San Diego Rowing Club

What San Diego Rowing Club does

San Diego Rowing Club (SDRC) is a 501(c)(3) California nonprofit founded in 1888 (originally as the Excelsior Rowing and Swim Club, renamed in 1891), headquartered at the Coggeshall Rowing Center on Mission Bay in San Diego. The organization delivers rowing programming across the full skill spectrum: Learn to Row group classes and private lessons for adult beginners, year-round Masters programs (Development, Recreational, Competitive Men's/Women's, and Jedi teams) for adults aged 23+, and a competitive Juniors pipeline spanning middle school, novice, and varsity squads for grades 6-12 that feeds college recruitment placements at institutions including UC Berkeley, UCLA, Stanford, Cornell, and the Naval Academy. Core physical infrastructure comprises 55 club boats (eights through singles), 40 ergometers, 4 boat bays, the Garty Family Pavilion event venue, and a small weightlifting facility, all operated on land leased from the City of San Diego through approximately 2043 under a joint Intercollegiate Rowing Consortium agreement that also houses UCSD and USD collegiate crews.

The business model blends recurring subscriptions with episodic services and philanthropic support. Recurring streams include Regular Membership ($1,020-$1,200/year), Young Adult Membership ($600/year), competitively coached programs ($720-$960/year billed quarterly), boat storage ($420-$600/year across 72 spots), and locker rental. Episodic professional-services revenue comes from Learn to Row group classes ($180 for four sessions), private lessons ($70-$90/session), youth summer camps ($250/session for beginners, $125/week for varsity training), and corporate team building programs delivered by a dedicated facilitator. Donations accepted via check, Venmo, PayPal, and appreciated securities support equipment, facilities, and youth scholarships. Distribution is primarily direct (in-person tours at the boathouse) supplemented by online registration through iCrew and Eventbrite, with enterprise corporate outreach handled by a named account contact.

The club's economic moat is anchored by a long-tenured Mission Bay facility lease, a 137-year operating history, multiple Masters national and FISA world titles, a 2025 Youth Nationals championship, and demonstrated alumni placement at elite colleges, combined with a coaching staff that includes former national team rowers.

Name

San Diego Rowing Club

Legal name

San Diego Rowing Club

Website

https://sandiegorowing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

San Diego Rowing Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1888 that operates the Coggeshall Rowing Center on Mission Bay, offering Learn to Row classes, Masters competitive programs, youth/juniors competitive rowing, private lessons, corporate team building, private boat storage, and event venue rental to approximately 500 members and corporate clients in San Diego.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rowing Club Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Rowing club
• Youth rowing programs
• Adult rowing programs
• Waterfront event venue
• Corporate team building

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual and monthly membership fees including initiation fees for Regular, Young Adult, Junior Alumni, and Non-resident members. Covers access to facility, equipment, and rowing programs.
2. Coached Program Fees: Quarterly billed coached programs including Competitive Men's/Women's Team ($960/year), Development Team ($720/year), and Jedi Team. Includes regatta participation.
3. Learn to Row Classes: Group sculling and sweep classes for beginners. Scull I and II courses at $180 for 4 sessions. Private lessons at $70-90 per session for members and non-members.
4. Youth Summer Camps: Learn to Row camps for grades 6-12 at $250 per session. Intermediate camps and varsity summer training at $125/week. Multiple sessions throughout summer.
5. Corporate Team Building: Full-day and half-day team building programs for corporate groups. Includes rowing instruction, on-water experience, and curriculum-based debrief. Contact JoAnn Vallese for pricing.
6. Boat Storage: Private boat storage for members at $50/month for rowable spots and $35/month for storage spots. 72 total spots available (50 rowable, 22 storage).
7. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations through check, Venmo, PayPal, cash, and appreciated securities. Supports equipment, facilities, and youth program scholarships.
8. Locker Rental: Women-only locker rental at $20/month or $240/year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

San Diego Rowing Club (SDRC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1888, operating the Coggeshall Rowing Center on Mission Bay in San Diego, California. The club provides rowing programs for all ages and skill levels—including youth, masters/adult competitive and recreational rowing, learn-to-row classes, private lessons, adaptive rowing, and corporate team-building experiences—and rents its waterfront event venue for private functions and regattas.

Product overview

San Diego Rowing Club is a non-profit rowing organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs across multiple segments. The organization provides Learn to Row instruction through Scull and Sweep classes for beginners, private lessons for personalized coaching, and year-round Masters rowing programs including Development, Recreational, Competitive, and Jedi teams. Youth programming spans middle school, high school, competitive varsity, and summer camps for grades 6-12. Additional services include corporate team building experiences using rowing as a leadership development tool, private boat storage facilities, event venue rental through Garty Pavilion, guest rowing privileges, and a donations program supporting equipment and facility needs. The club operates from the Coggeshall Rowing Center on Mission Bay, housing 55 club boats, 40 ergometers, and equipment storage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Rowing Programs Competitive and developmental rowing programs for youth participants, with a strong college pipeline producing rowers who have earned 19 medals including at the Olympics, World Rowing Championships, and Henley Royal Regatta.
• Masters and Adult Rowing Programs Year-round rowing programs for adult members ranging from competitive masters athletes to recreational rowers, including monthly dues-based memberships.
• Learn to Row Classes
• Private Rowing Lessons
• Corporate Team Building
• Adaptive Rowing
• Event Venue Rental
• Regatta Hosting

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 140 youth rowers participate annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of California San Diego (UCSD) CrewcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCSD Men's Crew (since 1967) and Women's Crew (since 1973) share the Coggeshall Rowing Center facility with SDRC. Part of the Intercollegiate Rowing Consortium (IRC) agreement.
• University of San Diego (USD) ToreroscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSD rowing programs share the Coggeshall Rowing Center facility with SDRC as part of the Intercollegiate Rowing Consortium (IRC). Both men's and women's programs are housed at Mission Bay location.
• Intercollegiate Rowing Consortium (IRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint operating agreement between SDRC, UCSD, and USD for shared use of Coggeshall Rowing Center. Land leased from City of San Diego for 25 years (renewed in 2018). IRC meetings held monthly at Garty Pavilion.
• US RowingminorOthersNational governing body for rowing in the US. SDRC participates in US Rowing events and Learn to Row Day. Athletes compete under US Rowing-sanctioned regattas.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marin Rowing Club: Historic Northern California community rowing club offering programs for youth, adults, and masters rowers. Comparable as a nonprofit, membership-driven rowing club with similar age-group programming and competitive ambitions.
• Lake Union Crew: Seattle-based community rowing club on Lake Union offering learn-to-row, youth, and masters programs. Directly comparable mission, membership structure, and waterfront facility model.
• Riverside Boat Club: Boston-area community rowing club with competitive masters and youth programming. Comparable in scale, club governance, and competitive positioning within a major metropolitan market.
• Newport Aquatic Center: Southern California rowing and aquatic sports facility offering youth, masters, and learn-to-row programs. Comparable geographic market (Southern California), water-based instruction model, and competitive team structure.
• Potomac Boat Club: Historic Washington DC-area rowing club with masters, youth, and learn-to-row offerings. Comparable in nonprofit membership model, competitive masters tradition, and broad program portfolio.
• Community Rowing Inc. Boston-based nonprofit rowing organization offering recreational and competitive programs across skill levels. Directly comparable as a mission-driven, multi-segment rowing club with strong beginner pipeline.
• Oakland Strokes Rowing Club: Northern California youth and masters rowing club with strong college recruitment pipeline. Comparable as a competitive junior rowing program producing athletes for top collegiate programs.

Broad incumbents

• USRowing: The national governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. Comparable as the umbrella organization for competitive rowing, sanctioning events and Learn to Row Day that SDRC participates in.

Regional players

• Mission Bay Aquatic Center: San Diego-based multi-discipline aquatic sports center on Mission Bay offering rowing, paddling, sailing, and other water sports. Comparable by shared geography and Mission Bay location, though broader in scope.

Others

• Head Of The Charles Regatta: Iconic annual rowing regatta held in Boston. Comparable as a major rowing event ecosystem participant and brand-building venue that SDRC athletes compete in.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/san-diego-rowing-club

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 San Diego Rowing Club