MILWAUKEE ROWING CLUB

What MILWAUKEE ROWING CLUB does

Milwaukee Rowing Club (MRC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community rowing organization founded in 1894 and continuously incorporated since 1914 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The club provides recreational and competitive rowing access across multiple segments — youth (middle school and high school), adult, summer collegiate, and underserved youth through its STEM to Stern outreach program — and also serves as the home facility for the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) Crew team. Members range in age from 11 to 70+.

MRC operates from two physical facilities: the Michael J. Wisniewski Boathouse at 1990 N Commerce St (built 2003), which houses a Vespoli fleet of nine coxed eights, eight coxed fours, quads, doubles, singles, and seven coaching launches with a 150-foot dock; and an indoor training facility at the Milwaukee Athletic Club (758 N Broadway) equipped with 40+ Concept2 ergometers. There is no proprietary technology platform; the club uses standard SaaS tools (RegattaCentral for registration, Mailchimp for email, PayPal for donations, Google Forms for safety reporting). The organization employs approximately 6 staff and is governed by a nine-member board elected by adult members.

The revenue model blends annual membership dues ($420 adult annual, $210 fall), program fees ($250-$450 for Learn to Row, competitive/recreational teams, summer collegiate), winter drop-in fees, and tax-deductible donations funded through annual Pull Together Capital Campaigns. GTM is community-led and event-driven, leveraging earned media, brewery-hosted scrimmages, alumni events, and the STEM to Stern program for outreach. Recent competitive highlights include a 2nd-place finish at Head of the Hooch (Men's Youth 8+) and 12th place at Head of the Charles — among the best results in program history.

Name

MILWAUKEE ROWING CLUB

Legal name

Milwaukee Rowing Club

Website

https://milwaukeerowingclub.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1894

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Milwaukee Rowing Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community rowing organization founded in 1894 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, offering youth, adult, summer collegiate, and outreach (STEM to Stern) rowing programs from its boathouse and MAC indoor facility, with revenue from membership dues, program fees, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rowing Club and Athletic Programs

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF), Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE), Club Sports Programs (EDALAIAB)

Keywords

• Rowing club programs
• Learn to row
• Youth rowing
• Adult rowing
• Membership athletics

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide recurring revenue stream. Adult Annual Membership at $420/year serves as the primary revenue source. Fall memberships at $210 provide prorated access. Coxswains receive free memberships as they do not row.
2. Program Fees: Revenue from structured rowing programs including Learn to Row ($250), Summer Collegiate Rowing ($250), Adult Competitive Team ($450), and Adult Recreational Team ($250). These fees cover registration, coaching, and in some cases regatta fees.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations through annual Pull Together Capital Campaigns supporting equipment purchases (shells, launches, oars) and the STEM to Stern outreach program. Sponsorships at $2500+ receive naming rights and MRC oars. Club is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Milwaukee Rowing Club delivers organized rowing programs for youth and adults, including learn-to-row instruction, recreational and competitive team membership, sculling, summer collegiate rowing, indoor winter training, and community STEM outreach. The club sells memberships, class registrations, and program participation, supported by donations as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating out of the Michael J. Wisniewski Boathouse.

Product overview

Milwaukee Rowing Club is a community rowing organization offering a portfolio of rowing programs and facilities. The core offerings include Youth Rowing Programs (High School and Middle School competitive teams), Adult Rowing Programs (Learn to Row, Competitive Team, Recreational Program, Summer Collegiate, and Indoor Winter Training), and the STEM to Stern outreach initiative. The club operates from the Michael J. Wisniewski Boathouse on the Milwaukee River and an indoor training facility at the Milwaukee Athletic Club. Equipment includes a fleet of Vespoli-manufactured shells ranging from coxed eights to singles. The club serves members ages 11 to 70+ and hosts the MSOE Crew Team.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STEM to Stern: Outreach program connecting youth from Milwaukee Public Schools to rowing opportunities, providing swimming lessons, transportation, and financial aid to remove barriers to participation.

Products and services

• Adult Membership
• Learn to Row
• Adult Competitive Team
• Adult Recreational Program
• Sculling Program
• Summer Collegiate Rowing
• Indoor Winter Training
• Youth Rowing Programs
• STEM to Stern Outreach

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 crews qualified for 2024 Youth Nationals, with best-ever finishes for Boys Varsity 8+ (19th) and Girls 2nd Varsity 8+ (13th)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lakefront BreweryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 June 2022Lakefront Brewery hosts the annual Summer Scrimmage in conjunction with a STEM to Stern Fundraiser. MRC alumni row in races while brewery provides venue for fundraising event.
• City Lights Brewing CominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 July 2019City Lights Brewing hosts the annual City Lights Sprints on the Menomonee River, with MRC competing against Camp Randall Rowing Club in 1000m races finishing in front of the brewery.
• Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016MSOE provides van transportation for STEM to Stern students from school to rowing programs and home. MRC provides facilities and coaching for MSOE's men's and women's crew teams. MSOE women's coach Sydney Large serves as MRC Director, creating integrated leadership.
• YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016YMCA provides swimming lesson time slots for STEM to Stern students on Thursdays before rowing practice, addressing a key barrier to participation (lack of swimming skills) for underserved youth.
• Milwaukee Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide rowing opportunities to Milwaukee Public School students through the STEM to Stern outreach program. Students from throughout the district participate in both middle school and high school rowing programs.
• Camp Randall Rowing ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual rivalry scrimmage between MRC and Camp Randall Rowing Club held at City Lights Brewing, creating competitive and social rowing event for both clubs.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Milwaukee Athletic Club: Host of MRC's indoor winter training facility, providing access to 40+ Concept2 ergometers. While not a competitive peer, MAC serves as an enabling infrastructure partner in MRC's year-round programming model.
• USRowing: National governing body for Olympic rowing in the United States, of which MRC is a member organization. Not a direct competitor but provides the competitive framework, rules, and event infrastructure (including Youth Nationals and Masters Nationals) that defines MRC's competitive context.

Direct peers

• Detroit Boat Club: Historic Great Lakes rowing club (founded 1839) operating youth and adult programs in Detroit with comparable municipal-river conditions to MRC. Sends crews to Midwest regional regattas and operates a similar membership-based community model.
• Mendota Rowing Club: Madison-area community rowing club offering youth and adult programs with the same Wisconsin/Great Lakes regional context. Operates comparable learn-to-row entry points and competitive masters programming.
• Camp Randall Rowing Club: Madison, Wisconsin-based rowing club that runs the annual City Lights Sprints head-to-head rivalry with MRC. Operates the same community/youth/adult rowing model in the upper Midwest, making it the closest direct comparable peer in terms of geography, scale, and mission.
• Riverside Boat Club: Cambridge, Massachusetts rowing and sailing club on the Charles River. Comparable nonprofit community model offering youth competitive, masters, recreational, and learn-to-row programming with similar facility/boathouse structure.
• Community Rowing Inc. Boston-based nonprofit community rowing organization on the Charles River offering youth, adult, adaptive, and learn-to-row programs. Closely mirrors MRC's mission of broad community access, mixed-skill programming, and capital-campaign-supported fleet maintenance.
• Twin Cities Rowing Club: Minneapolis-St. Paul community rowing organization offering youth, adult, learn-to-row, and adaptive programming. Comparable midwest nonprofit club model with similar fee structure and reliance on member dues plus donations.
• Indianapolis Rowing Center: Midwest community rowing club on the White River offering youth and adult competitive and recreational programs with similar seasonal indoor/outdoor training cycle. Operates in a comparable mid-sized-market context to Milwaukee.
• Chicago Rowing Foundation: Nonprofit community rowing club on the Chicago River serving youth, adult, and learn-to-row programs with a similar fee structure and membership model. Operates comparable youth competitive pathways and adult recreational/competitive sweeps that send crews to Midwest and national regattas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/milwaukee-rowing-club

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 MILWAUKEE ROWING CLUB