national women's sailing association

What national women's sailing association does

National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1990 by National Sailing Hall of Fame sailor Doris Colgate and operated as a program of the Women's Sailing Foundation (WSF). It is the only national U.S. organization dedicated exclusively to women's sailing education and advancement, serving women sailors of all skill levels, young women and girls ages 9-14 through the AdventureSail mentoring program, and corporate sponsors in the marine industry. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors under current President Debby Grimm and Vice-President Kris Self, with no disclosed paid headcount and no proprietary technology stack beyond a standard MemberLeap-powered website.

NWSA's core programmatic products include the Annual National Women's Sailing Conference (a multi-day event featuring 30+ classes in on-water, dockside, and classroom tracks, including the Take the Helm introductory sailing track), the AdventureSail youth mentoring program delivered through US Sailing community sailing centers, the Take the Helm monthly newsletter, the BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women's Sailing Award (annual since 1999), the She Sailor Sea Story storytelling platform, and a portfolio of scholarships (Sue Corl Youth Scholarship, Mariners Learning System Captain's License Scholarship, Learn to Sail scholarships). It maintains a network of 20+ affiliated local Women's Sailing Associations across the U.S. and a members-only directory for networking.

The revenue model is a non-dues non-profit model combining individual membership fees, conference registration fees ($250 members / $325 non-members for late registration), corporate sponsorship tiers (Admiral $5,500 down to Friend $275), individual donations, and merchandise sales (water bottles, beach towels, t-shirts, visors). Distribution is event-driven, anchored on the annual national conference and a network of partner sailing clubs and yacht clubs, with no app, no AI capabilities, and no digital-native product surface.

Name

national women's sailing association

Legal name

National Women's Sailing Association

Website

https://womensailing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Short description

National Women's Sailing Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1990 that provides sailing education, mentorship, and community programs for women and girls across the U.S., anchored by an annual national conference, the AdventureSail youth program, and a network of local sailing associations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Sailing Education and Advocacy

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Women's sailing education
• Sailing mentorship programs
• Youth sailing programs
• Sailing association membership
• Marine education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to exclusive content, member directory, discounted conference pricing, and sponsor discounts
2. Annual Conference Registration: Conference registration fees for educational workshops, on-water classes, social events, and networking. Late registration ranges from $250 (members) to $325 (non-members)
3. Merchandise Store: Sale of NWSA merchandise including reusable water bottles, beach towels, t-shirts, and visors
4. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations supporting scholarships, AdventureSail program, and general operations. Includes Sue Corl Youth Scholarship, AdventureSail donations, and general NWSA donations
5. Corporate Sponsorship: Conference sponsorship tiers ranging from Admiral ($5,500) to Friend ($275), providing brand exposure, logo placement, social media posts, and event presence

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

National Women's Sailing Association provides sailing education, mentorship, and community programming for women and girls through an annual national conference, the AdventureSail youth mentoring program for girls ages 9-14, scholarship programs, the Take the Helm newsletter, and an annual membership that unlocks directory access and event discounts. Core activities are delivered in partnership with US Sailing, BoatUS, American Sailing, and a nationwide network of local Women's Sailing Association chapters.

Product overview

National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA) operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of sailing education, mentorship, and community-building programs for women. The core offerings include the annual National Women's Sailing Conference featuring multi-track educational programming (Take the Helm® introductory sailing track, racing leadership, advanced sail trim), AdventureSail® youth mentoring program for girls ages 9-14, monthly Take the Helm newsletter, annual Leadership in Women's Sailing Award, and multiple scholarship programs (Sue Corl Youth Scholarship, Mariners Learning System Captain's License Scholarship, Learn to Sail scholarships). The organization also facilitates networking through a members-only directory and maintains a network of affiliated Women's Sailing Associations across the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AdventureSail: A mentoring program for at-risk girls aged 9-14, designed to foster the next generation of female sailors by providing early sailing opportunities and overcoming barriers preventing young women from accessing the water.
• Take the Helm

Products and services

• Annual National Women's Sailing Conference Annual three-day educational conference featuring on-water classes, classroom workshops, networking events, social activities, keynote speakers, hands-on sailing instruction, and a scholarship fundraiser for women sailors across North America.
• NWSA Membership Annual membership providing discounted conference pricing and Early Bird Workshop Selection, exclusive content (video interviews, video educational instruction), member-only directory for networking, and discount offers from sponsors and affiliates.
• AdventureSail Youth Mentoring Program Free mentoring program for girls ages 9-14 introducing young women to sailing through partnerships with local sailing clubs and US Sailing community sailing centers nationwide, emphasizing leadership, teamwork, and self-confidence.
• Take the Helm Newsletter Official monthly publication of NWSA covering organizational news, sailing education content, member spotlights, and community stories for women sailors.
• NWSA Merchandise Store Online store selling NWSA-branded merchandise including reusable water bottles, beach towels, t-shirts, and visors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 8,000 women served through women's sailing conventions over 33 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• US SailingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNWSA has partnered with US Sailing to expand the AdventureSail program nationwide through US Sailing's community sailing centers. US Sailing provides programmatic support and infrastructure for reaching young women ages 9-14 with sailing opportunities.
• American SailingflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAmerican Sailing is the Title Sponsor of the NWSA Annual Women's Sailing Conference. The partnership provides conference branding and marketing support for the annual educational event.
• Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerBoatUS co-sponsors the annual Leadership in Women's Sailing Award with NWSA. This long-standing partnership (since 1999) provides recognition and credibility for the organization's flagship award program.
• Women's Sailing Foundation (WSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNWSA is a program of the Women's Sailing Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. WSF serves as the legal and parent company, providing organizational structure and tax-exempt status for programs including AdventureSail.
• Mariners Learning SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMariners Learning System partnered with NWSA to provide Captain's License scholarships for women pursuing maritime credentials. Eight recipients were selected from 24 applicants to receive complete online Coast Guard-approved courses valued at approximately $900 each.
• University of South Florida - St. PetersburgminorOthersHost venue for the 2025 NWSA Annual Women's Sailing Conference, providing on-campus housing and classroom facilities for the event.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Women's Sports Foundation: A national non-profit advocating for women's participation in sports broadly. Comparable as a women-focused sports advocacy and education non-profit, though it operates across all sports rather than specializing in sailing.

Others

• Offshore Sailing School: Founded and led by NWSA founder Doris Colgate, Offshore Sailing School is the country's largest sailing school. It is comparable as a sailing education provider and closely connected to NWSA through shared leadership and likely cross-promotion.
• National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA): The leading trade association representing the recreational marine industry in North America. Comparable as a membership/advocacy organization supporting recreational boating, including sailing, though focused on industry manufacturers rather than end consumers.
• SpinSheet Magazine: A regional sailing publication covering Chesapeake Bay and Mid-Atlantic sailing. Comparable as a sailing community content and education platform, though as a media company rather than a membership organization.
• Sailors for the Sea: A nonprofit sailing organization focused on ocean conservation and sustainability education. Comparable as a non-profit sailing advocacy organization with educational programming, though its environmental mission differs from NWSA's women-focused agenda.

Broad incumbents

• World Sailing: The international governing body for the sport of sailing. Comparable as a top-level membership organization that supports sailing education and advocacy globally, though its scope is far broader than NWSA's women-focused mission.

Regional players

• Storm Trysail Club: An East Coast sailing organization focused on offshore sailing safety, seamanship education, and youth sailing programs. Comparable as a sailing education and community organization, though its offshore racing focus is narrower than NWSA's recreational learning mission.
• Annapolis Yacht Club: A prominent U.S. sailing and social club offering sailing education, racing, and youth programs. Comparable as a membership sailing organization providing sailing instruction and community programming, though focused regionally on the Chesapeake Bay area.

Direct peers

• Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS): BoatUS is a long-standing NWSA partner that co-sponsors the annual Leadership in Women's Sailing Award. As a membership-based boating advocacy and services organization serving recreational boat owners nationwide, BoatUS is directly comparable in operating model.
• US Sailing: The national governing body for sailing in the United States and a direct strategic partner of NWSA through the AdventureSail program. Both operate as membership-based organizations supporting sailing education, instruction, and community building across the country.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@womensailing
• Facebookfacebook.com/womensailing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women-sailing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 →

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