American Volkssport Association, Inc.

What American Volkssport Association, Inc. does

The American Volkssport Association, Inc. (AVA), operating as America's Walking Club, is a Texas-incorporated nonprofit founded in 1976 that promotes non-competitive volkssporting activities—primarily walking, with secondary programs in biking, swimming, canoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. It operates through a decentralized network of more than 160 active clubs delivering over 2,500 sanctioned events annually across all 50 U.S. states, and represents the United States as the sole member organization of the International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV), connecting participants to events in 40+ countries. Core technology consists of the Online Startbox (OSB) digital platform for event registration, the IVV credit-tracking and awards system, and a quarterly publication called The American Wanderer.

Revenue is generated through five streams: annual membership dues ($25 individual / $30 family), per-event participation fees (capped at $3 for IVV credit walkers, of which $1.25 accrues to AVA and represents ~31% of revenue), sanction fees paid by clubs (combined with participation fees ~50% of revenue), merchandise sales, and donations including an annual Big Give fundraiser that raised $95,109.85 from 521 donors in 2021. Customer segments include general-public walkers, families, seniors and retirees (the largest persona), and—newly—health-plan members via an Element3 Health partnership initially with UnitedHealthcare. The national office in San Antonio employs roughly 7 staff, with a Board of Directors and 10 regional directors plus deputies governing operations across the U.S.

AVA's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: grassroots clubs recruit members locally, while a calendar of marquee national events (Texas Trail Roundup, US FreedomWalk Festival, Crazy Horse Memorial volksmarches) plus a 50th Anniversary celebration featuring 17 events throughout 2026 and the upcoming Americaspiad 2028 drive participation. The organization also partners with health plans (Element3/UnitedHealthcare), wellness retailers (Natural Grocers), and trail advocacy groups (Rails to Trails Conservancy, America Walks) to broaden its acquisition channels.

Name

American Volkssport Association, Inc.

Legal name

American Volkssport Association

Website

https://ava.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The American Volkssport Association (America's Walking Club) is a 1976-founded nonprofit that operates the largest U.S. network of non-competitive walking events through 160+ clubs and 2,500+ annual sanctioned activities, serving general-public walkers, families, and seniors via membership dues, participation fees, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Walking and Volkssporting Organization

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKAFAF

Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Rights Holders & Governing Bodies (Federations, Associations, Sanctioning Bodies)

SECONDARYMPAKACAI

Olympic & Multi-Sport Movement Organizations (NOCs, Olympic Committees)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Collegiate & Amateur Sports Organizations (NCAA, Federations, Clubs)

SECONDARYMPAKAKAK

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Management & Promotion Services

Keywords

• Noncompetitive walking events
• Volkssporting activities
• Recreational fitness programs
• Walking club membership
• Outdoor activity events

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Associate membership at $25/individual or $30/family annually; supports national organization and provides The American Wanderer newspaper
2. Event Participation Fees: 31% of revenue (2019 data). $3 cap for IVV credit walkers; clubs determine fees for non-credit participants. Actual AVA participation fee is $1.25 per participant.
3. Merchandise Sales: Patches, shirts, caps, sweatshirts, Starting Point books sold through AVA Store and Big Frog New Braunfels
4. Sanction Fees: Combined with participation fees, represents approximately 50% of total AVA revenue. Clubs pay sanction fees for event authorization.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Big Give annual fundraiser; AVA Angels planned giving program; donations through charityproud.org platform

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The American Volkssport Association (AVA) is a non-profit organization that promotes noncompetitive walking and related outdoor sports (cycling, swimming, canoeing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing) through a nationwide network of 160+ local clubs presenting 2,500+ events annually across all 50 U.S. states. It administers the IVV (International Federation of Popular Sports) credit system, publishes The American Wanderer quarterly newspaper, sells branded merchandise, and offers individual and family memberships with associated achievement programs such as Walking the USA A-Z.

Product overview

The American Volkssport Association (AVA) operates a non-competitive sports organization offering a portfolio of activity-based products centered on its core walking events. The core offering includes Volksmarch walking events, Volksbike cycling events, Volksswim swimming events, and other outdoor activities like canoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. These are delivered through two primary participation formats: Year Round Events (YRE) at permanent self-guided start boxes, and Traditional Events organized as group gatherings. Participants can earn IVV (International Federation of Popular Sports) credit through the Online Start Box (OSB) platform. The AVA also publishes The American Wanderer (TAW) as its official quarterly newspaper, operates an online merchandise store with 50th Anniversary items, and offers special achievement programs like the Walking the USA A-Z Program. Membership programs provide access to publications and member benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Volksmarch Walking Events Non-competitive group walking events organized by local AVA clubs across the United States, available in various distances and trail types, providing fun, fitness and friendship opportunities.
• Volksbike (Biking Events) Non-competitive cycling events sanctioned as part of the volkssporting program, offering bike routes alongside walking events.
• Volksswim (Swimming Events) Sanctioned swimming events available at various locations, including pool-based swims at conventions and regional conferences.
• Year Round Events (YRE) Self-guided volkssporting events available year-round at permanent start boxes located throughout the country, allowing participants to earn IVV credit at their convenience.
• AVA Membership Individual ($25/year) and family ($30/year) associate memberships providing access to The American Wanderer newspaper, New Walkers Program Packet, and member benefits.
• Online Start Box (OSB) Digital platform (my.ava.org) allowing participants to register for and complete volkssporting events, track participation, and earn electronic walk vouchers.
• The American Wanderer (TAW) Newspaper Official quarterly newspaper of AVA published in March, June, September, and December, covering news, event announcements, and member stories; included with membership.
• AVA Merchandise Store Online store offering AVA-branded merchandise including shirts, ballcaps, sweatshirts, patches, and Starting Point books with 50th Anniversary or standard AVA logo customization.
• IVV Credit Program International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV) credit system that tracks participant achievements across events internationally, with official log books and awards.
• 50th Anniversary Passport Book Commemorative passport book for the 2026 50th Anniversary celebration, available to participants who attend all 17 featured anniversary events or at least 8 of them.

Quantifiable outcome

• Big Give 2021 raised $95,109.85 from 521 donors, exceeding $90,000 goal
• +1 more outcomes

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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Element3 HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership program where health plan members (initially UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage and supplemental plans) can earn free walk vouchers for AVA club participation. Eligible participants who report 10+ walks monthly receive $5 Starbucks cards and up to 2 free electronic walk vouchers per month.
• Natural GrocersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity sponsor featured in monthly Wednesday webinars discussing healthy walking lifestyle and nutrition. Natural Grocers provides speaker support for wellness content.
• IVV (International Federation of Popular Sports)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVA represents the United States as a member country of IVV. IVV administers international volkssporting programs and credentials. AVA sanctions all IVV programs in the United States.
• IML (International Marching League)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization for multi-day walking events. AVA sanctions IML events including the US FreedomWalk Festival and Texas Trail Roundup as official IML events.
• Rails to Trails ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrail advocacy organization. AVA events utilize rail-trails and partner on trail promotion. Las Vegas High Rollers event uses Historic Railroad Tunnels Trail at Lake Mead NRA.
• America WalksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational walking advocacy organization. Partnership being developed to connect AVA clubs with local walking advocacy organizations and engage in walkability advocacy.
• Crazy Horse MemorialminorOthersHost venue for annual volksmarch at the world's largest mountain carving in progress. 40th Annual event scheduled for June 2026 with 13th Annual Fall Volksmarch in September 2026.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Parkrun: A free, weekly, timed 5K community walk/run event series operating across multiple countries with a digital registration and barcode-tracking system. Comparable to AVA's event-based model in targeting casual, community-driven fitness participation, but with a fundamentally different free / tech-led GTM and a global volunteer structure.
• AllTrails: A consumer trail-discovery and GPS-tracking app with a large social/community layer for hikers and walkers. Competes for the same non-competitive outdoor-fitness audience as AVA but delivers a free, mobile-first experience rather than a club/membership model.

Broad incumbents

• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: A national nonprofit that converts former rail corridors into multi-use trails and organizes community trail events. Directly comparable as an AVA partner and an overlapping nonprofit fitness/recreation organization whose trail infrastructure AVA events leverage.
• Strava: The dominant social fitness-tracking platform serving runners, walkers, and cyclists. Competes for the same casual and committed walker demographic with free and subscription tiers, social clubs, and challenge mechanics—offering a tech-native alternative to AVA's club-and-event structure.
• American Hiking Society: A national nonprofit that advocates for hiking trails and organizes National Trails Day and other hiking events. Comparable as a nonprofit outdoor-recreation membership organization promoting inclusive, non-competitive physical activity on trails, but with a narrower hiking focus and stronger advocacy orientation.
• America Walks: A national walking-advocacy nonprofit that AVA is actively partnering with to engage in walkability advocacy. Comparable as a mission-aligned nonprofit promoting walking as public-health and community infrastructure, with a policy/advocacy lens rather than event delivery.
• International Volkssportverband (IVV): The international umbrella federation for volkssporting that AVA is a member of and sanctions events for. Provides the IVV credit framework and global event recognition that underpins AVA's product, and represents the broader global ecosystem of which AVA is a national chapter.

Direct peers

• Canadian Volkssport Federation: The Canadian member organization of IVV that operates the same volkssporting model north of the border—non-competitive walking, biking, and swimming events with IVV credit tracking, structured through local clubs. Directly comparable in product, business model, and customer base, differing only by geography.
• Deutscher Volkssportverband (DVV): The German national federation that originated the volkssport movement from which AVA's name derives. Operates the same non-competitive event model with IVV credits, club-based delivery, and sanction fees—making it the historical and structural template for AVA.

Regional players

• Walking for Health (UK): A UK-based initiative delivering free, short, doctor-referred health walks—closely analogous to the UnitedHealthcare/Element3 Health partnership model AVA is pursuing. Operates the same healthcare-integrated walking concept but is geographically limited to the UK.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/america_walking
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCotOhsTl-0v8J9txlwhkXzA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Americaswalkingclub
• Instagraminstagram.com/americaswalkingclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-volkssport-association-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 American Volkssport Association, Inc.