Become a Partner
The 505 Swimming Scholarship Program is made possible through the support of individuals, businesses, and organizations who believe every child should have the opportunity to learn lifesaving swimming skills. Your support helps us provide swim lessons to New Mexico families who otherwise cannot afford them. Whether you are an individual donor, local business, corporation, or nonprofit organization, your contribution of any size helps expand access to swim education across our state!
Our Sponsors
The Importance of Swim Lessons
Drowning remains one of the leading causes of death among children, and New Mexico ranks 9th in the nation for drowning accidents per capita
According to the CDC and American Red Cross, swim lessons are one of the most effective ways to reduce this risk. However, in a study, the Red Cross found that 80% of children in families with a household income below $50,000 have few to no swimming skills.
The 505 Swimming Scholarship Program was created to help change that. Since 2022, we have taught thousands and thousands of students across New Mexico and operate programs in four cities statewide. Our scholarship initiative ensures that access to swim education continues to expand so that more children have the opportunity to learn this essential life skill. This year, we will offer scholarships to over 150 children from families with financial need across New Mexico, and with the support of people and organizations in our community like you, we will be able to reach even more!
Corporate & Community Partnerships
We welcome partnerships with businesses, foundations, and community organizations that want to help support water safety and youth development in New Mexico. Sponsors play an important role in helping us expand the reach of the 505 Swimming Scholarship Program.
Sponsors will be recognized as supporters of the scholarship program and our mission to expand access to swim education. Please contact us via email at scholarships@505swimming.com to learn more and receive our sponsor info packet. This packet includes more info about sponsor benefits and our program.
If your business or organization is interested in becoming a sponsor, we would love to connect! We thank you for helping us expand access to swim education and make a lasting impact in the communities we serve!
Individual Contributions
How Funding Is Used
All donations supporting the 505 Swimming Scholarship Program are administered through our national nonprofit partner, Every Child a Swimmer. This structure independently ensures that all funds are used exclusively and directly to support swim lessons for children.
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Here's how the process works:
1. Donations are directed to Every Child a Swimmer
Donor contributions supporting the scholarship program are received and administered by our partner organization.
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2. Scholarships are awarded to qualifying families
Families apply for scholarships through the 505 Swimming Scholarship Program and must provide documentation verifying financial need. Every child who receives an award will receive a full scholarship for 20 free classes. Awards are only given to children in beginner swim levels.
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3. Lessons are attended by students
Students participate in their scheduled swim lessons through the 505 Swimming program, with required attendance.
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4. Verification & reporting are completed
Program documentation including lesson registration records and family income verification is submitted to Every Child a Swimmer.
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5. Funds are disbursed for lessons provided
Once verification is complete, scholarship funds are sent to 505 Swimming for the lessons that were delivered.
The 505 Swimming Scholarship Program is already supported by generous grants from our partners as well as contributions from 505 Swimming. The swim lessons that we offer are the lowest cost lessons of any private organization in every region in which we teach, and in areas like Farmington, our programs are the only way that children are able to receive swim lessons. Our target is to offer scholarships to 300 students annually using the funding structure below.
Our Commitment
The 505 Swimming Scholarship Program operates with the goal of expanding access to swim education while maintaining the same high standards of instruction provided in all 505 Swimming programs. We are committed to ensuring that scholarship funds are used responsibly and directly support swim lesson access for qualifying families. All money contributed funds 100% paid scholarships for students via our partner Every Child a Swimmer, at market rate. The market rate for our classes is below that of any other private organization in every region we operate. Absolutely no money above the ordinary cost of classes is ever kept by us as part of this program. We are also committed to providing additional scholarship opportunities for families through annual matching of donations.
Your Impact
Contributions to the 505 Swimming Scholarship Program directly support swim lesson access for children and families in Albuquerque, Farmington, and Santa Fe. Every donation helps provide professional instruction, water safety education, and the opportunity for a child to build lifelong confidence & safety in the water.
Here are examples of how donations can make a difference:
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$16
Fund one class for a child like Judith from Bloomfield
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$80
Fund five classes for a child like Santiago from Santa Fe
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$120
Join another donor to fully support a full scholarship for a child from Albuquerque
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$240-320
Fund a full scholarship for 20 classes for a child like Ismena from Albuquerque or Titus from Santa Fe
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$1000
Fund full scholarships for 3 students in the Farmington or Santa Fe metro areas
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$10,000
Be the reason 40+ children in the ABQ metro learn to swim with full scholarships for 20 classes
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$20,000
Fund full scholarships for 70-80+ children across the state of New Mexico
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Every contribution helps expand access to swim education and ensures more children in our communities have the opportunity to learn lifesaving skills!
Questions?
If you have more questions or want to schedule a call to discuss how you can support the scholarship program, the benefits & recognition your organization will receive, and how your money will be used, please send an email to scholarships@505swimming.com or give us a call at (505) 216-6617!