Fish for Life!
Fish for Life! is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free chartered fishing trips to children with special needs ages 8–21, operating four ports across California and New Jersey through donations and corporate sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersDana Point, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Fish for Life! does
Fish for Life! is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in San Clemente, California, founded by Jim Holden following a 2009 inspirational encounter and formally launched with its maiden voyage in 2010. The organization provides complimentary chartered fishing trips for children with special needs, ages 8 to 21, delivering an end-to-end experience that includes red carpet introductions, trophies, photography, meals, and onboard support. Service is delivered through partnerships with local charter vessel operators across four ports in two states: Dana Point, Santa Barbara, and San Diego in California, and Wildwood Crest and Belmar in New Jersey.
The core product is a free, structured day-at-sea experience funded entirely by donations and corporate sponsorships; recipients pay nothing. There is no proprietary technology platform — operations are coordinated through volunteer networks, regional Founding Directors, and standard digital fundraising tools (Venmo, Givsum, check). The business model is a nonprofit donation engine with four corporate sponsorship tiers (Platinum $10K, Gold $5K, Silver $2.5K, Bronze $1K) plus a $200 per-child sponsorship option and individual giving. Since launch, the organization reports serving more than 3,500 special-needs children.
The operating footprint is supported by approximately 10 staff augmented by volunteers, with leadership split between the founder/CEO, a CFO, and regional executive directors. Given the absence of disclosed financials, fundraising totals, or program-participation metrics, this analysis is grounded in the observable charter fleet, port network, and sponsorship structure only.
Fish for Life! firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fish for Life!
- Legal name
- Fish For Life
- Website
- https://fishforlife.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Fish for Life! is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free chartered fishing trips to children with special needs ages 8–21, operating four ports across California and New Jersey through donations and corporate sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fish for Life! industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Inclusive Recreational Fishing Services for Special Needs Children
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fishing Charters & Angling Experiences (Deep Sea, Sportfishing, Fly Fishing) (THAJAJAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Fishing & Spearfishing Charters (recreational/eco-managed) (THAAAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Fish for Life! is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dana Point
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Fish for Life! business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute tax-deductible donations to support fishing trips for special needs children. Donations can be made via Venmo, Givsum, or by mailing a check to the organization.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors provide funding at various tiers (Platinum $10,000, Gold $5,000, Silver $2,500, Bronze $1,000, or per-child sponsorship at $200) in exchange for recognition at opening ceremonies and on the website.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Fish for Life! product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fish for Life! provides free, structured ocean fishing trips for children with special needs ages 8-21, delivered aboard chartered sportfishing vessels from five port locations across Southern California and New Jersey. Trips are fully funded by individual donations and corporate sponsorships and include red carpet introductions, assigned Fishing Team Leaders, volunteer photographers, meals, trophies, and T-shirts.
Product overview
Fish for Life is a nonprofit organization providing a single core offering: complimentary fishing trip experiences for children with special needs ages 8-21. The organization operates across six regional locations (Dana Point, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Wildwood Crest, and Belmar) using chartered fishing vessels. Each trip features a structured format including red carpet introductions, assigned Fishing Team Leaders, volunteer photography, complimentary lunch, and an awards ceremony with trophies. The experience is designed to bring dignity, inclusion, and new possibilities to special needs children and their families.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fishing Trip Experience Complimentary ocean fishing trips for children with special needs ages 8-21 (Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, and other conditions). Each trip features red carpet introductions, an assigned Fishing Team Leader, volunteer photographers, trophies, T-shirts, and a complimentary lunch. Free to participants and funded entirely by donations and corporate sponsorships.
- Western Region Fishing Trip — Dana Point (Dana Pride) Western Region fishing trip departing from Dana Wharf in Dana Point, CA aboard the 95ft Dana Pride vessel. Located at 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629. Serves as the Western Region home port and founding trip location.
- Western Region Fishing Trip — Santa Barbara (Coral Sea & Stardust)
Quantifiable outcome
- Served over 3,500 special needs children since 2010
Companies that use Fish for Life!
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fish for Life! technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Fish for Life! partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale WatchingcoreHome port for Fish for Life Western Region operations. Provides the 95ft Dana Pride vessel for fishing trips. Dana Wharf also serves as a Platinum/Gold sponsor.
- Starlight FleetcoreHome port for Fish for Life Eastern Region operations in Wildwood Crest, NJ. Provides the 100ft Atlantic Star vessel.
- Fisherman's LandingminorSan Diego location partner providing fishing vessel (Dolphin) for Fish for Life trips.
- Santa Barbara LandingminorSanta Barbara location partner providing Coral Sea (58ft) and Stardust (65ft) vessels for Fish for Life trips.
- Miss Belmar PrincessminorBelmar, NJ location partner providing vessel for Fish for Life Eastern Region trips.
- NOAAminorListed as a sponsor supporting Fish for Life operations.
- Orange County Sheriffs DepartmentminorListed as a sponsor providing support for Fish for Life operations.
- The City of Dana PointminorLocal government sponsor supporting Fish for Life Western Region operations.
- GivsumminorOnline fundraising platform partner enabling donations to Fish for Life.
- Unbound MedicineminorEmployer of Courtney McNulty, Fish for Life's Volunteer Coordinator for Eastern Region.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fish for Life! competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Surfers Healing: Nonprofit running surf camps for children with autism and other special needs. Comparable as a free, volunteer-staffed ocean-based experience program serving special needs children along similar coastlines.
- No Barriers USA: Nonprofit delivering outdoor adventure and leadership programs for people with disabilities, including veterans. Comparable in delivering structured outdoor experiences with volunteer support to participants with special needs.
- Outdoor Outreach: Nonprofit providing outdoor adventure experiences (including ocean-based) for at-risk and disabled youth in Southern California. Comparable in mission, geography, donor-supported free-program model, and volunteer engagement.
- Reel American Heroes Foundation: Nonprofit organizing fishing trips for veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and children with special needs. Highly comparable in mission, charter-partner model, and donor-supported free-trip structure.
- Casting for Recovery: National nonprofit that provides free fly fishing retreats for women with breast cancer. Directly comparable as a recreational fishing-based experience program serving a medically vulnerable population through trained volunteers and partner outfitters.
- Heroes on the Water: Nonprofit providing kayak fishing experiences for wounded warriors, first responders, and their families. Comparable as a free, volunteer-staffed on-water recreational program for a defined special-needs population.
- Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing: Nonprofit using fly fishing and associated activities to assist disabled veterans' physical and emotional recovery. Closely mirrors Fish for Life's model of pairing fishing experiences with structured volunteer support for participants with special needs.
- Take a Warrior Fishing: Nonprofit offering complimentary fishing trips to wounded veterans and their families via partner captains. Comparable in delivering charter-based recreational outings to a special-needs community at no cost.
Broad incumbents
- Make-A-Wish Foundation: Large established 501(c)(3) granting wishes to children with critical illnesses. Comparable in mission and donor-supported free-experience delivery to special needs children, but operates at vastly greater national scale and broader scope.
- Surfrider Foundation: Larger established ocean-focused nonprofit. Adjacent rather than directly comparable, but shares the coastal California footprint, volunteer engagement model, and marine advocacy framing relevant to Fish for Life's ocean-based programming.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Fish for Life! social profiles
Digital presenceFish for Life! financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fish for Life! leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Fish for Life! funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fish for Life! 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 Fish for Life!
What does Fish for Life! do?
Fish for Life! provides free, structured ocean fishing trips for children with special needs ages 8-21, delivered aboard chartered sportfishing vessels from five port locations across Southern California and New Jersey. Trips are fully funded by individual donations and corporate sponsorships and include red carpet introductions, assigned Fishing Team Leaders, volunteer photographers, meals, trophies, and T-shirts.
Is Fish for Life! a public or private company?
Fish for Life! is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fish for Life! founded?
Fish for Life! was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Fish for Life! based?
Fish for Life! is headquartered in Dana Point, United States, in the North America region.
How does Fish for Life! make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship.
Who are Fish for Life!'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Surfers Healing, No Barriers USA, Outdoor Outreach, Reel American Heroes Foundation, Casting for Recovery, Heroes on the Water, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and Take a Warrior Fishing. Broad incumbents are Make-A-Wish Foundation and Surfrider Foundation.
Does Fish for Life! have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fish for Life!.
What industry is Fish for Life! in?
Fish for Life!'s product category is Inclusive Recreational Fishing Services for Special Needs Children. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAJAC, Fishing Charters & Angling Experiences (Deep Sea, Sportfishing, Fly Fishing), with a secondary code of THAAAIAJ, Fishing & Spearfishing Charters (recreational/eco-managed). Its SIC code is 4400.