What Atlanta Junior Rowing Association does

Atlanta Junior Rowing Association (AJRA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1988 that delivers rowing instruction and competitive programming to middle and high school students across Metro Atlanta. The organization operates a single boathouse at Roswell River Landing on the Chattahoochee River in Roswell, GA, housing more than 25 racing shells, ergometers, weight-training equipment, and coaching launches. It serves 200+ rowers drawn from over 75 schools, structured across a tiered product set: Competitive (Varsity and Novice) squads competing at regional and national regattas including Head of the Charles, Head of the Hooch, and USRowing Youth Nationals; a Developmental Squad (DSquad) for middle school beginners; a Recreational Team for low-commitment high school participants; Winter Training for off-season conditioning; and a Summer Camp suite (Learn-to-Row, Returning Rower, and Technical Drop-Ins).

The underlying technology stack is non-proprietary and traditional: standard rowing shells, oars, ergometers, weight equipment, coaching launches, and a coaching-methodology-driven training plan. Operations are supported by third-party SaaS rather than in-house platforms: SportsEngine handles athlete registration, Zeffy processes season payments, and a Wix-hosted website and Square-based spirit-wear store handle marketing and merchandise. A 12+ person coaching staff with Division I collegiate rowing backgrounds and USRowing certifications delivers programming, supported by a volunteer nine-seat Board of Directors.

AJRA's business model is a hybrid of subscription-season-fee revenue and charitable donations. Season fees range from $460 (DSquad Saturday) to $2,075 (Competitive, all-inclusive of regatta travel, lodging, and meals) per athlete per season, with a $100 non-refundable deposit and Zeffy-managed installment plans. Winter Training and Summer Camps are sold as unit-priced, pay-as-you-go packages ($175-$350 and $275 respectively), and an e-punchcard ($185 for 10 practices) supports flexible Technical Drop-In usage. Sponsorship tiers (Bronze through Platinum) and tax-deductible donations from local businesses and individuals provide a secondary revenue stream. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth through Metro Atlanta schools, partner community organizations (Scouts, Beta Club, Young Mens Service League, National Charity League), alumni networks, and the Summer Camp pipeline as the primary feeder into year-round squads. Registration is direct-to-consumer via the website.

Name

Atlanta Junior Rowing Association

Legal name

Atlanta Junior Rowing Association

Website

https://atlantajuniors.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Atlanta Junior Rowing Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, founded in 1988, that delivers year-round rowing instruction and competitive programming to 200+ middle and high school athletes from 75+ Metro Atlanta schools via a single Roswell, GA boathouse, funded by per-season registration fees, sponsorships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports / Rowing Club Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Adventure Multi-Sport Camps & Skills Academies (THAAAKAM)

Keywords

• Youth rowing programs
• Junior rowing club
• Rowing coaching services
• Rowing summer camps
• Competitive rowing team

Headquarters

HQ city

Roswell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Season Program Fees: AJRA generates revenue primarily through per-season registration fees charged to athletes for participation in Competitive, Developmental (DSquad), Recreational, Winter Training, and Summer Camp programs. Fees cover facilities, training plans, coaching, equipment maintenance, and open boathouse hours. Travel costs to regattas are included in competitive team fees.
2. Sponsorship and Charitable Donations: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, AJRA accepts financial sponsorships and tax-deductible donations from individuals and businesses. Sponsorship tiers range from Bronze through Platinum, with various visibility benefits including logo placement on website, newsletter, banners, team t-shirts, food trailer, and social media recognition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Atlanta Junior Rowing Association delivers tiered rowing instruction and competitive programming to middle and high school students in Metro Atlanta through five program lines: Competitive Team (Varsity and Novice squads), Developmental Squad (DSquad) for middle school beginners, Recreational Team for low-commitment high school participation, Winter Training for off-season conditioning, and Summer Camps (Learn-to-Row, Returning Rower, Technical Drop-In). All programming is delivered at the AJRA Boathouse on the Chattahoochee River in Roswell, GA, with season-based fees covering coaching, equipment, facilities, and travel to regional and national regattas.

Product overview

Atlanta Junior Rowing Association is a youth rowing club offering a suite of programs for middle and high school students across Metro Atlanta. The organization operates a tiered program structure: Developmental Squad (DSquad) for middle school beginners, Recreational Team for low-commitment high school participants, and Competitive Team (Varsity & Novice) for athletes competing at regional and national regattas. Seasonal offerings include Winter Training for off-season conditioning and Summer Camps (Learn-to-Row, Returning Rower, and Technical Drop-In) for skill development. All programs are based at the AJRA boathouse on the Chattahoochee River in Roswell, GA, with competitive team fees covering coaching, equipment, facilities, travel, and meals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Competitive Team (Varsity & Novice) High school competitive rowing program offering Varsity and Novice squads for experienced and first-year competitive rowers (9th-12th grade). Teams compete at regional and national regattas including Head of the Charles, Head of the Hooch, Music City Head Race, USRowing Youth Southeast Championships, and USRowing Youth National Championships. Season fee of $2,075 covers coaching, equipment, facilities, open boathouse hours, and travel costs (bus, hotel stays, meals from food tent) to regattas.
• Developmental Squad (DSquad) Middle school rowing program focused on teaching rowing basics, team building, and basic conditioning for 7th-8th grade students with no prior experience required. Three squad options: Red Squad (Mon/Tue/Wed), Blue Squad (Tue/Wed/Thu), and Saturday Squad. Weekday squad fees are $690 and Saturday squad fees are $460 per athlete per season. The Saturday squad does not participate in end-of-season exhibition or travel.
• Recreational Team Low-commitment high school rowing program for 9th-12th graders offering Thursday and Saturday practices. No experience necessary; athletes build fitness and learn rowing basics with gradual progression to on-water time. Season fee is $560 per athlete. Mix of all grade levels; season ends with an exhibition event.
• Winter Training Off-season conditioning program for high school and middle school athletes running November through February. Focuses on technique, strength and endurance building, and team culture ahead of the spring championship racing season. Three tiered fees: $350 for High School (Varsity, Novice, Competitive), $175 for Coxswains Only, and $350 for Middle School/DSquad.
• Learn-to-Row Summer Camps One-week introductory rowing camps for first-time rowers (rising 7th-12th graders) teaching sport fundamentals, equipment handling, safety, and water rowing basics on the Chattahoochee River. General sessions (A1-A6) and high school-only sessions (H1-H2) are available June-July at the AJRA Boathouse. Per-session fee is $275.
• Returning Rower Camps Advanced summer camps for experienced rowers and coxswains focusing on technical aspects of the rowing stroke, small boat training for advanced athletes, and application of rowing fundamentals for less experienced participants. Available for returning DSquad and Rec Team athletes or those with 2 weeks of Learn-to-Row camp. Sessions 1-4 run June-July with per-session fee of $275.
• Technical Drop-In Practices Flexible open practice schedule (e-punchcard) for Varsity and Novice athletes with prior competitive experience. E-punchcard costs $185 for 10 practices, available Monday-Friday during summer weeks in 7:00-8:45am and 9:00-10:45am time slots, with each slot capped at 14 athletes and a low coach-to-athlete ratio focused on sculling and boat skills development.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Peachtree OrthopedicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPeachtree Orthopedics is a supporter/sponsor of AJRA, appearing in the 'Thank You to Our Supporters' section on the homepage. Their logo is displayed with a link to their website. Nature of support is not detailed beyond sponsorship.
• Fairell FirmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFairell Firm is listed as a supporter/sponsor of AJRA, with their logo displayed on the homepage. The nature and extent of their sponsorship is not detailed.
• Piasta WalkerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPiasta Walker is listed as a supporter/sponsor of AJRA, with their logo displayed on the homepage. The nature and extent of their sponsorship is not detailed.
• Bridger LawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBridger Law is listed as a supporter/sponsor of AJRA, with their logo displayed on the homepage. The nature and extent of their sponsorship is not detailed.
• Mouth Full CateringminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMouth Full Catering is listed as a supporter/sponsor of AJRA, appearing in the 'Thank You to Our Supporters' section. Their logo is displayed on the homepage. The organization provides food tent meals at regattas as part of its operations.
• Roswell Woman's ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRoswell Woman's Club is listed as a supporter/sponsor of AJRA, with their logo displayed on the homepage. The nature and extent of their support is not detailed.
• ABLT PhotographyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerABLT Photography (Ali Earle) is listed as a supporter/sponsor of AJRA, with their logo displayed on the homepage. The nature of support is photography services.
• SportsEnginecoreTechnology or IntegrationSportsEngine is the registration platform used by AJRA for athlete registrations across all programs. Athletes and families register through the SportsEngine platform after prepaying via Zeffy. Registration links across all program pages direct to SportsEngine forms. This is the primary registration infrastructure for the organization.
• ZeffycoreTechnology or IntegrationZeffy is the payment processing platform used by AJRA for collecting season fees and program payments. Families prepay via Zeffy and receive a discount code to complete their SportsEngine registration. Zeffy is explicitly described as 'for payment only' and athletes are not considered registered until the SportsEngine registration is complete.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• USRowing: USRowing is the national governing body for the sport in the United States, setting competition rules, certifying coaches, and sanctioning events including Youth Nationals and USRowing Southeast Championships where AJRA competes. It is broadly comparable as the umbrella organization shaping the competitive landscape and certification pipeline that AJRA's coaches operate within.

Direct peers

• Stanton-River Bank Rowing: Stanton-River Bank Rowing is a Jacksonville, Florida junior rowing program where AJRA's Novice Men's Coach Walker Ferris previously coached. It is directly comparable as a regional junior rowing club in the Southeast running novice through elite squads with USRowing-aligned development programming.
• Community Rowing Inc. Community Rowing Inc. operates youth Learn-to-Row and competitive programs out of the Harry Parker Boathouse on the Charles River in Boston. It is directly comparable to AJRA as a large, well-known junior rowing club with broad school-based feeder programs, summer camp acquisition, and a tiered competitive pipeline.
• Atlanta Rowing Club: Atlanta Rowing Club is the parent boathouse from which AJRA spun out in the late 1990s and continues to operate junior and adult rowing programs in the Metro Atlanta area. As a peer with overlapping catchment geography on the Chattahoochee, it is the most direct local competitor for Atlanta-area junior rowers and coaching talent.
• Newport Aquatic Center: Newport Aquatic Center operates one of the largest junior rowing programs in California with developmental through elite competitive teams and summer Learn-to-Row camps. It is directly comparable to AJRA in scale, year-round programming model, and pipeline from novice camps to competitive national-level competition.
• Sarasota Crew: Sarasota Crew is a youth and adult rowing club in Sarasota, Florida, that operates developmental through elite competitive programs for junior athletes. It is directly comparable to AJRA as one of the most established junior rowing programs in the Southeast, and AJRA's Varsity Women's Head Coach Maddux Castle previously coached there, indicating shared coaching pipelines.
• Pocock Rowing Center: Pocock Rowing Center is a Seattle-area community rowing club with junior and adult programming, Learn-to-Row camps, and competitive team development. It is directly comparable to AJRA in operating a tiered program (beginner through competitive) at a single waterfront facility with strong regional identity.
• Marin Rowing Association: Marin Rowing Association is one of the largest and most successful junior rowing clubs in Northern California, running novice through elite competitive squads and producing numerous collegiate recruits. It is directly comparable to AJRA as a large, top-tier junior rowing program known for national-level results and broad school-based feeder networks.
• Philadelphia Girls Rowing Club: Philadelphia Girls Rowing Club is a long-standing girls' rowing program serving middle and high school athletes in the Philadelphia region with Learn-to-Row through elite competitive squads. It is directly comparable in program structure to AJRA — AJRA novice women's coach Renee Obarowski previously served as Masters Learn to Row Coach there.

Others

• Concept2: Concept2 is the dominant manufacturer of indoor rowing machines (ergometers) used by AJRA for off-season and land-based training. It is adjacent to AJRA as a critical equipment supplier, with seasonal ergometer purchases a recurring operating expense for junior rowing clubs of this scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCF7MrnwUCCX9UN4I8Ds5sJw
• Facebookfacebook.com/AJRACrew
• Instagraminstagram.com/atlantajuniors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atlanta-junior-rowing-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Atlanta Junior Rowing Association