Michael Phelps Foundation
The Michael Phelps Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers water safety, mental wellness, and healthy living education to young people through its IM Program, distributed via Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics International.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersLitchfield Park, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Michael Phelps Foundation does
The Michael Phelps Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 by Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps to expand access to water safety, mental wellness, and healthy living education for young people. Its core offering is the IM Program, an integrated curriculum delivered through four progressive levels (IM Comfortable, IM Moving, IM Strong, IM Confident) that combines water safety instruction, learn-to-swim lessons, mental wellness education, healthy living activities, and goal-setting and confidence-building content. The mental wellness component was co-developed with Nemours KidsHealth. The foundation also operates outreach initiatives including the Caps for a Cause program (autographed swim cap auctions supporting drowning prevention, aquatic industry, and community-safety partners) and the Level Field Fund partnership, which provides grants to competitive swimmers facing financial barriers.
The foundation does not develop or sell technology products; its product is curriculum and programmatic content delivered in person at partner facilities. Programs are distributed exclusively through nonprofit channel partners rather than direct delivery — primarily Boys & Girls Clubs of America (reaching all 50 U.S. states) and Special Olympics International (operating in 38 countries across six continents as the Official Swimming Program). Supporting partners include Step Into Swim, the Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation, the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, the Association of Aquatic Professionals, and Every Child A Swimmer.
The foundation is funded through individual donations, corporate partnerships, and grants, with 80% of spending directed to programming activities. It is headquartered in Litchfield Park, Arizona, and led by Founder Michael Phelps and President Nicole Phelps, supported by a small core staff (Executive Director Karen Linhart, Program Director Cathy Bennett, Program Manager Stacy Beadle, Operations Manager Megan Johnson) and a network of seven IM Ambassadors. The organization has reached 190,000+ participants globally and holds the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency.
Michael Phelps Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Michael Phelps Foundation
- Legal name
- Michael Phelps Foundation
- Website
- https://michaelphelpsfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Michael Phelps Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers water safety, mental wellness, and healthy living education to young people through its IM Program, distributed via Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics International.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Michael Phelps Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aquatics Programs (Pools, Swim Lessons, Lifeguarding) (EDALAIAF)
Keywords
Where Michael Phelps Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Litchfield Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Michael Phelps Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: Individual and corporate donations from supporters who want to help expand access to water safety, mental wellness, and healthy living education for young people.
- Corporate Partnerships: Support from corporate partners who align with the foundation's mission to empower young people through water safety and mental wellness programming.
- Grants: Grant funding from foundations and organizations focused on youth development, water safety, and mental wellness causes.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Michael Phelps Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Michael Phelps Foundation delivers the IM Program, an integrated educational curriculum combining water safety, learn-to-swim instruction, mental wellness, healthy living, and confidence-building education for young people. The signature program includes four progressive in-water levels (IM Comfortable, IM Moving, IM Strong, IM Confident) and is offered at no cost to participants through community-based delivery partners including Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics International.
Product overview
The Michael Phelps Foundation operates a single unified program called the IM Program, which combines water safety education, learn-to-swim instruction, mental wellness lessons, healthy living activities, and confidence-building education. The program is delivered through partnerships with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics. The foundation also runs outreach initiatives including Caps for a Cause and the Level Field Fund partnership. The IM Program includes four progressive levels: IM Comfortable, IM Moving, IM Strong, and IM Confident, and was developed in partnership with Nemours KidsHealth for the mental wellness curriculum.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- IM Program: Signature program combining water safety, mental wellness, healthy living, and confidence-building education designed to help participants develop lifelong skills that support wellbeing both in and out of the water.
- Caps for a Cause
Products and services
- IM Program The foundation's signature program that integrates water safety, mental wellness, healthy living, and confidence-building education for young people, including four progressive in-water levels (IM Comfortable, IM Moving, IM Strong, IM Confident). Delivered at no cost to participants via community partners.
- IM Program for Special Olympics A global partnership with Special Olympics International that brings swimming and water safety instruction to individuals with intellectual disabilities across 38 countries, including training for Special Olympics swim coaches. Designated as the Official Swimming Program for Special Olympics.
- Caps for a Cause Outreach initiative that donates autographed Michael Phelps swim caps to nonprofit organizations focused on promoting swimming, encouraging kids to lead healthy active lives, or providing mental health services.
- Level Field Fund Grants Partnership with the Level Field Fund providing grants to swimmers who show exceptional promise but need financial assistance to continue training and competing.
Quantifiable outcome
- 190,000+ young people reached through water safety, mental wellness, and healthy living education
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Michael Phelps Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Michael Phelps Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Michael Phelps Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Special Olympics InternationalcoreMichael Phelps serves as Special Olympics Global Ambassador since 2011. The IM Program is the Official Swimming Program for Special Olympics, benefiting thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities in 38 countries. Partnership expanded from a 7-country pilot to global presence across 6 continents.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of AmericacorePrimary distribution partner for the IM Program in the United States. Boys & Girls Clubs provide community venues where the foundation's water safety, mental wellness, and healthy living programming is delivered to young people across all 50 states.
- Nemours KidsHealthcoreNemours KidsHealth developed the mental wellness curriculum for the IM Program. Their content expertise ensures interactive lessons help participants build confidence, emotional awareness, resilience, and healthy coping skills.
- Step Into SwimminorPartner organization supporting swimming education and water safety initiatives.
- Joshua Collingsworth Memorial FoundationminorFoundation partner supporting water safety and drowning prevention efforts.
- A Safe PoolminorPartner organization focused on pool safety initiatives.
- Every Child A SwimmerminorPartner organization dedicated to ensuring every child has access to swimming instruction.
- National Drowning Prevention AllianceminorRecipient of Caps for a Cause program. Organization focused on drowning prevention education and advocacy.
- Association of Aquatic ProfessionalsminorRecipient of Caps for a Cause program. Professional organization for aquatic industry professionals.
- Boys and Girls Clubs of MauiminorRecipient of Caps for a Cause program. Local Boys & Girls Club chapter.
- City of Avondale, ArizonaminorRecipient of Caps for a Cause program. Municipal partner for community water safety initiatives.
- Level Field FundminorFoundation created to support talented athletes who may face financial barriers. Michael Phelps Foundation provides grants to swimmers who show exceptional promise but need financial assistance to continue training and competing.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Michael Phelps Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Pool Safely (CPSC Campaign): A federal drowning-prevention public-education campaign focused on pool and spa safety. It is comparable in mission (drowning prevention education) but operates through regulation and awareness rather than direct instructional programming.
Others
- Special Olympics International: A current global distribution partner rather than a competitor, but operationally comparable as a large sport-based youth-development nonprofit delivering programs through accredited chapters across 200+ countries.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: A current U.S. distribution channel for the IM Program. Not a direct competitor, but its youth-development nonprofit model and club-network delivery infrastructure make it a structural comparator for how the foundation scales programming.
Direct peers
- USA Swimming Foundation: The charitable arm of USA Swimming, focused on growing learn-to-swim participation and water-safety education across the United States. It is the most direct comparable peer to the Michael Phelps Foundation, as both deliver swim-instruction and drowning-prevention programming, often in partnership with local clubs and schools.
- Swim Across America: A nonprofit that funds cancer research through open-water and pool swim events, while also supporting learn-to-swim and water-safety programs. It overlaps with the Michael Phelps Foundation on swimming-as-a-public-good framing and on community-based aquatic programming.
- Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: A global foundation using sport, including swimming, to drive social and health outcomes for youth. It is highly comparable as a celebrity-ambassador-led, sport-for-development nonprofit that funds and operates youth programming internationally.
- The V Foundation for Cancer Research: A high-profile celebrity-founded (Jim Valvano) nonprofit with a sports-aligned brand that funds grants and operates programs nationally. It is comparable as a sport-celebrity-driven foundation that leverages athletic identity for fundraising and partnership leverage.
- Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation: Founded by the Ripken baseball family, this foundation operates youth-development programs through community partners such as Boys & Girls Clubs, mirroring the Michael Phelps Foundation's distribution model and athlete-founder identity.
Broad incumbents
- Make-A-Wish Foundation: A large, established celebrity-supported youth charity. While its mission (granting wishes to children with critical illnesses) differs, it is comparable in scale, donor-driven model, and the role of celebrity ambassadors and corporate partnerships.
- American Red Cross (Aquatic Programs): The Red Cross runs the most widely adopted swim-lesson and lifeguard-training curriculum in the U.S. While a much larger and broader humanitarian organization, its aquatic programs are the dominant incumbent in the water-safety and learn-to-swim space where the Michael Phelps Foundation operates.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Michael Phelps Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceMichael Phelps Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Michael Phelps Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Michael Phelps Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Michael Phelps Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Michael Phelps Foundation
What does Michael Phelps Foundation do?
The Michael Phelps Foundation delivers the IM Program, an integrated educational curriculum combining water safety, learn-to-swim instruction, mental wellness, healthy living, and confidence-building education for young people. The signature program includes four progressive in-water levels (IM Comfortable, IM Moving, IM Strong, IM Confident) and is offered at no cost to participants through community-based delivery partners including Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics International.
Is Michael Phelps Foundation a public or private company?
Michael Phelps Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Michael Phelps Foundation founded?
Michael Phelps Foundation was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Michael Phelps Foundation based?
Michael Phelps Foundation is headquartered in Litchfield Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does Michael Phelps Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and grants.
Who are Michael Phelps Foundation's main competitors?
Pool Safely (CPSC Campaign) is listed as an emerging player. Others are Special Olympics International and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Direct peers are USA Swimming Foundation, Swim Across America, Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, The V Foundation for Cancer Research and Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. Broad incumbents are Make-A-Wish Foundation and American Red Cross (Aquatic Programs).
Does Michael Phelps Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Michael Phelps Foundation.
What industry is Michael Phelps Foundation in?
Michael Phelps Foundation's product category is Youth Development Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALAIAF, Aquatics Programs (Pools, Swim Lessons, Lifeguarding). Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 8200.