What STRIDE Adaptive Sports does

STRIDE Adaptive Sports (legal entity STRIDE, Inc.) is a 501(c)-style nonprofit founded in 1985 by Mary Ellen Whitney and headquartered in West Sand Lake, New York, in the greater Capital Region of upstate New York. The organization delivers free and low-cost adaptive sports and recreation instruction to individuals with disabilities, operating 18 different sports programs (skiing/snowboarding, sled hockey, swimming, tennis, golf, bowling, sailing, kayaking, dance, Tae Kwon Do, bocce, wheelchair basketball, whitewater rafting, iCan Bike, fitness classes, and youth programs) across 28 venues in partnership with mountain resorts, community centers, schools, and healthcare providers. Specialized adaptive equipment (mono-skis, bi-skis, ski-bikes, kayaks with wristband paddle adaptations, adapted sailing sloops, and an Alter-G Anti-Gravity treadmill) and 350+ trained volunteer instructors enable instruction for participants with developmental, intellectual, and physical disabilities.

STRIDE operates two owned/operated facilities: the SHARE Center (STRIDE Health and Recreation Education), a 5,000 sq. ft. adaptive fitness and community center opened in 2019 and renovated in 2022 with Mother Cabrini Health Foundation support, and SCORE (STRIDE Center for Outdoor Recreation and Education), an 85-acre camping retreat facility in Chatham, NY operated since 2012. The organization runs three core programs serving distinct segments: the year-round Youth Club and adaptive sports lessons for children and youth with disabilities (ages 5-21) in Capital Region schools; the Wounded Warfighters Program (since 2006) for Post-9/11 combat-injured veterans integrated as mentors to youth; and inclusive fitness/community programming at SHARE Center open to the general public.

The business model is donation- and grant-driven: revenue derives from individual donations, corporate sponsorships ($250-$2,500+ tiers), foundation and government grants (Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, GE Healthcare, Regeneron, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Dralla Foundation), employee giving programs (United Way, SEFA, matching gifts), legacy/planned giving, in-kind donations (~25% of revenue), and nominal program fees ($10-$75). Pricing for participants is intentionally low or free, with the Dave & Marisa Clark Memorial Scholarship Fund covering costs for families in need. STRIDE is governed by a ten-person Executive Board and operates with a lean paid staff of 4 (2 full-time, 2 part-time) plus seasonal program directors and college interns. Leadership transitioned in March 2024 when founder Mary Ellen Whitney retired after 40 years and Alex Brame was appointed Executive Director.

Name

STRIDE Adaptive Sports

Legal name

STRIDE, Inc.

Website

https://stride.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

STRIDE Adaptive Sports is a 40-year-old nonprofit providing free and low-cost adaptive sports instruction across 18 sports at 28 venues in upstate New York's Capital Region, serving youth with disabilities, wounded veterans, and the broader community through volunteer-driven programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Sports & Recreation Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Adaptive & Para-Sport Coaching (HSADAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK), Adaptive & Special Needs Personal Training (HSADAAAL), Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)

Keywords

• Adaptive sports programs
• Disability recreation services
• Adaptive ski instruction
• Nonprofit community programs
• Accessible fitness services

Headquarters

HQ city

West Sand Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals, with various options including one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, and end-of-year campaign contributions. IRA transfers up to $100,000 available for donors 70.5+.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities ranging from $250 to $2,500+ for signature events, sports teams, and programs. Sponsors receive visibility throughout the Capital Region.
3. In-Kind Donations: In-kind donations of items and services make up approximately 25% of STRIDE's revenue, including building materials, supplies, items for silent auction fundraisers, and water/snacks for events.
4. Foundation and Government Grants: Grants from foundations, corporations, and government entities supporting adaptive sports programs.
5. Employee Giving Programs: United Way campaign payroll deductions, SEFA (State Employees Federated Appeal) for NY State employees, and employee matching donation programs.
6. Legacy/Planned Giving: Major gifts, legacy donations, and estate planning vehicles including Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs.
7. Program Registration Fees: Low-cost or free programs with administrative fees typically ranging from $25-$55. Scholarships available for families with demonstrated financial need.
8. Event Registration: Race entrance fees such as $75 for The Great Race which includes ski pass, coaches, rental equipment, two runs, lunch, and medal ceremony.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

STRIDE Adaptive Sports is a non-profit organization delivering 18 adaptive sport and recreation programs across the Capital Region of upstate New York. It teaches over 11,000 free and low-cost lessons annually to individuals with disabilities using trained volunteer instructors and specialized adaptive equipment, supplemented by the SHARE Center fitness facility and SCORE 85-acre outdoor camp.

Product overview

STRIDE Adaptive Sports is a non-profit organization providing 18 different adaptive sport and recreation programs for individuals with disabilities across the greater Capital Region of upstate New York. The organization operates a portfolio of programs including: the SHARE Center (a 5,000 sq. ft. adaptive fitness and community facility opened in 2019) and SCORE Camp (an 85-acre outdoor recreation retreat since 2012); individual sports programs (skiing/snowboarding, sled hockey, swimming, tennis, golf, bowling, sailing, kayaking, dance, Tae Kwon Do, bocce, wheelchair basketball, whitewater rafting); youth programs (Youth Club, Friday Night Out); the Wounded Warfighters Program for combat-injured veterans since 2006; and iCan Bike Camp for teaching cycling skills. Major annual events include The Great Race, 100K Vertical Challenge, Wounded Warrior Snowfest, and STRIDE Night @ The Joe. The organization also maintains a scholarship fund and online registration/donation systems through CiviCRM.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SHARE Center: STRIDE Health and Recreation Education Community Center - adaptive fitness and wellness facility opened in 2019
• SCORE
• Capital District Sled Warriors
• Warfighter Program

Products and services

• SHARE Center (Adaptive Fitness Facility) A 5,000 sq. ft. community fitness facility in West Sand Lake, NY featuring an adaptive gym with Alter-G Anti-Gravity treadmill, fitness classes, Warfighter Family Lounge, and multimedia conference room. Available for community members with and without disabilities.
• SCORE Camp (Outdoor Recreation Retreat) An 85-acre camping retreat facility in Chatham, NY hosting themed sleep-away tent-camping weekends, archery, disc golf, fishing, hiking, and outdoor education programs for youth with disabilities, families, Wounded Warrior retreats, and group use.
• Ski/Snowboard Program Adaptive ski and snowboard lessons at Jiminy Peak, Catamount, and Titus Mountain resorts, with discounted lift tickets, equipment rentals, and adaptive instruction for individuals with developmental, intellectual, and/or physical disabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 11,000 free and low-cost adaptive sport lessons taught annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Move UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner member of Move United Sports, a Paralympic Sports Club, and member of Move United. STRIDE Warfighters Program is a partner member of Move United Sports and US Paralympic Sport Club, enabling access to national competitive events and resources.
• Special OlympicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial Olympics Training Club enabling athletes to compete in Special Olympics events including swimming, bowling, and skiing competitions. Collaboration on new programs at SHARE Center.
• PSIA-E (Professional Ski Instructors of America - Eastern)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial PSIA-E member school. Founder Mary Ellen Whitney serves on the steering committee and board of educational staff at PSIA/AASI Eastern division. STRIDE produced a national video used through PSIA for training adaptive coaches.
• Jiminy Peak Mountain ResortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary ski/snowboard location for over 20 years. Provides discounted lessons, equipment rentals, and lift tickets. Hosts The Great Race and 100K Vertical Challenge events. Home of STRIDE Race Team.
• Catamount MountainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSki/snowboard location in Hillsdale, NY offering adaptive lessons December-April with discounted packages.
• Titus MountainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSki/snowboard location in Malone, NY offering adaptive lessons with discounted packages.
• American Canoe AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing support and resources for kayaking program with wristband paddle and hand adaptations.
• L.L. BeanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting kayaking program with equipment and expertise for adaptive paddle adaptations.
• iCan ShinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner providing the iCan Bike program (formerly Lose the Training Wheels) with fleet of adaptive bikes and training methodology for teaching children with disabilities to ride two-wheeled bikes.
• Union CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for iCan Bike Camp at Memorial Field House. Provides space and facilities for sled hockey programs.
• Saratoga Lake Sailing ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for sailing program with certified sailing instructors and adapted sloops.
• Beaverbrook OutfittersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhitewater rafting partner in North Creek, NY providing trips on the Hudson River gorge for annual rafting program.
• Joseph P Dwyer Veterans Peer Support ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for veteran peer support programs supporting Warfighter community.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual sponsor for Wounded Warrior Snowfest and veteran programming.
• American LegionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual sponsor supporting veteran and youth adaptive sports programs.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Move United: Move United (formerly Disabled Sports USA) is a national umbrella organization for adaptive sports of which STRIDE is a member. It directly overlaps on mission and offers a useful benchmark for scaling adaptive sports infrastructure nationally.
• National Ability Center: The National Ability Center in Park City, Utah, is a year-round adaptive sports facility offering skiing, rafting, cycling, and equine programs—directly analogous to STRIDE's combined SHARE Center and SCORE Camp offerings but at significantly larger scale.
• Wounded Warrior Project: WWP is a national nonprofit serving post-9/11 wounded veterans via adaptive sports, mental health, and rehabilitation programs—a similar population overlap to STRIDE's Warfighter Program. Comparable as an incumbent partner/funding entity in the wounded warrior adaptive sports space.
• Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF): CAF is a national nonprofit that funds adaptive sports participation through grants to athletes—overlapping STRIDE's mission but operating a grant-making rather than direct-service model. Comparable as a peer in the adaptive sports funding ecosystem.

Direct peers

• New England Disabled Sports: Based in New Hampshire at Loon Mountain and Waterville Valley, NEDS delivers adaptive ski and snowboard programming for individuals with disabilities, directly comparable to STRIDE's ski/snowboard program at Jiminy Peak, Catamount, and Titus Mountain.
• Special Olympics New York: STRIDE is a Special Olympics Training Club, and Special Olympics NY is the state-level affiliate serving similar athletes with disabilities through training and competition in many overlapping sports (swimming, bowling, skiing, bocce). Direct peer on population served and competitive pathways.
• Northeast Passage: Based at the University of New Hampshire, Northeast Passage delivers adaptive sports and recreation across New England with a similar multi-sport, volunteer-driven model. It is directly comparable as a regional adaptive sports provider with university affiliation and youth/adult/adapter programs.
• Achieve Tahoe: Achieve Tahoe (formerly Disabled Sports Center of WinterPark) provides year-round adaptive sports in California/Nevada with skiing, cycling, and paddling programs—directly comparable as a regional adaptive sports instruction provider with PSIA ties.
• Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports: Vermont Adaptive provides year-round adaptive sports and recreation in Vermont—adjacent STRIDE's Northeast geography—with a similar mix of skiing, water sports, and mountain programming. Direct comparable on scope, region, and volunteer/instructor model.
• Eagle Mount: Eagle Mount in Bozeman, Montana, is a non-profit providing adaptive skiing, horseback riding, swimming, and recreation to people with disabilities—a similar multi-sport, volunteer-driven, regional operating model directly comparable to STRIDE.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCu70PqQQX-Fvh9GkLF0vtaw
• Facebookfacebook.com/stridecommunityfitness
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stride-adaptive-sports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 STRIDE Adaptive Sports