DRAGON BOAT CHARLESTON

What DRAGON BOAT CHARLESTON does

Dragon Boat Charleston (DBC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2003 in Charleston, South Carolina, recognized as the first all-cancer survivor dragon boat team in the United States. The organization operates from Brittlebank Park on the Charleston waterfront and serves approximately 150 paddlers, comprising cancer survivors who participate free of charge and community paddlers who pay a $125 annual membership. DBC delivers a structured paddling program during the March–November season, anchored by the P.A.T.H. (Paddle. Achieve. Transform. Heal.) outreach program, a 9-week onboarding course for newly diagnosed or treated survivors, plus a twice-yearly Novice Program and off-season Winter Wellness activities. The organization fields multiple competitive teams (Awakened Dragons, Paddles and Pearls, Holy City Silver Dragons, Charleston Thunder, and Eye of the Dragon) and competes in 4–5 regional, national, and international races per season.

The core technology is non-software: dragon boats, paddles, safety boats, and physical paddling infrastructure at Brittlebank Park. Digital infrastructure is limited to a WordPress website, the Squad Fusion membership/registration platform, and the CharityProud donation portal. No proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, or productized software offerings are disclosed. DBC's revenue model is mission-driven and multi-stream: the May Charleston Dragon Boat Festival (with 60+ corporate and community teams) is the primary fundraising engine, supplemented by individual donations, corporate sponsorships (Subaru, MUSC, Novus, Ingevity, SC Federal Credit Union, and others), community paddler memberships, and the Holiday Festival of Trees fundraiser launched in 2020. The organization maintains a thin paid staff (Executive Director Sarah Evans and Mission Director Lucy Spears) supplemented by an active Board of Directors and volunteer-driven operations.

DBC's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven rather than commercially marketed. Acquisition of cancer survivors occurs through word-of-mouth within survivor networks, healthcare partnerships (notably MUSC and Hollings Cancer Center), the Berkeley County School District partnership, and the structured P.A.T.H. funnel. The organization has achieved third-party validation through an NCI research grant (2007–2008), the 2011 documentary "Awaken the Dragon," and consecutive Candid Platinum Seals of Transparency (2025 and 2026). Geographic scope is regional, anchored to the Lowcountry of South Carolina (Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties), with competition extending to regional, national, and international dragon boat events but no replication of the model elsewhere.

Name

DRAGON BOAT CHARLESTON

Legal name

Dragon Boat Charleston

Website

https://dragonboatcharleston.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dragon Boat Charleston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 that operates dragon boat paddling programs for cancer survivors and community members in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, serving approximately 150 members free of charge to survivors through initiatives like the P.A.T.H. program and the annual Charleston Dragon Boat Festival.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Wellness and Cancer Survivorship Programs

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking & River Adventures (THAJABAB)

Keywords

• Cancer survivorship programs
• Dragon boat paddling
• Community wellness programs
• Nonprofit fitness services
• Outdoor recreation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

CHARLESTON, South Carolina

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Festival Fundraising: The annual Charleston Dragon Boat Festival in May is the primary fundraising event. Over 60 community and corporate teams register and raise funds. Donations support paddling programs, P.A.T.H., nutrition and exercise workshops, social events, outreach, race fees, and travel expenses for cancer survivors. This constitutes the majority of DBC's operating budget.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting cancer survivorship programs. Donations processed through CharityProud platform.
3. Membership Fees: Community paddlers (non-cancer survivors) pay $125 per year for membership. Cancer survivors participate free of charge. Revenue is modest relative to festival fundraising.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide year-round or festival-specific sponsorships. Sponsors include organizations such as Subaru, MUSC, Novus, Ingevity, SC Federal Credit Union, and others. Sponsorships are customized to meet partners' needs.
5. Festival of Trees: The Holiday Festival of Trees, launched in 2020, is a second annual fundraiser supporting DBC's mission programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dragon Boat Charleston delivers community-based dragon boat paddling programs designed to promote physical and mental wellness among cancer survivors and the broader community. Its core offerings include the free P.A.T.H. (Paddle. Achieve. Transform. Heal.) 9-week outreach program for cancer patients and survivors, twice-yearly novice training sessions, ongoing paddling practices at Brittlebank Park, and multiple competitive racing teams. The annual Charleston Dragon Boat Festival serves as both a community engagement event and the organization's primary fundraising mechanism.

Product overview

Dragon Boat Charleston (DBC) is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of dragon boating programs and wellness services for cancer survivors and community members in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. The core offering consists of paddling programs including the P.A.T.H. Program (Paddle, Achieve, Transform, Heal) - a free 9-week outreach initiative for cancer patients and survivors - and a Novice Program providing 6-week introductory sessions twice yearly. DBC organizes the annual Charleston Dragon Boat Festival as its primary fundraising event, featuring community and corporate teams. The organization supports multiple competitive racing teams including Awakened Dragons (All Cancer Survivor), Paddles and Pearls (Breast Cancer Survivor), Holy City Silver Dragons (Senior Women's), Charleston Thunder (Men's), and Eye of the Dragon (Outreach). Additional offerings include Winter Wellness programs, nutrition workshops, the Festival of Trees holiday fundraiser, and online auctions. DBC operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with approximately 150 members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• P.A.T.H. (Paddle. Achieve. Transform. Heal.): DBC's free outreach program for cancer patients and survivors in the local communities of Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties.

Products and services

• Dragon Boat Paddling Programs Regular dragon boat paddling practices and membership in the Charleston Dragon Boat organization, open to cancer survivors (free) and community paddlers ($125/year). Held at Brittlebank Park, 185 Lockwood Drive, Charleston, SC 29403, during the March–November paddling season.
• P.A.T.H. Program (Paddle. Achieve. Transform. Heal.) A free 9-week outreach program for cancer patients and survivors in Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties. Teaches dragon boating basics, provides peer support, and culminates in participation at the annual Charleston Dragon Boat Festival. Founded by Sterling Hannah and Cindy Carter.
• Novice Program A twice-yearly 6-week instructional program for new members to learn dragon boating basics, coaching, and team building. Available to community members interested in joining DBC.
• Charleston Dragon Boat Festival Annual fundraising event held in May featuring community and corporate dragon boat racing teams, raising money for DBC's cancer survivorship programs. Attracts 60+ community and corporate teams annually at Brittlebank Park.
• Winter Wellness Program Off-season wellness program engaging members year-round in off-water activities promoting physical and mental wellness during the months when paddling is not in season.
• Wellness Committee Programs Off-water education and activities including nutrition guidance and race preparation support for DBC members.
• Holiday Festival of Trees Annual holiday fundraising event supporting DBC's mission programs, launched in 2020.
• Festival Online Auction Annual online auction featuring donated items from teams and sponsors, with proceeds supporting DBC's cancer survivorship programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Founded 2003 — 20+ years of continuous operation with growing membership of ~150 paddlers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMUSC is listed as a 2020 sponsor of Dragon Boat Charleston, indicating a supporting partnership with the Medical University of South Carolina. MUSC's involvement aligns with DBC's health and survivorship mission and provides healthcare community visibility.
• Berkeley County School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn partnership with Berkeley County School District, DBC celebrates students who have overcome great challenges through 'The Scarbrough Turn Around Paddle.' DBC attends an annual awards luncheon and invites honorees to a special paddling event at Brittlebank Park.
• Southeastern Regional Dragon Boat Association (SRDBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBC is a member of SRDBA, which promotes the sport of dragon boating by providing a community that fosters education, training, and promotion of competition at all levels. SRDBA is unique as the only region seeking to build Individual Members and provides race information, member discounts, and eligibility to purchase insurance coverage through USDBF.
• Move It Charleston CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo wellness champions in the community formed a partnership aimed at getting the Lowcountry on the path to physical and mental well-being. DBC and Move It Charleston County collaborated on providing scholarships for individuals in need to access wellness programs.
• Hollings Cancer Center (historical)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hollings Cancer Center (HCC) dragon boat program was initially established and later restarted under HCC leadership in April 2003. DBC subsequently established itself as an independent 501(c)(3) in May 2008.
• Festival Sponsors (Multiple)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMultiple organizations sponsored the Charleston Dragon Boat Festival in 2020 including: Subaru, MUSC, Novus, Ingevity, SC Federal Credit Union, Fatty's, Home Team, Harold's Cabin, Lunazul, Blue Chair Bay, Palmetto Awards, Go Store It, Trident Health, Dish Design, State Farm, and Print Your Cause. These sponsors provide financial and marketing support for DBC's primary annual fundraiser.
• Awaken the Dragon (Documentary Film)minorOthersIn 2011, the award-winning documentary film 'Awaken the Dragon' premiered, profiling Dragon Boat Charleston and its mission. The film was directed by Liz Oakley and helped advance awareness of DBC's survivorship model.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• LIVESTRONG: A larger, established nonprofit focused on cancer survivorship support and resources. LIVESTRONG shares the 'cancer survivorship' mission framing with DBC but operates at national scale and across a broader service portfolio rather than a single local recreational channel.
• American Cancer Society: The largest U.S. cancer-focused nonprofit, with national reach across research, patient support, and survivorship programming. ACS operates the same constituent (cancer patients/survivors) DBC serves but at vastly broader geographic and programmatic scale.

Direct peers

• Abreast In A Boat: The Vancouver-based, cancer-survivor dragon boat team that originated the global survivor-paddling movement. DBC's founders (Janet Bloch and Cindy Carter) traveled to UBC in 2000 to meet Dr. Don McKenzie and Sandy Smith of Abreast In A Boat, making it the direct progenitor and most directly comparable peer to Dragon Boat Charleston.

Others

• US Dragon Boat Federation (USDBF): The national governing body for dragon boat racing in the United States, of which DBC is a participating team. USDBF sits in the same ecosystem (membership, competition licensing, insurance) and is the relevant standards/competition counterpart for DBC's racing activity.
• International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission (IBCPC): The international coordinating body for breast-cancer survivor dragon boat teams and the organizer of the IBCPC Participatory Dragon Boat Festival. IBCPC is the global counterpart to DBC's Paddles and Pearls BCS team and the most relevant international network peer.

Regional players

• Southeastern Regional Dragon Boat Association (SRDBA): The regional membership body of which DBC is a member; SRDBA coordinates dragon boat education, training, and competition across the southeastern U.S. It is a structurally comparable regional peer providing membership services to the same constituent clubs.
• Charleston Community Sailing: A Charleston-based nonprofit providing on-water recreational and instructional programming. Like DBC, it operates from local waterfront sites in Charleston, runs structured beginner-to-seasonal programming, and serves a hybrid paid-member/mission-aligned participant base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dragon-boat-charleston

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 DRAGON BOAT CHARLESTON