Hope Floats Foundation
Hope Floats Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides swim lesson scholarships to children from low-income families through a network of 200+ partner swim schools across 30 U.S. states, funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and peer-to-peer fundraising.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersNewberry, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hope Floats Foundation does
Hope Floats Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 (per most sources; firmographics metadata lists 2003, which is inconsistent with other evidence) by Cindy and Dave Tonnesen, the co-founders of SwimKids Swim Schools. The organization provides swim lesson scholarships to children from low-income families who cannot otherwise afford lessons, addressing the public health problem of accidental childhood drowning. Families qualify under USDA Income Eligibility Guidelines, and approved applicants — known as "Fitz Scholars" — are matched with one of 200+ partner swim school locations across 30 U.S. states. The foundation has also established a portfolio of named memorial scholarship funds (e.g., the Fitz Scholars Fund, Henry Moody Memorial Fund) and corporate-aligned cause marketing arrangements with equipment brands such as FINIS.
The organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform. Application intake runs on JotForm, donations are processed through third-party platforms including Commitchange and Givebutter, and the public-facing site is built on Squarespace. Operational headcount is small (1–10 employees), with a lean staff structure: an Executive Director, a Partnership Director/Marketing & Social Media Specialist, and a Marketing Specialist. The board includes Olympic medalists Amanda Beard, Kimberly Vandenberg, and Pablo Morales (via FINIS), industry operators from the U.S. Swim School Association, and nonprofit executives, lending credibility and network reach.
Revenue mechanics are donation-based across four streams: individual one-time and recurring gifts (including the "Wave Makers" monthly program), corporate sponsorships with Buy One Give One structures (FINIS contributes a percentage of goggle and swim diaper sales), fundraising campaigns (Swim for Hope peer-to-peer, Running Team, #GivingTuesday, memorial fund pages), and corporate matching gifts (Step Into Swim matches up to $20,000). Suggested donation units are structured at $50 (3 weeks), $100 (6 weeks), and $200 (12-week session), allowing donors to directly equate contributions to lesson weeks. The 2020 fiscal year was the foundation's record at $170,000 raised and 10,200 scholarships funded, with Pool Scouts alone having contributed $106,000 since 2021.
Hope Floats Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hope Floats Foundation
- Legal name
- Hope Floats Foundation
- Website
- https://hopefloats.foundation
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hope Floats Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides swim lesson scholarships to children from low-income families through a network of 200+ partner swim schools across 30 U.S. states, funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and peer-to-peer fundraising.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hope Floats Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Water Safety and Drowning Prevention
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (624110)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water Safety, Lifeguarding & Training Services (Staffing, Certification) (THAAABAL), Aquatics Programs (Pools, Swim Lessons, Lifeguarding) (EDALAIAF)
Keywords
Where Hope Floats Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newberry
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hope Floats Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals to fund swim lesson scholarships. Monthly giving program called 'Wave Makers' provides sustained funding for planning.
- Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Business partners contribute through Buy One Give One strategies, merchandise promotions, and percentage of sales. For example, FINIS contributes a percentage of all goggles worldwide and swim diaper sales.
- Fundraising Campaigns: Event-based fundraising including Swim for Hope peer-to-peer campaigns, running team events, memorial funds, and annual campaigns like #GivingTuesday. Pool Scouts partnership raised $106,000 since 2021.
- Matching Gifts: Corporate matching programs where partners like Step Into Swim match donations up to $20,000, amplifying contribution impact.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One-time | $50 provides 3 weeks of swim lessons |
| Unit Pricing | One-time | $100 provides 6 weeks of swim lessons |
| Unit Pricing | One-time | $200 provides full 12-week session |
| Subscription | Monthly | Wave Makers monthly giving program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Hope Floats Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hope Floats Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides scholarships for swim lessons to children from low-income families through a network of 200+ partner swim schools across 30 states. It funds drowning-prevention water safety education for underserved children who cannot afford lessons.
Product overview
Hope Floats Foundation operates as a nonprofit organization providing swim lesson scholarships and water safety education to underserved children. The organization offers a unified scholarship program as its core product, supplemented by fundraising initiatives including Swim for Hope peer-to-peer campaigns, the Wave Makers monthly giving program, Running Team marathon fundraising, Legacy Gifts planned giving, and Memorial Funds for named scholarships. Additional programs include the National Ambassador Program for advocacy and a Covid-19 Scholarship Relief Fund for emergency assistance. All programs feed into the central mission of providing swim lessons to children living in poverty to prevent drowning.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Swim Lesson Scholarship Program Provides financial assistance and scholarships for swim lessons to children from low-income families who cannot afford lessons independently. Families qualify under USDA Income Eligibility Guidelines and are connected with local partner swim schools.
- Wave Makers Monthly Giving Program Monthly recurring donation program where contributors join the Wave Makers community to provide sustained funding for swim lesson scholarships and water safety education.
- Swim for Hope Signature peer-to-peer fundraising program that enables swim schools to engage families in raising funds through swimming activities, with automatic fundraising pages and marketing materials provided.
- Running Team Team participation program for marathons (e.g., Los Angeles Marathon) where participants raise funds for Hope Floats while racing, combining athletic fundraising with drowning prevention advocacy.
- Legacy Gifts Planned and estate gift program allowing donors to include Hope Floats Foundation in their wills for long-term impact on childhood drowning prevention.
- Memorial Funds Custom named scholarship funds established in memory of loved ones, including the Henry Moody Memorial Fund, Michael Jeffrey Stewart Memorial Fund, Michelle Roseman Memorial Fund, Rita Goldberg Water Safety Scholarship Fund, Bonnie Howe Memorial Fund, Caleb's Village Water Safety Memorial Fund, Coach Pat McGregor Memorial Fund, and Poughkeepsie Children's Swim Fund.
- National Ambassador Program Program that engages individuals and families positively impacted by Hope Floats scholarships or drowning incidents to share stories and promote water safety awareness across communities.
- COVID-19 Scholarship Relief Fund Emergency scholarship fund created during the pandemic to provide additional swim lesson scholarships and relief to partner swim schools and families facing economic hardship.
Quantifiable outcome
- Swim lessons reduce risk of drowning by 88%
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Hope Floats Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Hope Floats Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Hope Floats Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.
- Pool ScoutscoreNational pool service franchise partnered with Hope Floats for fundraising campaign during National Water Safety Month in May 2026, goal to raise $10,000 for swim lesson scholarships. Since 2021, Pool Scouts has raised $106,000 for Hope Floats, pushing total system donations past the $100,000 milestone. Both organizations celebrate their 10th year in business.
- Step Into SwimcoreInitiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance that matches donations up to $20,000 for the second consecutive year to amplify Hope Floats' scholarship fundraising efforts.
- FINIScoreWorldwide leader in technical swimming development founded by John Mix and Olympic Gold Medalist Pablo Morales. John Mix serves as Founding Board Member of Hope Floats. FINIS supports HFF financially with merchandise promotions - a percentage of all goggles worldwide and swim diaper sales in the U.S. goes to Hope Floats scholarships. Also ran 'Shop for Good' holiday program benefiting partner swim schools.
- U.S. Swim School Association (USSSA)supportingNational trade association for swim schools; Hope Floats partners with USSSA for credibility and network expansion.
- British Swim SchoolsupportingMajor swim school brand with multiple regional locations listed as partners (Pittsburgh, Central Maryland, Greater Philadelphia, Chicago Suburbs, Hudson Valley, St. Louis, Raleigh, North Bergen County, Patapsco Valley, East Valley AZ, Vancouver, Bay Area CA, Greater Boston MA, Greater Miami Hialeah, Coral Springs FL, and others).
- Flashpool ProductionsminorProvides website photography for Hope Floats Foundation at no cost, supporting the foundation's visual presence.
- SwimKids Swim SchoolcoreCo-founded by Cindy and Dave Tonnesen (Hope Floats founders); serves as Premier Founding Member and founding swim school partner. Multiple locations in Virginia (Leesburg area) serve Fitz Scholars.
- Little Otter Swim SchoolssupportingCo-founded by John Kirk (Hope Floats Board member and President of USSSA); Premier Founding Member partner.
- Beard Swim Co.supportingLearn-to-swim school in Gig Harbor, Washington co-founded by Amanda Beard (Hope Floats Board member, 7-time Olympic medalist).
- Aquatic Adventures Swim SchoolsupportingSwim school in Roanoke, Virginia founded by Mary Kerr (Hope Floats partner); partnered in September 2018 to provide scholarships for disadvantaged children and children with special needs.
- Dolphin University Swim SchoolsupportingLearn-to-swim brand based in Baltimore, MD founded by Calvin Thomas II (Hope Floats Board member).
- Oklahoma Swim AcademysupportingPremier Founding Member of Hope Floats Foundation.
- Imagine SwimmingsupportingPremier Founding Member of Hope Floats Foundation based in New York.
- FINIScoreWorldwide leader in technical swimming development; provides equipment donations and percentage of sales to Hope Floats scholarships.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves1 record
Hope Floats Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The ZAC Foundation: A national drowning-prevention foundation focused on children, funding water-safety education and swim instruction. Highly comparable mission and target beneficiary (children/parents), with a similar grantmaking model.
- USA Swimming Foundation: The philanthropic arm of USA Swimming that funds learn-to-swim programs and water safety initiatives nationally. Directly comparable as a swim-focused grantmaking foundation serving under-served populations through a partner network.
- Make-A-Wish Foundation: Large national nonprofit using a similar fundraising-and-grantmaking model (donor dollars fund experiences for children in need) with strong brand recognition and credibility ratings. Comparable fundraising architecture and child-mission positioning.
- Step Into Swim: An initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance that funds free or reduced-cost swim lessons for children and adults. Directly comparable as it funds swim lesson scholarships and currently matches Hope Floats donations up to $20K, making it both a partner and direct competitor for the same donor pool.
- Safer 3 Water Safety Foundation: Water safety nonprofit with overlapping board connections to Hope Floats (John Kirk serves on its Board of Advisors). Directly comparable as a drowning-prevention foundation, with a similar constituency of swim school owners on its board.
Broad incumbents
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national youth-services nonprofit providing programs including swim instruction. Comparable in mission (serving under-resourced youth) and in operating a national affiliate/partner network with local delivery.
- American Red Cross (Aquatics & Water Safety): Major incumbent providing swim instruction, lifeguarding certification, and water safety education nationally. Comparable mission in water safety but operates as a much larger, multi-program humanitarian organization with broader scope.
- YMCA of the USA (Swim Programs): National nonprofit operating aquatic facilities and offering financial assistance for swim lessons through its scholarship programs. Comparable as a youth swim lesson provider with subsidization mechanisms, but at vastly larger scale.
Emerging players
- World's Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL): Annual industry-wide swim lesson event coordinated with aquatic facilities worldwide to promote water safety. Comparable in promoting learn-to-swim awareness at scale, though WLSL is an event/program rather than a scholarship funder.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth-services nonprofit that matches adult mentors with at-risk youth, often serving overlapping beneficiary demographics (children from low-income or single-parent households). Comparable as a child-and-family-focused grantmaking/donor-supported nonprofit.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hope Floats Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceHope Floats Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hope Floats Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Hope Floats Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hope Floats Foundation 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 Hope Floats Foundation
What does Hope Floats Foundation do?
Hope Floats Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides scholarships for swim lessons to children from low-income families through a network of 200+ partner swim schools across 30 states. It funds drowning-prevention water safety education for underserved children who cannot afford lessons.
Is Hope Floats Foundation a public or private company?
Hope Floats Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hope Floats Foundation founded?
Hope Floats Foundation was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hope Floats Foundation based?
Hope Floats Foundation is headquartered in Newberry, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hope Floats Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships, fundraising Campaigns and matching Gifts.
Who are Hope Floats Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The ZAC Foundation, USA Swimming Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Step Into Swim and Safer 3 Water Safety Foundation. Broad incumbents are Boys & Girls Clubs of America, American Red Cross (Aquatics & Water Safety) and YMCA of the USA (Swim Programs). Emerging players are World's Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Does Hope Floats Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hope Floats Foundation.
What industry is Hope Floats Foundation in?
Hope Floats Foundation's product category is Nonprofit Water Safety and Drowning Prevention. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADAHAC, Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts, with a secondary code of THAAABAL, Water Safety, Lifeguarding & Training Services (Staffing, Certification). Its NAICS code is 813211.