Freedom Waters Foundation

What Freedom Waters Foundation does

Freedom Waters Foundation is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in March 2006 by Debra Frenkel, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and John Weller, a yacht broker and six-time cancer survivor. The foundation delivers free therapeutic boating experiences — including the Weller Day Therapeutic Boating Program, Adaptive Sailing (in partnership with Collier County Parks and Recreation at Sugden Regional Park), Veterans Programs, and Fishing Programs (Heels and Reels, Buoys and Bait, and veterans fishing) — to children and adults with disabilities and life-threatening illnesses, at-risk youth, and veterans and active-duty military. All programs are provided at no cost to participants, with the sole exception of the Adaptive Sailing Program which charges $15 per student per season. The organization is headquartered in Naples, Florida with a regional office in Fort Lauderdale, and operates year-round programming across Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Palm Beach, and Broward counties in Florida, plus annual Weller Day events at Lake Lanier (Georgia) and Lake Monroe (Indiana).

The foundation runs a 99% volunteer-driven operating model with a small paid staff of approximately seven people handling program coordination, donor relations, and operations. Service delivery is enabled by an in-kind network of vessel-owning volunteers, captains, and marine industry partners (including MarineMax, Freedom Boat Club, Naples Princess, Pure Florida, and Mariner III), supported by a referral pipeline of 50+ social service agencies, hospitals, and veteran organizations. The foundation holds no proprietary technology and operates as a pure experiential-services nonprofit.

Revenue is generated through a diversified but event-heavy mix: individual one-time and monthly donations via the "Treasured Friends" program, a four-tier corporate sponsorship ladder ($1,000 Wave through $10,000+ Captain), foundation grants, in-kind contributions, and fundraising events — most notably the annual Kind Mariners Ball, which generates approximately three-quarters of the foundation's annual budget. Distribution is direct: programs are delivered through volunteer-operated boat outings, partner-referred participation, and seasonally scheduled adaptive sailing lessons.

Name

Freedom Waters Foundation

Legal name

Freedom Waters Foundation

Website

https://freedomwatersfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Freedom Waters Foundation is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 that provides free therapeutic boating, adaptive sailing, fishing, and veterans programs to children and adults with disabilities, at-risk youth, and military veterans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Therapeutic Recreation Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Charters & Yacht Experiences (Crewed, Bareboat, Day Charters) (THAJAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Tours (Guided/Paddling Excursions) (THAJAJAF), Hot Springs, Lagoons & Water-Based Wellness (Thermal Pools, Floating Spas) (THAJAJAN)

Keywords

• Therapeutic boating programs
• Adaptive water experiences
• Nonprofit marine recreation
• Veteran boating outings
• Disability sailing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Naples

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time donations from individuals supporting the mission. Donors can give online through the website with options for one-time or monthly donations.
2. Monthly Giving (Treasured Friends): Monthly giving program called Treasured Friends where supporters pledge recurring monthly donations.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at multiple levels (Captain $10,000+, Anchor $5,000+, Helm $2,500+, Wave $1,000+). Sponsors receive recognition benefits including social media posts, publication in annual impact report, and event invitations.
4. Events and Fundraisers: Major annual fundraiser (Kind Mariners Ball) along with peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, Bill's Boat Shoe Bash, Ripple Effect: A Night of Giving, and other events. Kind Mariners Ball generates approximately three-quarters of annual budget.
5. Grants: Grant funding from foundations and organizations that support therapeutic programs for children, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
6. In-Kind Donations: Generous in-kind donations from marine partners including boats, restaurants, and other supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Freedom Waters Foundation provides free therapeutic boating experiences on the water for individuals facing physical, developmental, or emotional challenges, including children and adults with disabilities, veterans, and at-risk youth. Its offerings include Weller Day Boat Outings, adaptive sailing, veterans' programs, and fishing experiences, delivered through a 99% volunteer model using donated boats and captains.

Product overview

Freedom Waters Foundation offers a suite of therapeutic boating programs at no cost to participants. The core offerings include the Weller Day Therapeutic Boating Program (accessible boat outings), the Adaptive Sailing Program (sailing lessons at Sugden Regional Park), Veterans Programs (therapeutic boating and fishing for veterans), and Fishing Programs (including Heels and Reels for at-risk youth). All programs are provided free of charge thanks to volunteers, donors, and sponsors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Weller Day Boat Outings Free therapeutic boat outings on the water designed for children with physical, developmental, or emotional disabilities, named after co-founder John Weller.
• Adaptive Sailing Free adaptive sailing experiences tailored to individuals with disabilities, designed to provide accessible on-water recreation and skill-building.
• Veterans Programs Free boating and fishing experiences offered to military veterans, providing recreational and therapeutic time on the water.
• Fishing Programs Free fishing experiences offered to program participants as part of the foundation's water-based recreational offerings.

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

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Collier County Parks and RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Collier County Parks and Recreation to host the Adaptive Sailing Program at Sugden Regional Park in Naples, FL. The program runs November through May, three days per week.
• Jungle QueenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for inaugural Veterans' Cruise event aboard the Jungle Queen vessel in Fort Lauderdale.
• Mariner IIIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner vessel for Veterans Weller Day Cruise and Children and Family Weller Day Cruise events in Riviera Beach.
• Port Royale MarinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for annual Weller Day Boat Outings at Lake Lanier, Georgia.
• Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & MarinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for annual Weller Day Boat Outings at Lake Monroe, Indiana.
• Naples PrincesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner vessel for Veterans Meet & Greet events in Naples, FL.
• Best in BoatingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Freedom Waters Foundation programs.
• Pure FloridaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing boats and support for veteran fishing trips.
• Lacks EnterprisesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Freedom Waters Foundation.
• Wellington GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Freedom Waters Foundation.
• Naples Princess CruisesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor and partner vessel for Freedom Waters Foundation events.
• The Dock at Crayton CoveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Freedom Waters Foundation.
• N2N HomesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Freedom Waters Foundation.
• Luke Brown YachtsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor and partner; Andrew Cilla serves on Honorary Board.
• Mariner III Yacht ChartersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing yacht charter services for Freedom Waters Foundation events.
• Seminole Casino ImmokaleeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Freedom Waters Foundation events.
• Total Wine & MoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Freedom Waters Foundation.
• MarineMaxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor; MarineMax Pompano is main sponsor for Ripple Effect: A Night of Giving event.
• Gulf Regional Medical CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Freedom Waters Foundation.
• Hideout Storage ParkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Freedom Waters Foundation.
• Freedom Boat ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor; Scott Ward, VP & GM of Freedom Boat Club, serves on Board of Directors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Catch-A-Lift Fund: Nonprofit funding recreational activities for wounded veterans, including fishing and outdoor sports. Comparable veteran-population focus and recreation-therapy positioning, though delivered via stipended recreation rather than direct program operations.

Direct peers

• Sailing Heals: Nonprofit offering therapeutic sailing day excursions to individuals with serious illnesses and their caregivers. Closest analog to Freedom Waters' Weller Day boat outings and adaptive sailing — same donated-yacht, captain-volunteer, free-to-participant model.
• Reel Recovery: Nonprofit running free therapeutic fly-fishing programs for men recovering from cancer. Directly overlaps Freedom Waters' fishing-program line and at-risk-youth/wellness positioning; same volunteer/sponsor/donor revenue model.
• Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing: Nonprofit providing therapeutic fly-fishing and adaptive outdoor experiences to disabled veterans. Direct overlap with Freedom Waters' Veterans Programs and Fishing Programs, including adaptive-sport delivery and veteran referral-agency pipeline.
• Casting for Recovery: National nonprofit providing free fly-fishing retreats for women with breast cancer. Comparable model — free therapeutic outdoor/water-based experiences for underserved medical populations, delivered through volunteers and funded by donations/sponsorships/grants.
• Sail Beyond Cancer: Nonprofit offering free sailing experiences to cancer patients and their families. Highly comparable mission and delivery model (volunteer-led therapeutic boating for medical populations), with similar reliance on donated vessels, captains, and corporate yacht sponsors.
• Challenge America: Nonprofit providing outdoor therapeutic experiences (including fishing and boating) for wounded veterans and their families. Direct overlap with Freedom Waters' Veterans Programs and fishing line; similar volunteer/sponsor/donor architecture.

Broad incumbents

• Wounded Warrior Project: Large national nonprofit supporting wounded veterans through physical and mental health programs, including outdoor/wellness activities. Overlaps Freedom Waters' veterans segment and outdoor-recreation delivery, though Wounded Warrior Project operates at vastly larger scale.
• Disabled Sports USA: National umbrella organization funding adaptive sports and recreation programs for people with disabilities, including adaptive sailing chapters. Broader scope but overlapping adaptive-recreation positioning and referral-network model.

Others

• BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water: National nonprofit associated with the boating industry that funds boating-safety, education, and access initiatives. Adjacent rather than directly competitive — shares marine-industry sponsor and volunteer ecosystem with Freedom Waters.

Market position

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/freedomwatersfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/freedom-waters-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Freedom Waters Foundation