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Achieve Tahoe is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides year-round adaptive recreational sports instruction to people with disabilities in the North Lake Tahoe area. Adaptive skiing is offered in winter at partner resorts (Sierra-at-Tahoe, Alpine Meadows), while cycling, kayaking, and hiking are offered in summer. Lessons are provided free of charge by certified adaptive instructors; specialized adaptive equipment is rented at modest fees.

Product overview

Achieve Tahoe operates as a year-round adaptive recreation organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs for people with disabilities. The core offerings include Winter Snowsports (adaptive skiing and snowboarding), and Summer Programs (Sierra Summer Sports, Tahoe Paddle Sports, Water Skiing, Sailing, Adventure Camp, Climbing, Archery, Hiking, and Adaptive Horsemanship). Military Programs serve veterans and active-duty personnel. Financial support is provided through the Katherine Hayes Rodriguez Scholarship Fund and General Financial Assistance. The Winter Internship Program trains future adaptive sports instructors. All programs focus on building health, confidence, and independence in participants with cognitive, sensory, and physical disabilities through specialized equipment and adaptive teaching techniques.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adaptive Ski and Snowboard Lessons

Quantifiable outcome

• 890 people served annually (2024-25)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Move UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAchieve Tahoe is the founding chapter of Move United (formerly Disabled Sports USA). This founding relationship means Achieve Tahoe helped establish the national model for adaptive sports organizations across the country. Doug Pringle organized one of the first amputee ski races at Donner Summit in 1969, which became the catalyst for Move United.
• Tahoe Ability ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit serving adults with developmental disabilities. Scholarship recipients participated in archery, hiking, kayaking, and Sierra Summer Sports through this partnership.
• Alpine Meadows ResortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary program location hosting the Achieve Tahoe Program Center. Partnership provides access to ski facilities, terrain, and equipment discounts for participants.
• Palisades TahoecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost venue for climbing wall and adventure camp programs. Provides season passes for interns and access to resort facilities.
• Northstar CaliforniacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost venue for adaptive skiing programs. Free equipment rentals for participants with scheduled lessons, demonstrating strong partnership support.
• Kawai'ulu 'O Tahoe Outrigger Canoe ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partnership providing outrigger canoeing experiences that connected Frances Reyes-Acosta with her Pacific Islander heritage during adaptive sailing programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Challenge Aspen: Snowmass Village, Colorado-based adaptive sports nonprofit providing year-round adaptive recreation including skiing, snowboarding, and summer activities. Direct peer delivering adaptive programs at partner ski resorts for people with disabilities.
• National Ability Center: Park City, Utah-based adaptive recreation nonprofit offering year-round outdoor sports for people with disabilities, including skiing, rafting, and equestrian programs. The most operationally similar peer to Achieve Tahoe in mission, program breadth, and resort-anchored delivery model.
• Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports: Killington, Vermont-based Move United chapter offering year-round adaptive sports including skiing, cycling, and paddling. Direct peer with a similar resort-based delivery model and similar mission for people with disabilities.
• STRIDE Adaptive Sports: Saratoga Springs, New York-based adaptive sports organization (formerly CR Johnson Adaptive Sports) offering adaptive skiing, horseback riding, and water sports. Direct Move United chapter peer serving a different geography with comparable program model.
• Oregon Adaptive Sports: Bend, Oregon-based adaptive sports organization offering adaptive skiing, cycling, and water sports for people with disabilities. Direct Move United chapter peer with comparable program breadth.
• Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra: Mammoth Lakes, California-based adaptive sports organization, also a Move United chapter, offering year-round adaptive programs at Mammoth Mountain. Closest geographic peer to Achieve Tahoe with a near-identical resort-anchored model.

Broad incumbents

• Move United: National umbrella organization (formerly Disabled Sports USA) of which Achieve Tahoe is the founding chapter. Move United sets national standards, advocacy, and chapter network coordination for community-based adaptive sports organizations.
• Special Olympics: Global nonprofit providing year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Broad incumbent in the disability sports space, with overlapping populations but a competitive sport focus rather than recreational instruction.

Regional players

• High Fives Foundation: Truckee, California-based nonprofit focused on injury recovery and adaptive sports for athletes with life-altering injuries. Regional peer sharing Achieve Tahoe's geography (Truckee/North Lake Tahoe) and an overlapping focus on adaptive winter sports.

Emerging players

• Burton Chill Foundation: Adaptive snowboarding program from Burton, focused on making snowboarding accessible to underserved youth including those with disabilities. Emerging player in adaptive winter sports with corporate funding backing, partially overlapping Achieve Tahoe's snowboarding instruction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/achievetahoe
• Xx.com/achievetahoe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Achieve Tahoe