PADDLE ANTRIM

What PADDLE ANTRIM does

Paddle Antrim is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2014 and headquartered in Elk Rapids, Michigan, with the mission of protecting water resources by using paddle sports to connect people to local waterways. The organization operates the Chain of Lakes Water Trail, a 100-mile designated water trail spanning 15 connected lakes and rivers across Antrim, Charlevoix, Kalkaska, and Grand Traverse counties, with 74 approved access sites managed through partnerships with 14 governmental and nonprofit landowners. Its core programs include the annual Paddle Antrim Festival (a non-competitive two-day kayaking event with 150+ participants, 76% of whom travel from outside the region), American Canoe Association-certified paddling classes, free community paddle series, and the MI Paddle Stewards water quality program.

The organization's revenue model is diversified across donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, event registrations, and merchandise. The Wavemaker corporate sponsorship program offers tiered annual contributions from $500 (Stream) to $10,000+ (Great Lake), with benefits including trailhead signage, newsletter inclusion, and festival marketing. Individual giving is structured through monthly/quarterly Wellspring recurring gifts starting at $10, the Sustainers Circle ($1,000+ annually), and the Confluence Society for planned/legacy giving. The Ripple Effect Mini-Grant Program distributes $500-$5,000 awards to local nonprofits and government entities, returning more than $19,000 to watershed stewardship projects since 2015. Operating geographies are restricted to Northern Michigan, and customer segments span individual paddlers, local communities, corporate sponsors, individual donors, and nonprofit/governmental grantees.

Name

PADDLE ANTRIM

Legal name

Paddle Antrim

Website

https://paddleantrim.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Paddle Antrim is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the Chain of Lakes Water Trail, a 100-mile paddling network across Northern Michigan, delivering the annual Paddle Antrim Festival, paddling education, watershed stewardship grants, and corporate sponsorship programs to paddlers, sponsors, and local communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Waterway Conservation Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking & River Adventures (THAJABAB), Whitewater & Paddle Sports Centers (Rafting, Kayak, SUP, Canoe) (THAAAKAF), Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Coastal Tours (THAAAIAF), Transportation & Access Services (Shuttles, Ferry Access, Scenic Drives Permits) (THAAAGAC)

Keywords

• Water trail management
• Paddling education
• Waterway conservation
• Nonprofit stewardship
• Outdoor recreation

Headquarters

HQ city

Elk Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships through the Wavemaker program at various levels ($500-$10,000), and Water Trail Champion sign sponsorships ($350/year) provide the primary funding for operations and water trail development.
2. Festival Registration Fees: Registration fees for the annual Paddle Antrim Festival (both single-day and two-day options) generate revenue while enabling participation in paddle events along the Chain of Lakes Water Trail.
3. Wellspring Recurring Gifts: Monthly or quarterly recurring gifts starting at $10 allow supporters to make ongoing contributions, providing predictable revenue for planning and sustainability.
4. Planned Giving (Confluence Society): Legacy gifts through bequests, retirement plan beneficiaries, charitable gift annuities, and other planned giving vehicles create long-term sustainability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Paddle Antrim operates and manages the Chain of Lakes Water Trail, a 100-mile designated water trail for non-motorized watercraft (kayaks, canoes, SUPs) connecting 15 lakes and rivers across Antrim, Charlevoix, Kalkaska, and Grand Traverse counties in Northern Michigan. It delivers paddling education (ACA-certified classes), community engagement events (the annual Paddle Antrim Festival and free community paddles), and waterway stewardship funding through the Ripple Effect Mini-Grant Program. Operations are supported by corporate sponsorships, individual donations, event fees, and planned giving.

Product overview

Paddle Antrim is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of programs and services centered on water trail management, paddling education, and waterway stewardship in Northern Michigan. The core offering is the Chain of Lakes Water Trail, a 100-mile designated water trail for non-motorized watercraft. Supporting programs include the annual Paddle Antrim Festival (a flexible-distance paddling event), the Wavemakers corporate sponsorship program, the Ripple Effect Mini-Grants program for waterway protection projects, ACA-certified paddling classes, free community paddles, and planned giving programs (Confluence Society, Sustainers Circle, Wellspring Supporters). The organization also operates a Water Trail Champion sign sponsorship program and an online merchandise shop. These programs work together to fulfill the mission of protecting water resources by using paddle sports to connect people to waterways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wavemaker Program: Corporate sponsorship program offering multiple levels of recognition and benefits for businesses supporting Paddle Antrim's mission.
• Ripple Effect Mini-Grants
• Sustainers Circle
• Confluence Society
• Wellspring Supporters
• Water Trail Champions

Products and services

• Chain of Lakes Water Trail A 100-mile designated water trail for non-motorized watercraft (kayaks, canoes, SUPs) connecting 15 lakes and rivers through Antrim, Charlevoix, Kalkaska, and Grand Traverse counties in Northern Michigan. Features 74 approved access sites across 14 partner organizations, with paddling routes for all skill levels.
• Paddle Antrim Festival Annual premier paddling event celebrating Northern Michigan's waters and communities. Non-competitive kayak event with flexible distances (7-42 miles), community celebrations, live music, food, vendor expo, and skills classes. Open to kayaks, tandem kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards. Registration priced at $45 one-day or $72 two-days.
• Wavemakers Program Corporate sponsorship program with tiered annual levels (Stream $500, River $1,000, Inland Lake $2,500, Bay $5,000, Great Lake $10,000+) offering brand visibility, social media recognition, trailhead signage, and event marketing benefits. Supports water trail development and operations.
• Ripple Effect Mini-Grants Competitive grant program funding projects that protect waterways and connect people to them. Focuses on stewardship, education, and increasing accessibility. Awards typically range from $500 to $5,000 to Michigan-based nonprofits and governmental entities.
• Paddling Classes American Canoe Association certified kayaking and paddleboarding classes including Fundamentals of Kayaking ($95, half-day), Level 1-2 Coastal Kayaking ($155, full-day intensive), evening sessions, and kids-specific classes. Taught by certified instructors with 5:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
• Community Paddles Free, relaxed group paddles along different sections of the Chain of Lakes, equivalent to community slow rides. Hour-long events open to all paddle craft types with no registration required. Engaged almost 100 participants throughout the paddling season.
• MI Paddle Stewards Water stewardship program focused on protecting water quality and preventing aquatic invasive species through education and hands-on training for paddlers and community members.
• Confluence Society Legacy giving/planned giving program inviting supporters to include Paddle Antrim in wills, trusts, retirement plans, or charitable gift annuities to protect waters for future generations. Creates long-term organizational sustainability.
• Sustainers Circle Annual giving program for contributors giving $1,000 or more to support general operations, with invitations to appreciation events.
• Wellspring Supporters Monthly or quarterly recurring giving program starting at $10, allowing supporters to make ongoing impact through recurring gifts and providing predictable revenue for planning and sustainability.
• Water Trail Champion Sign Sponsorship Annual sign sponsorship program allowing individuals to honor or memorialize loved ones ($350/year for 5'x3' sign panel recognition at highly visible, well-visited access sites on a kiosk).
• Online Shop (Merchandise) Online shop offering merchandise including event t-shirts, stickers, and other branded items that support the organization's mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 76% of festival paddlers traveled from outside the region, demonstrating tourism impact
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026MDNR provided funding through the Waterways Grant-in-Aid grant program and Spark Grant program to support Rotary Park improvements including the state's first permanent non-motorized boat washing station and universal accessibility features.
• Village of Elk RapidscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Village of Elk Rapids partnered on Rotary Park improvements as part of the water trail development, contributing local matching funds and managing park enhancements.
• Antrim Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026New partnership for 2026 to provide mobile boat wash station for the festival to protect the Chain of Lakes from invasive species.
• Village of EllsworthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost community for festival kick-off party and expo at Ellsworth River Park.
• East Jordan Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Village of Ellsworth for the festival kick-off party and expo.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Canoe Association: National paddlesports membership and certification organization. Comparable as a paddle sports education and safety leader whose ACA certification program Paddle Antrim uses for its classes.
• Appalachian Mountain Club: Established outdoor recreation and conservation nonprofit that operates trails, runs education programs, and manages large donor and volunteer bases. Comparable as a mature peer in the outdoor recreation nonprofit category.

Regional players

• Michigan Nature Association: Michigan-focused land and water conservation nonprofit with similar state-level stewardship role. Comparable as a Michigan nonprofit combining conservation, education, and donor-supported programming.
• Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities: Northern Michigan nonprofit working on water quality, climate, and community resilience. Comparable as a regional partner addressing waterway protection in the same geography.
• Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council: Northern Michigan watershed protection nonprofit focused on water quality monitoring and policy advocacy. Comparable as a regional water stewardship organization with overlapping donor and partner networks.

Emerging players

• Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: National nonprofit focused on outdoor ethics education and stewardship training. Comparable as an education-and-stewardship nonprofit whose MI Paddle Stewards program reflects similar programming.

Others

• Pure Michigan: Michigan state tourism marketing program under which Paddle Antrim holds its water trail designation. Relevant as the upstream state-level brand and funding partner rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Conservation Resource Alliance: Michigan-based nonprofit focused on protecting rivers, lakes, and forests through stewardship grants and volunteer programs. Comparable as a regional water trail and stewardship funder with overlapping Northern Michigan geography.
• Northern Forest Canoe Trail: Nonprofit organization that manages a long-distance paddle trail across New York, Vermont, Quebec, and New Hampshire. Directly comparable to Paddle Antrim as a water trail stewardship nonprofit that combines recreation, conservation, and community engagement.
• Huron Pines: Great Lakes conservation nonprofit operating across Northern Michigan that combines conservation, recreation access, and volunteer stewardship. Directly comparable in mission, geography, and stakeholder mix.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paddle-antrim

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 PADDLE ANTRIM