Athletes Serving Athletes

What Athletes Serving Athletes does

Athletes Serving Athletes (ASA) is a Maryland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 that enables individuals living with limited mobility to train for and participate in mainstream running events. The organization operates a single integrated service, the Wingman Program, in which volunteer runners (Wingmen) are matched with Athletes and push them in racing wheelchairs through marathons, group runs, and community races. The program is delivered through a decentralized network of Captains and community coordinators serving 10 county-level chapters across Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

ASA is funded through a diversified mix of individual donations (one-time and recurring), corporate sponsorships, signature fundraising events (Sip and Support in Baltimore Metro and DC Metro, plus RunFest events in Maryland and Virginia), charity runner slots at major races such as the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend, and a Shopify-based ASA merchandise store. The organization does not sell software or technology; its core "product" is a human-coordinated service that pairs volunteers with athletes and creates the community infrastructure needed for sustained participation. As of the input data, ASA has 8 paid employees and has earned the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2026), reflecting institutional accountability and donor confidence.

Name

Athletes Serving Athletes

Legal name

Athletes Serving Athletes

Website

https://athletesservingathletes.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Athletes Serving Athletes is a Maryland-based nonprofit that pairs volunteer runners with individuals of limited mobility so they can train for and complete mainstream running events across Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Athletics Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Mass Participation Race Organizers (Runs, Triathlons, Cycling) (MPAKADAD)

Keywords

• Adaptive athletics programs
• Inclusive running events
• Volunteer runner programs
• Disability sports services
• Accessible race participation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lutherville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Donations from individual supporters through the organization's website and fundraising pages, including one-time and recurring giving options.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorship and partnership revenue from corporate partners who support the organization's mission and programs.
3. Fundraising Events: Revenue generated from signature events including Sip and Support Fundraisers in Baltimore Metro and DC Metro areas, and RunFest events.
4. Merchandise Sales: ASA branded merchandise sold through their Shopify e-commerce store (athletesservingathletes.myshopify.com).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Athletes Serving Athletes (ASA) is a nonprofit that enables individuals living with limited mobility to train for and participate in mainstream running events by pairing them with volunteer runners (Wingmen) who push them in racing wheelchairs. The organization coordinates training, group runs, and race-day participation across community chapters in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and funds these services through donations, corporate sponsorships, fundraising events, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Athletes Serving Athletes operates as a non-profit organization offering a single integrated program focused on empowering individuals living with limited mobility to participate in mainstream running events. The core offering is the Wingman Program, which pairs athletes with volunteer runners who push them in racing wheelchairs. Supporting offerings include the ASA Store (Shopify-based merchandise), community-based chapters across Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and signature fundraising events including Sip and Support and RunFest. The organization does not offer a software platform or technology product; rather, it delivers a service-based program connecting athletes with volunteer wingmen.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wingman Program Core adaptive athletics program that connects individuals living with limited mobility (ASA Athletes) with trained volunteer runners (Wingmen) who push them in racing wheelchairs through mainstream road races and training runs. Athletes participate free of charge across Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
• Group Runs Organized group running sessions used for training and community building among ASA Athletes and Wingmen across local chapters.
• RunFest Annual signature running festival events (Maryland RunFest and Virginia RunFest) that bring together ASA Athletes, Wingmen, and supporters for running activities, community building, and fundraising.
• Sip and Support Fundraiser Events Fundraiser events held in the Baltimore Metro and DC Metro areas, combining a social atmosphere with donor cultivation and fundraising for ASA's programs.
• ASA Store Online merchandise store selling ASA-branded apparel and gear via a Shopify storefront, allowing supporters to purchase branded items to support the organization.
• Community Chapters Local community chapters serving ten geographic areas across Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, each coordinated by volunteer Captains and staff Community Coordinators who recruit, train, and match Wingmen with Athletes.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Corporate PartnerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partners provide financial support, in-kind donations, and employee volunteer opportunities. The organization has a dedicated Partnership Team and Corporate Partners page suggesting formalized partner engagement.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Athletes for Hope: Athletes for Hope connects professional athletes with charitable causes and is a logical peer for ASA's charity-runner integration into marquee events. It serves as a complementary ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Move United: Move United (formerly Disabled Sports USA) is a national umbrella network for adaptive sports organizations, offering chapter-based community programs similar to ASA's geographic model but with a much broader sport portfolio and nationwide reach.
• Special Olympics: Special Olympics provides year-round athletic training and competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities. While serving a different disability population, it is the most established adaptive sports nonprofit and shapes donor expectations and partnership patterns in this space.

Direct peers

• Achilles International: Achilles International pairs volunteer guides with athletes with disabilities for endurance events including marathons and triathlons. Operates a near-identical Wingman-to-Athlete matching model for adaptive runners, making it the closest functional peer to ASA.
• Team Gleason: Team Gleason empowers people with ALS through adaptive technology, equipment, and adventure experiences including adaptive athletic events. Comparable to ASA in mission, nonprofit structure, and event-driven engagement model, though focused on ALS rather than general mobility limitations.
• Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF): CAF provides grants, equipment, and community programs to individuals with physical challenges pursuing active lifestyles. Shares ASA's adaptive athlete focus, community-led ethos, and event-based fundraising approach (e.g., Million Dollar Challenge).
• The Independence Fund: The Independence Fund operates adaptive sports programs (Mobility, Forge) for wounded veterans including running and cycling events. Comparable nonprofit structure and adaptive athlete volunteer-pairing model, with a narrower veteran-focused beneficiary population.

Emerging players

• Angel City Sports (style: Angel City Games / adaptive sports festival): Angel City Games operates an adaptive sports festival and year-round programming for athletes with physical disabilities, paralleling ASA's RunFest event model with a broader sport mix and a different geographic base (Los Angeles).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/athletes-serving-athletes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Athletes Serving Athletes