Human Access Project
Human Access Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 that expands public swimming, recreation, and beach access on Portland's Willamette River through volunteer restoration, the River Hugger Swim Team, Splashdown events, and partnerships with Portland Parks & Recreation, Metro, and Oregon State University.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Human Access Project does
Human Access Project (HAP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 in Portland, Oregon, with a mission to transform Portlanders' relationship with the Willamette River by expanding public access, swimming, and recreation. Operating almost entirely on volunteer labor with a 1–10 person staff led by Founder/Ringleader Willie Levenson and Executive Director Scott Fogarty (supported by Community Outreach Manager McKenzie Malone, Social Media Director Therese Gietler, and an Administrative Assistant and Community Outreach Intern), HAP delivers a portfolio of community programs including the Splashdown Series (weekly summer swimming events at Audrey McCall Beach), Beach Brigade (volunteer-driven beach restoration that has removed over 360 tons of concrete and debris), the River Hugger Swim Team (Portland's official open-water swim team operating June–September), and partner programming such as the Guss Mobile Sauna (5% revenue share to HAP). Cumulative impact since 2010 includes bringing more than 50,000 people to the river, helping establish Portland's first two public beaches in a century (Poet's Beach and Audrey McCall Beach), designing six designated safer swimming areas with Portland Parks & Recreation, and spearheading a science-based coalition with Oregon State University that has raised nearly $1 million to address the Ross Island Harmful Algae Bloom. A planned Portland Waterfront Amphitheater at Tom McCall Bowl is in development with Metro, Portland Parks & Recreation, and Travel Oregon.
HAP's business model is a hybrid of voluntary donations, earned income, and institutional grants rather than a product revenue model. Individual donations are accepted at preset tiers ($50, $100, $250, $500) or custom amounts via a dedicated donation portal, with the organization stating that 99% of donations go directly to programs. Stock donations are also accepted. Program fees from the River Hugger Swim Team are modest ($30 for first-time swimmers, $6 per session for returning swimmers). Infrastructure projects are funded by government and foundation grants, including a $300,000 ARPA grant for the Cathedral Park Dock replacement and a $250,000 Metro Capital Grant awarded in 2025 for Audrey McCall Beach improvements. Event revenue (The Big Float, River Lover Cruise with Portland Spirit) and partner revenue shares (Guss Sauna, Portland Spirit at 5% each) supplement these streams. Distribution is field-based at Willamette River access points and self-serve via the website and event calendar; marketing runs through social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter/X), an email newsletter, and earned media generated by creative activism.
HAP's core competitive position rests on a 15-year community ecosystem, deep institutional partnerships with Portland Parks & Recreation, Metro, Oregon State University, Oregon DEQ, SOLVE Oregon, and the Swimmable Cities Alliance (125 signatories across 72 cities and 27 countries), and regulatory incumbency in navigating the multi-agency approvals required for river-access infrastructure. The organization has no proprietary technology, no AI capability, and no app product; its assets are the community, the programming, and the physical beach and dock infrastructure it has helped create. Leadership is founder-led, the Board of Directors is 50% BIPOC/LGBTQIA2S+, and the organization operates without parent entities, institutional investment, or private equity involvement.
Human Access Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Human Access Project
- Legal name
- Human Access Project
- Website
- https://humanaccessproject.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Human Access Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 that expands public swimming, recreation, and beach access on Portland's Willamette River through volunteer restoration, the River Hugger Swim Team, Splashdown events, and partnerships with Portland Parks & Recreation, Metro, and Oregon State University.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Human Access Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- River Access Advocacy and Public Recreation
- NAICS
- Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)
Keywords
Where Human Access Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Human Access Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: HAP accepts monetary donations from individuals at set tiers ($50, $100, $250, $500) or custom amounts via its website donation portal. Donations are the primary funding mechanism; the organization states 99% of donations go directly to funding its programs.
- Stock Donations: HAP accepts stock donations, with donors instructed to email [email protected] for transfer instructions.
- Government & Foundation Grants: HAP receives grant funding from government entities and conservation districts, including a $300,000 ARPA grant and a $250,000 Metro Capital Grant. These fund infrastructure projects such as beach restoration and dock improvements.
- Event Revenue: The Big Float served as an annual fundraiser combining a parade, float, beach party, live music, beer and wine garden, and food carts. The HAP River Lover Cruise includes complimentary food and beverages courtesy of partners.
- Program Fees: The River Hugger Swim Team charges first-time swimmers $30 for a guided swim and swim cap, and returning swimmers $6 per session, covering operational costs of the team.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Donation - any amount |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Donation Tiers |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | River Hugger Swim Team - First Swim |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | River Hugger Swim Team - Returning Swimmers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Human Access Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Human Access Project (HAP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization that expands public access and recreation on Portland's Willamette River through community programming, volunteer beach restoration, and open-water swim team activities. Its core offerings include the Splashdown Series (recurring public swimming events at Audrey McCall Beach), the Beach Brigade (volunteer cleanup and restoration program), and the River Hugger Swim Team (Portland's official open water swim team), supported by designated swimming access points and water-quality advocacy initiatives.
Product overview
Human Access Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of community programs centered on transforming Portland's relationship with the Willamette River. The core offerings include the Splashdown Series (community swimming events), Beach Brigade (volunteer beach restoration), River Hugger Swim Team (open water swimming), and swimming area access points throughout Portland. The organization operates partner programs like Guss Sauna for year-round river engagement and is developing the Portland Waterfront Amphitheater as a future initiative. Programs follow the 'Build it, Use it, Love it, Sustain it' framework to expand river access, facilitate community connections, and advocate for improved water quality.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Swimmable Cities Alliance: International alliance supporting the growth of a global grassroots movement transforming urban waterways. HAP is a charter signatory member with 125 diverse signatories from 72 cities and towns in 27 countries.
- River Huggers
- Beach Brigade
- Splashdown Series
- Guss Mobile Sauna
Products and services
- Splashdown Series Community river events featuring swimming, music, and food at Audrey McCall Beach, including Tuesday Splashdowns and Friday Splashdowns held throughout the summer months (June-August), open to the general public.
- Beach Brigade
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 50,000 people brought to the river since 2010; over 25,000 through The Big Float alone.
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Human Access Project
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Human Access Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Human Access Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Portland Parks & RecreationcoreHAP works closely with Portland Parks & Recreation to designate safer swimming areas, improve river access infrastructure, and develop public beaches. This includes a $300,000 ARPA grant for Cathedral Park dock replacement and collaborative projects at Audrey McCall Beach, Duckworth Dock, and Tom McCall Bowl.
- Oregon State UniversitycoreSince 2017, HAP has partnered with Oregon State University to study the Ross Island Lagoon and model science-based solutions for mitigating harmful cyanobacteria blooms. OSU research has informed the flushing channel solution proposed to restore natural river flow through the lagoon.
- Metro (Portland-area regional government)coreMetro partnered with HAP and Portland Parks & Recreation on the Tom McCall Bowl redevelopment project, providing seed funding and seeking national design proposals and community input. HAP also received a $250,000 Capital Grant from Metro in 2025 for Audrey McCall Beach improvements.
- East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD)minorEMSWCD provided grant funds to support HAP's Ross Island Lagoon harmful algae bloom mitigation initiative, including webpage content development.
- SOLVE OregonminorSOLVE Oregon partners with HAP's Beach Brigade program to provide supplies and logistical support for volunteer cleanup events, helping transform river banks into community beach spaces.
- Guss Mobile SaunaminorGuss Mobile Sauna is a partner of HAP providing year-round riverside sauna experiences near the Willamette. 5% of Guss's revenue is contributed to HAP in support of its mission to transform Portland's relationship with the river.
- Swimmable Cities AlliancecoreHAP is a charter signatory member of the Swimmable Cities alliance, launched on the eve of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The alliance supports the global growth of a grassroots movement transforming urban waterways, with 125 signatories from 72 cities in 27 countries.
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)minorOregon DEQ monitors Willamette River water quality and has stated that the river is safe for swimming and recreation when CSO conditions are not present, providing scientific backing for HAP's advocacy.
- Oregon Health AuthorityminorOregon Health Authority issues health advisories during harmful cyanobacteria blooms and has assessed contaminant levels in the Portland Harbor Superfund Site as too low to harm health, supporting HAP's messaging around river safety.
- Portland Bureau of Environmental ServicesminorPortland BES tests water quality at multiple Willamette River locations during summer and provides real-time alerts for combined sewer overflows, supporting HAP's safety messaging.
- MIG (landscape architecture firm)minorHAP privately fundraised to hire MIG to re-envision the Kevin Duckworth Dock as a non-motorized swim dock. MIG's resulting design received an ASLA Oregon design award and was featured in Landscape Architecture Magazine.
- GreenworksminorGreenworks served as project managers (Matt Piccone, Celia Hensey) for the Portland Waterfront Amphitheater initiative, led by the Willamette Bowl Team assembled by HAP.
- Sera ArchitectsminorSera Architects (Principal Lisa Zangerle, Stage Designer Travis Dang) participated on the Willamette Bowl Team assembled by HAP for the Portland Waterfront Amphitheater project.
- Subaru of PortlandminorSubaru of Portland is a sponsor of HAP events including the Tuesday Splashdown Series and The Big Float, providing support for event logistics and promotion.
- Portland SpiritminorPortland Spirit is a sponsor of HAP events and the host vessel for the annual HAP River Lover Cruise fundraiser. 5% of Portland Spirit's revenue supports the river.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Human Access Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Friends of the Columbia Gorge: Oregon-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Columbia River Gorge. Regional player — comparable advocacy, stewardship, and partnership model focused on a different Oregon waterway.
- Portland Parks Foundation: Portland nonprofit that funds and advocates for Portland Parks & Recreation projects. Regional player — directly comparable in mission focus and partner relationships (Portland Parks & Recreation is a shared core partner with HAP).
Direct peers
- SOLVE Oregon: Oregon nonprofit mobilizing volunteers for cleanup and restoration projects statewide. Direct peer — HAP's Beach Brigade is a documented SOLVE partner, and both rely on volunteer-driven environmental stewardship.
- Charles River Conservancy: Boston-area nonprofit advocating for and programming along the Charles River. Direct peer — closely analogous model: urban-river access, swim events, volunteer stewardship, and partnerships with municipal parks.
- Bronx River Alliance: New York-based nonprofit restoring and programming the Bronx River as a public resource. Direct peer — comparable urban-river restoration, public access advocacy, and community-event programming model.
- Surfrider Foundation: National nonprofit protecting the ocean and beaches through advocacy, cleanups, and chapter-based volunteer programs. Direct peer — shares the urban-beach advocacy and volunteer-cleanup model that HAP applies to an inland river context.
- Willamette Riverkeeper: Portland-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring the Willamette River. Direct peer — operates in the same watershed, with overlapping advocacy, water-quality monitoring, and stewardship programming alongside HAP.
- Groundwork Portland: Portland-based nonprofit focused on environmental restoration and youth engagement in underinvested neighborhoods. Direct peer — comparable mission of urban environmental restoration and volunteer engagement in Portland.
Broad incumbents
- River Network: National nonprofit supporting local river-protection groups with capacity-building and resources. Broad incumbent — operates as an umbrella for water-focused nonprofits similar to HAP.
- American Rivers: National river-conservation organization with broad policy, restoration, and advocacy programs. Broad incumbent — operates at national scale on overlapping river-protection themes; HAP is a local implementation peer within the same movement.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Human Access Project social profiles
Digital presenceHuman Access Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Human Access Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Human Access Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Human Access Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Human Access Project
What does Human Access Project do?
Human Access Project (HAP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization that expands public access and recreation on Portland's Willamette River through community programming, volunteer beach restoration, and open-water swim team activities. Its core offerings include the Splashdown Series (recurring public swimming events at Audrey McCall Beach), the Beach Brigade (volunteer cleanup and restoration program), and the River Hugger Swim Team (Portland's official open water swim team), supported by designated swimming access points and water-quality advocacy initiatives.
Is Human Access Project a public or private company?
Human Access Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Human Access Project founded?
Human Access Project was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Human Access Project based?
Human Access Project is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Human Access Project make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are stock Donations, government & Foundation Grants, event Revenue and program Fees.
Who are Human Access Project's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Friends of the Columbia Gorge and Portland Parks Foundation. Direct peers are SOLVE Oregon, Charles River Conservancy, Bronx River Alliance, Surfrider Foundation, Willamette Riverkeeper and Groundwork Portland. Broad incumbents are River Network and American Rivers.
Does Human Access Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Human Access Project.
What industry is Human Access Project in?
Human Access Project's product category is River Access Advocacy and Public Recreation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAK, Water Resources & Watershed Protection, with a secondary code of THAAALAB, Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing). Its NAICS code is 5629 and its SIC code is 7997.