Northeast Passage
Northeast Passage is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and UNH service program that delivers adaptive sports, recreational therapy, adaptive equipment rentals, and disability awareness education to individuals with disabilities (ages 5-92), veterans, and schools across New England.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersDurham, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Northeast Passage does
Northeast Passage (NEP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1990 that operates as the service branch of the University of New Hampshire's Recreation Management and Policy Department within the College of Health and Human Services, following its March 2000 merger with UNH. The organization delivers adaptive sports programming, recreational therapy, adaptive equipment rentals, and disability awareness education to individuals with disabilities (ages 5-92), with a particular focus on veterans, K-12 schools, and organizational clients across New England and the broader Northeast. NEP's offering portfolio spans Community-Based Recreational Therapy, School-Based Recreational Therapy, Adaptive Sports & Recreation Programs (covering cycling, kayaking, waterskiing, sled hockey, archery, disc golf, golf, and wheelchair lacrosse), the only adaptive recreation equipment rental program in the U.S., the Similarity Awareness school presentation program, contracted services, and Teaching & Research through its UNH affiliation.
The underlying technology is non-digital: adaptive sports equipment and therapeutic recreation techniques, supplemented by a registered trademark portfolio and a YouTube media presence. Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model combining UNH institutional funding (approximately one-third of the operating budget), modest fees for service and adaptive sports programming, third-party-reimbursable recreational therapy, over 150 foundation grants, multi-year federal and state grants (VA, OSEP, NIDRR, DoD, state agencies), individual and corporate donations, peer-to-peer fundraising, and equipment rental fees. The organization employs 18 staff, is headquartered at 121 Technology Drive, Suite 161, Durham, NH, and holds Certified Veteran Ready Organization status alongside Move United membership.
Northeast Passage firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Northeast Passage
- Legal name
- Northeast Passage
- Website
- https://nepassage.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Northeast Passage is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and UNH service program that delivers adaptive sports, recreational therapy, adaptive equipment rentals, and disability awareness education to individuals with disabilities (ages 5-92), veterans, and schools across New England.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Northeast Passage industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adaptive Sports and Recreational Therapy
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Interpretation & Ranger-Led Education Programs (Visitor Education) (THAAAOAJ)
Keywords
Where Northeast Passage is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Durham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Northeast Passage business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- University Funding: UNH covers approximately one-third of operating budget as institutional support
- Fees for Service: Modest fees charged for Adaptive Sports programming; third-party reimbursement secured for Recreational Therapy services
- Foundation Grants: Over 150 foundation grants awarded to support mission, programs, and adaptive equipment
- Federal and State Grants: Multi-year competitive grants from Office of Special Education, NIDRR, VA, Department of Defense, and State agencies
- Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, annual giving, peer-to-peer fundraising, planned giving through UNH Foundation, corporate sponsorships, and cause marketing partnerships
- Equipment Rentals: Adaptive recreation equipment rental program (primary rental period is 2 weeks)
- Contracted Services: Provide adaptive equipment and expertise to organizations seeking access
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Similarity Awareness School Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Northeast Passage product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Northeast Passage is a nonprofit program of the University of New Hampshire that empowers individuals with disabilities through adaptive sports and recreation programs (cycling, waterskiing, kayaking, sled hockey, etc.), community-based and school-based recreational therapy services, and the only adaptive recreation equipment rental program in the United States. The organization also delivers disability awareness presentations (Similarity Awareness) to schools and contracted adaptive sports consulting to organizations, and operates a Teaching & Research arm linked to UNH's Recreation Management and Policy Department.
Product overview
Northeast Passage is a non-profit program of the University of New Hampshire that operates as a service organization (not a technology platform) offering adaptive sports and recreational therapy services. The organization provides a portfolio of programs including: Community-Based Recreational Therapy and School-Based Recreational Therapy for clinical therapeutic services; Adaptive Equipment Rentals for specialized gear; Adaptive Sports & Recreation Programs encompassing cycling, golf, kayaking, waterskiing, sled hockey, and other activities; Similarity Awareness school presentations; Contracted Services for organizations; and Teaching & Research educational programs. There is no AI, API, or SaaS product component to this organization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Community-Based Recreational Therapy Therapeutic recreation services delivered in community settings, providing 1:1 clinical recreational therapy services to individuals with disabilities to promote physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning.
- School-Based Recreational Therapy School-based recreational therapy programming tailored for educational settings, integrating therapeutic recreation into school environments for students with disabilities.
- Adaptive Equipment Rental Rental program offering adaptive recreation equipment including handcycles, kayaks, wheelchairs, waterski equipment, and other specialized adaptive sports gear for individuals with disabilities. Primary rental period is 2 weeks.
- Adaptive Sports & Recreation Programs Adaptive sports and recreation programs including cycling, golf, kayaking, waterskiing, sled hockey, lacrosse, archery, disc golf, handcycling, and other athletic activities for individuals with disabilities ages 5-92.
- Similarity Awareness Program Educational presentation program that explores similarities shared regardless of ability, bringing wheelchairs and adaptive equipment to schools for students to participate in wheelchair games and learn about disability awareness. Priced at $500/day for program staff and equipment plus federal-rate mileage.
- Contracted Services Consulting and contracted services providing organizations access to adaptive equipment and expertise for implementing inclusive recreation programs.
- Teaching & Research Teaching and research programs including internship and practicum opportunities, serving as the service branch of UNH's Recreation Management and Policy Department within the College of Health and Human Services.
Quantifiable outcome
- Participants aged 5-92 served
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Northeast Passage
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Northeast Passage technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Northeast Passage partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- University of New HampshirecoreNortheast Passage merged with UNH in March 2000 as the service branch of the Recreation Management and Policy Department within the College of Health and Human Services. UNH covers approximately one-third of operating budget and provides academic infrastructure, CTRS certification pathways, and institutional credibility.
- Move UnitedcoreNortheast Passage is a member of Move United, the national adaptive sports organization. NEP Director Jill Gravink was inducted into Move United's Adaptive Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
- U.S. ParalympicscoreNortheast Passage was recognized by US Paralympics and received the Team USA Collegiate Impact Award in 2022. NEP sends athletes to Paralympic Games.
- Operation Hat TrickminorPartner organization supporting adaptive sports for military and veterans, logo displayed on NEP website as community partner.
- Appalachian Mountain ClubminorAMC collaborated with NEP on the Galehead Trek in 2000, making their hut the first accessible for people with disabilities.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Northeast Passage competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Challenge Aspen: Colorado-based adaptive recreation nonprofit offering skiing, rafting, and outdoor adventure programming for individuals with disabilities. Comparable mission, participant demographic, and reliance on adaptive equipment plus volunteer support.
- Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA): Midwest regional adaptive sports organization offering year-round programming in wheelchair sports, sled hockey, and adaptive recreation. Operates a similar community-based delivery model and competes for similar Move United member benefits and federal grants.
- National Ability Center: Park City, Utah adaptive sports and recreation organization providing year-round instruction in skiing, cycling, horseback riding, and aquatics. Closely comparable model to NEP with similar revenue mix of program fees, grants, and donations.
- Turnstone Center: Fort Wayne, Indiana-based nonprofit offering adaptive sports, recreational therapy, and rehabilitation services. Closely mirrors NEP's integration of clinical therapy and adaptive sports under one organization.
- National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD): Colorado-based adaptive sports and recreation nonprofit offering year-round programming for individuals with disabilities. Operates the same combination of adaptive sports instruction, equipment access, and therapeutic recreation as NEP, but at a larger geographic and seasonal scale.
- Lakeshore Foundation: Birmingham, Alabama-based nonprofit delivering adaptive sports, fitness, and recreation to individuals with disabilities. Operates a similarly comprehensive facility-based model with elite athlete development and Paralympic training, directly comparable to NEP's three-pronged approach.
Emerging players
- Achilles International: Adaptive sports nonprofit focused on inclusive running, walking, and triathlon programming for people with disabilities. Comparable population served with overlapping volunteer-driven delivery and rehabilitation-recreation mission.
Broad incumbents
- Disabled Sports USA: National adaptive sports nonprofit serving wounded warriors and individuals with disabilities through a chapter network. Directly comparable mission and participant base; provides a competitive alternative for veteran adaptive-sports funding.
- Move United: National umbrella organization for adaptive sports in the U.S. Northeast Passage is a Move United member organization; Move United's network of affiliate chapters and Warrior Games programming directly overlap with NEP's adaptive sports and veteran services.
Others
- National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS): Professional association under NRPA supporting the therapeutic recreation field. NEP's founder has been recognized by NTRS-aligned bodies (e.g., 1997 Organization Citation Award), and the society serves as a professional ecosystem partner to NEP's Recreational Therapy programs.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Northeast Passage social profiles
Digital presenceNortheast Passage compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Northeast Passage financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Northeast Passage leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Northeast Passage funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Northeast Passage 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 Northeast Passage
What does Northeast Passage do?
Northeast Passage is a nonprofit program of the University of New Hampshire that empowers individuals with disabilities through adaptive sports and recreation programs (cycling, waterskiing, kayaking, sled hockey, etc.), community-based and school-based recreational therapy services, and the only adaptive recreation equipment rental program in the United States. The organization also delivers disability awareness presentations (Similarity Awareness) to schools and contracted adaptive sports consulting to organizations, and operates a Teaching & Research arm linked to UNH's Recreation Management and Policy Department.
Is Northeast Passage a public or private company?
Northeast Passage is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Northeast Passage founded?
Northeast Passage was founded in 1990. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Northeast Passage based?
Northeast Passage is headquartered in Durham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Northeast Passage make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. University Funding is the primary driver. The others are fees for Service, foundation Grants, federal and State Grants, donations and Fundraising, equipment Rentals and contracted Services.
Who are Northeast Passage's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Challenge Aspen, Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA), National Ability Center, Turnstone Center, National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) and Lakeshore Foundation. Achilles International is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Disabled Sports USA and Move United. National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS) is listed as an others.
Does Northeast Passage have an API?
No public API is recorded for Northeast Passage.
What industry is Northeast Passage in?
Northeast Passage's product category is Adaptive Sports and Recreational Therapy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAOAJ, Environmental Interpretation & Ranger-Led Education Programs (Visitor Education). Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 7990.