Tri It For Life

What Tri It For Life does

Tri It For Life (TIFL) is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006 in Charlotte, NC, by OB/GYN Dr. Alyse Kelly-Jones, that mentors first-time female triathletes to complete a sprint triathlon through a 12-16 week mentor-led training program. The organization serves women of all ages, sizes, backgrounds, and athletic abilities who have little to no prior triathlon experience, pairing each new athlete with volunteer mentors—many of whom are alumnae returning to give back—across a structured curriculum of swim clinics, bike rides, run workouts, transition clinics, and mock triathlons culminating in women-only She Tris sprint events.

Operations are delivered through six regional chapters across North and South Carolina (Charleston, Greenville, Huntersville, Raleigh, South Charlotte, and Summerville), each with its own leadership team, training schedule, and local sponsor relationships. TIFL maintains an official charity partnership with USA Triathlon for the She Tris race series. The organization has no proprietary technology platform, no mobile application, and no API integrations; its digital infrastructure consists of a WordPress website (triitforlife.org), chapter-level social media, email newsletters, and merchandise storefronts on Champion and shoptifl.com.

Revenue is generated entirely through individual donations (a published 20th Anniversary Donor Roll lists gifts ranging from $100 to $2,500) and corporate sponsorships at Olympic, Sprint, and Raving Fan tiers. The organization has no paid employees, no parent company, and no venture capital or private equity involvement. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, and the organization is governed by a volunteer national leadership team including Founder Dr. Alyse Kelly-Jones, President Michelle Boyd, Vice President Beth Blake, Treasurer Janet Bracey, and committee chairs spanning Program, Communications, Social Media, and Gear functions.

Name

Tri It For Life

Legal name

Tri It For Life

Website

https://triitforlife.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tri It For Life is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mentors first-time female triathletes across six chapters in North and South Carolina through a 12-16 week mentor-led training program culminating in a sprint triathlon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Triathlon Training and Mentorship

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHSADAAAG

Endurance & Running/Cycling Training

Home & Personal Services/Fitness, Wellness & Personal Training/Personal Training (In-Person & Virtual)

SECONDARYHSADAAAA

General Personal Training (In-Person & Virtual)

Home & Personal Services/Fitness, Wellness & Personal Training/Personal Training (In-Person & Virtual)

SECONDARYHSADABAE

Cycling/Spin Classes

Home & Personal Services/Fitness, Wellness & Personal Training/Group Fitness & Bootcamps

Keywords

• Triathlon training program
• Women fitness mentoring
• Nonprofit athletic mentorship
• Sprint triathlon coaching
• Community fitness program

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals, including a published 20th Anniversary Donor Roll with contributions ranging from $100 to $2,500. Donations can be directed to the national organization or specific chapters.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Local businesses and corporations sponsor chapters at various levels (Olympic, Sprint, Raving Fan) providing financial support and in-kind contributions. Sponsors receive visibility through chapter websites, event signage, and promotional materials. Sponsorship opportunities are marketed as a way to empower women and connect with a dedicated female demographic.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tri It For Life is a volunteer-led nonprofit that mentors first-time female triathletes through 12-16 weeks of structured, mentor-led training sessions including swim clinics, bicycle rides, running workouts, transition clinics, and mock triathlons, culminating in a sprint triathlon. The program is delivered through six regional chapters across North and South Carolina and is funded by individual donations and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Tri It For Life is a volunteer-led nonprofit mentoring organization offering a unified program for first-time female triathletes. The core product is the 12-16 week mentor-led training program delivered through six regional chapters across North and South Carolina. The program encompasses athlete registration, mentorship, swim clinics, bicycle rides, running opportunities, transition clinics, mock triathlons, and culminates in sprint triathlon completion. Supporting offerings include sponsorship opportunities, a national leadership structure, and newsletter communications. Athletes and mentors can register through the website and access local chapter-specific training schedules and events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tri It For Life Core Mentoring Program A volunteer-led nonprofit mentoring program guiding first-time female triathletes through 12-16 weeks of mentor-led training sessions and clinics to complete a sprint triathlon, including swim clinics, bicycle rides, running opportunities, transition clinics, and mock triathlons.
• Chapter-Based Local Programs Six regional chapters across North and South Carolina (Charleston SC, Greenville SC, Huntersville NC, Raleigh NC, South Charlotte NC, Summerville SC) delivering localized training programs, mentor support, and community engagement for first-time female triathletes in each market.
• Volunteer Mentor Program A volunteer mentor program in which women who have completed the Athlete program or have prior triathlon experience guide and encourage new triathletes at members-only swim clinics, bicycle rides, and running opportunities.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Tiered corporate sponsorship opportunities (Olympic, Sprint, Raving Fan) for businesses to support women in their community through the triathlon training program, covering costs for pool rentals, lifeguards, police presence at races, and mock triathlons in exchange for brand visibility on chapter websites and event materials.
• Athlete Registration Program Open registration pathway for women with little-to-no triathlon experience to join as Athletes, receiving mentorship, training, and community support to complete their first sprint triathlon through their nearest regional chapter.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of women who completed a triathlon reported gaining self-confidence and self-esteem
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• USA TriathlonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri It For Life is affiliated with USA Triathlon as the official charity partner for the She Tris race series. The organization appears on the USA Triathlon website as a charitable partner supporting women's participation in triathlon.
• She TriscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri It For Life chapters train specifically for She Tris women's-only triathlon events in Charlotte, Huntersville, Charleston, and Raleigh. The partnership provides a ready-made race venue and promotes the She Tris brand to TIFL athletes.
• Swamp Rabbit Physiotherapy PerformanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOlympic-level sponsor of the Greenville chapter, providing physiotherapy and performance services.
• Endurance Ally PTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOlympic-level sponsor of the Greenville chapter offering endurance physical therapy services.
• She Tris CharlottecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Charlotte chapter trains for and participates in the She Tris Charlotte triathlon event.
• Novant HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare sponsor of the Huntersville chapter, providing health and wellness support.
• Stretch ZoneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStretch Zone has multiple chapter sponsorships (Summerville, Huntersville, Charleston) offering stretching services to athletes.
• Without Limits (WOL)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharleston chapter sponsor providing athletic coaching and training services.
• Greenville Spinners Bicycle ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind partner of the Greenville chapter providing bicycle community support and expertise.
• Champion Online StoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial merchandise partner with a dedicated Tri It For Life store on the Champion platform.
• TIFL Online Store (Shoptifl.com)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDedicated TIFL merchandise storefront for branded apparel and gear.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Dare2tri: A nonprofit that mentors first-time triathletes, with a focus on athletes with disabilities, through structured training and race preparation. Highly comparable to TIFL's mission-driven, volunteer-coached approach to onboarding novice triathletes, though Dare2tri specializes in the adaptive athlete segment.
• Black Girls Run!: A national community and running group network for Black women that combines group training runs, mentorship, and a national event series. Comparable to TIFL in building women's confidence through structured endurance training, mentorship, and a sisterhood-oriented chapter network.
• Team in Training (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society): Long-running endurance sports fundraising and training program operated by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Like TIFL, it recruits first-time endurance athletes (runners, triathletes, cyclists) and provides a structured training program with coaches and mentors culminating in race day. Both are nonprofit-operated, mentor-led endurance onboarding programs.
• 261 Fearless (Kathrine Switzer Foundation): Kathrine Switzer's global nonprofit that empowers women through running and walking programs, built around mentorship, community, and confidence-building. Comparable to TIFL in its women-only, volunteer-anchored approach to fitness onboarding, though focused on running rather than triathlon.

Broad incumbents

• Ironman Foundation: The charitable arm of the IRONMAN triathlon series, supporting triathlon-related community initiatives. It operates in the same triathlon-mentorship ecosystem as TIFL but at a vastly larger scale and with broader programmatic scope beyond first-time women athletes.
• USA Triathlon (community programs): The US national governing body for triathlon, which lists TIFL as an official charity partner. Comparable in mission to grow grassroots multisport participation through community programs, though USA Triathlon operates at industry-association scale rather than direct service delivery.
• GirlTrek: The largest public health nonprofit for Black women and girls in the US, organizing walking groups, fitness cohorts, and community health programming nationwide. Comparable in mission (empowering women through structured physical activity and community), scale (tens of thousands of participants), and chapter-based volunteer model.
• Back on My Feet: A national nonprofit that uses running to help individuals experiencing homelessness, unemployment, or other challenges build self-sufficiency. Operates structured running programs in chapters with volunteer mentors - a comparable operating model (chapter-based, volunteer-mentor-led, confidence-and-lifestyle focused) applied to a different population and sport.

Regional players

• She Tris: The official women's-only triathlon race series where multiple TIFL chapters (Charlotte, Huntersville, Charleston, Raleigh) culminate their seasons. Operates primarily in the Southeast US. Comparable because it is the specific race partner TIFL trains toward, sharing the same women-triathlon onboarding customer in the same regional market.
• Ramblin' Rose Triathlon Series: The original women's triathlon series that hosted TIFL's first chapter in 2006 and remains an integral part of the TIFL ecosystem. Comparable as a US women's-only triathlon race series focused on sprint distances, sharing target participants and geographic overlap with TIFL chapters.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tri-it-for-life

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Tri It For Life