Swim For Change

What Swim For Change does

Swim for Change (legal entity: 0 Mégot, association loi 1901) is a French non-profit founded in 2020 by open-water swimmers Chloé Leger and Matthieu Witvoet. The organization creates long-distance swimming expeditions paired with school-based environmental education to raise awareness of ocean pollution, with a particular focus on cigarette butt litter. Major expeditions to date include the 2021 Seine relay (Paris to Deauville, 380 km), the 2023 Mediterranean relay (Marseille to Barcelona, 550 km), and a planned 2025-2026 Atlantic crossing (Cape Verde to Guadeloupe, 3,800 km). Each expedition is paired with large-scale community cleanup events — the organization holds two bailiff-validated world records for cigarette butt collection (855,000 butts in 2021, 1,025,000 in 2023 across 11 French cities).

The core product portfolio centers on the Mission Océan à l'École educational program, developed in partnership with Water Family, which delivers free turnkey pedagogical kits to French primary schools (CM1-CM2). The kits contain 12 thematic modules spanning ocean science, marine ecosystems, pollution, and eco-gestures, aligned with the French national education curriculum and distributed across 8 school subjects. Supporting products include the Kit Pédagogique Seine, Kit Pédagogique Méditerranée, and the Mégothon cleanup event format. The technology stack is non-proprietary: PDF educational resources, YouTube video content, monthly newsletters, and a Wix-hosted website. The 2025-2026 program reports 100,000+ children sensitized, 5,700+ reached via videoconference, and an NPS of 9.7.

The business model is donation-based: the organization is funded exclusively through contributions via the HelloAsso platform and corporate sponsorships (e.g., Decathlon, Garmin, Ecoalf, Arena, ENGIE Fondation). No commercial products are sold; educational kits are provided free of charge to schools. Distribution relies on the Water Family platform for school enrollment and direct outreach ([email protected]) to teachers and educators. Earned media (39+ press appearances including France 2) and social channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) drive top-of-funnel awareness. Operating geographies span multiple French regions with upcoming international exposure via the Atlantic crossing. The team comprises 1-10 employees plus an expedition support network (skippers, medical staff, videographer) and volunteers.

Name

Swim For Change

Legal name

0 Mégot, association loi 1901

Website

https://swimforchange.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Swim for Change is a French non-profit (association loi 1901) founded in 2020 that pairs extreme open-water swimming expeditions with free ocean-protection curricula for primary schools, funded by donations and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAE

Marine & Freshwater Conservation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYEDALAIAF

Aquatics Programs (Pools, Swim Lessons, Lifeguarding)

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Athletics, Recreation & Fitness

SECONDARYMPAKAIAF

Open Water Swimming Events (OWS Races, Swim Challenges)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Endurance & Mass Participation Events (Marathons, Triathlons, Cycling Events)

Keywords

• Ocean conservation education
• Open water swimming
• Nonprofit environmental advocacy
• School environmental curriculum
• Marine protection awareness

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Swim for Change is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) that operates primarily through donations. Supporters can make donations via the HelloAsso platform. Donations fund class interventions, advocacy actions, and operational costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Swim For Change is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) that organizes long-distance open-water swimming expeditions to raise awareness about ocean protection. It pairs these expeditions with a free educational kit for primary-school classes (CM1-CM2) on marine preservation topics, financed entirely by individual donations collected via HelloAsso.

Product overview

Swim for Change is a French non-profit organization (association loi 1901) that creates open-water swimming expeditions to inspire environmental awareness about ocean protection. The organization operates a unified mission combining extreme sports challenges with educational programs. The core product portfolio includes the Mission Océan à l'École educational program (developed with Water Family) offering turnkey pedagogical kits for primary schools, complemented by adventure-specific kits (Seine and Méditerranée kits) that accompany their swimming expeditions. The planned Atlantic Swim 3800km expedition will serve as the centerpiece for a new educational cycle targeting 50,000-100,000 children. All programs are free for schools and funded through donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mission Océan à l'École: An educational program developed with Water Family, providing free pedagogical kits for teachers to educate primary school students (CM1-CM2-6ème) about ocean protection through 12 themed modules aligned with the national education curriculum.

Products and services

• Free Educational Kit for Schools (CM1-CM2)

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Water FamilycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic co-development partner for Mission Océan à l'École educational program. Water Family brings 15 years of experience sensitizing youth, reaching 356,000 people in 2023 and educating 40,000 children. Partnership leverages Water Family's athlete ambassador community (including Vendée Globe skipper Benjamin Dutreux) and established educational tools.
• Mer TerremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation partner for Mediterranean cleanup operations. Contributed approximately 1,000 volunteers to the Marseille cleanup event, working alongside Swim for Change for Calanques Propres initiative.
• RecyclopminorOthersResponsible for recycling all collected cigarette butts from the Mégothon events.
• Surfrider ParismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered for the 2021 Seine cleanup event. 10 local associations collaborated on the record-breaking cigarette butt collection in Paris.
• EcoMégotminorOthersResponsible for recycling cigarette butts collected during 2021 Seine event. Transformed collected butts into surfboards and awareness panels for Paris.
• Impact 2024majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Seine 380km expedition and Paris cleanup event. Aligned with Paris 2024 Olympic environmental initiatives.
• Ville de ParismajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCity of Paris partnered for Seine expedition, providing support and permissions for the cleanup and awareness event.
• Stéphane LecatminorOthersNational open water swimming team coach and pioneer of long-distance swimming, serving as coach for Atlantic crossing.
• Adrien GuibelinminorOthersPhysiotherapist and physical trainer for the Atlantic crossing team.
• Yann PeltierminorOthersSports medicine doctor and former emergency physician supporting Atlantic crossing team health.
• Nadia SammutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichelin-starred chef developing regenerative biological plant-based cuisine for the Atlantic crossing expedition.
• Various Sponsors (Ecoalf, Arena, Decathlon, Garmin, Temo, Costa, Kapla)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partners and suppliers providing equipment and support for Atlantic crossing: sustainable fashion (Ecoalf), swimwear (Arena), sports equipment (Decathlon), navigation technology (Garmin), electric outboard motors (Temo), and building materials (Kapla).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 4ocean: US-based ocean cleanup organization that funds removals through a consumer product and branded merchandise model. Comparable in its blend of public-facing cleanup activity, donor mobilization, and media-driven awareness around marine debris.
• The Ocean Cleanup: Non-profit developing advanced technologies to rid oceans of plastic. Comparable as a high-profile marine cleanup organization generating large-scale media coverage and corporate partnerships, though more technology- and systems-oriented versus Swim for Change's sport-anchored model.
• Plastic Pollution Coalition: Global non-profit coalition focused on ending plastic pollution, with particular emphasis on single-use items and cigarette butt-style debris. Overlaps with Swim for Change's cigarette-butt-focused Mégothon events and educational outreach.
• Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: International marine conservation non-profit running high-profile direct-action campaigns. Comparable in mobilizing volunteers and media around ocean advocacy, with a similarly mission-driven, donor-supported funding model.
• Surfrider Foundation: Global non-profit dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of oceans and beaches, with active European chapters including Surfrider Paris — a direct Swim for Change partner on the 2021 Seine cleanup. Operates a comparable volunteer-driven, event-anchored ocean advocacy model.
• Mer Terre: French non-profit dedicated to ocean protection, contributed approximately 1,000 volunteers to Swim for Change's Marseille Calanques Propres cleanup. Operates a similar French-focused, volunteer-driven marine conservation model.
• Water Family: French non-profit focused on youth environmental education, particularly water and ocean protection. Direct strategic co-development partner on the Mission Océan à l'École program with 15 years of educator reach and an ambassador network including Vendée Globe skipper Benjamin Dutreux.

Emerging players

• Lonely Whale Foundation: Ocean advocacy non-profit that uses creative campaigns and celebrity-driven partnerships to drive engagement on plastic pollution. Comparable in leveraging high-profile storytelling and partnerships rather than operating cleanup infrastructure directly.

Broad incumbents

• Ocean Conservancy: Established US-based marine conservation non-profit running large-scale public engagement campaigns (International Coastal Cleanup). Comparable in mobilizing volunteers around beach and water cleanup events, with significantly broader geographic and programmatic scope.

Regional players

• Healthy Seas: European-based foundation focused on marine debris cleanup with volunteer dive events. Comparable as a regional, donor-supported cleanup non-profit, though its operational base outside France and narrower debris focus limit direct overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/0megot
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swimforchange
• Instagraminstagram.com/0megot

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Swim For Change