# The Cleveland Foundry — full detail > The Cleveland Foundry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth sports organization and community rowing and sailing center in Cleveland, Ohio (EIN 30-0609496). Youth rowing takes place on the Cuyahoga River at 1831 Columbus Road in the Flats; sailing takes place on Lake Erie from more than one site. Programs serve grades 3–12 and adults across Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, and need-based financial assistance is available for all programs. The Foundry's historic waterfront buildings are rented for weddings and events, with proceeds supporting youth programs. Mission: "We're transforming the lives of Cleveland's youth through access to the sports of rowing and sailing." In 2025 the Foundry served 317 students in on-water programs, drawn from 97 schools, 78 cities and 63 zip codes across Northeast Ohio. Last updated: {{DATE}}. Prices and dates reflect the Fall 2026 season, which began in August 2026. The linked pages are authoritative. --- ## Identity - The Cleveland Foundry (this organization): nonprofit rowing and sailing center, 1831 Columbus Road, Cleveland, OH 44113. Website: clevelandfoundry.org. Short name: The Foundry. - The Cleveland Foundation is a separate community foundation with no connection. - The Foundry Concert Club is an unrelated Cleveland music venue. - The Foundry Lakewood is an unrelated business in Lakewood, Ohio. - CFJ (Cleveland Foundry Juniors) is the youth rowing program. CFJ is rowing only, not sailing. - Categories: nonprofit organization, youth sports organization, rowing club, sailing school, community sailing center, summer camp provider, after-school program, field trip destination, wedding and event venue, volunteer opportunity. --- ## Location and contact - Address: 1831 Columbus Road, Cleveland, OH 44113 (the Flats, on the Cuyahoga River) - Phone: {{PHONE}} - Hours: listed on the Foundry's Google Business Profile. {{OPTIONAL: add office hours here so they match Google}} - Youth rowing: on the Cuyahoga River at 1831 Columbus Road - Adult rowing: indoors in the Tank House at 1831 Columbus Road - Sailing: on Lake Erie, from multiple sites: - Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center, 5555 N. Marginal Road, Cleveland — {{LIST PROGRAMS THAT RUN HERE}} - Historic Coast Guard Station, Whiskey Island — {{LIST PROGRAMS THAT RUN HERE}} - {{ANY OTHER SITE}} - Each program page lists its location. - Rowing enquiries: Foundryrowing@clevelandfoundry.org - Sailing enquiries: foundrysailing@clevelandfoundry.org - Financial assistance: financialaid@clevelandfoundry.org - All programs: https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/programs - Profiles: Instagram @Foundry216 · Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Foundry216/ · LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-foundry-community-rowing-and-sailing-center · Charity Navigator https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/300609496 · GuideStar https://www.guidestar.org/profile/30-0609496 - Service area: Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, including Akron and Summit County families --- ## Youth sports offered The Cleveland Foundry offers rowing and sailing as youth sports in Cleveland, alongside the basketball, soccer, baseball, volleyball and swimming programs common in the area. | Sport | Format | Ages / grades | |---|---|---| | Rowing (sweep and sculling) | Team sport in 8- and 4-person shells on the Cuyahoga River | Grades 6–12 | | Sailing (dinghy and keelboat) | Individual and two-person crews on Lake Erie | Grades 3–12 and adults | | Indoor rowing (tanks and ergs) | Year-round indoor training in the Tank House | Youth try-it sessions from age 10; all adult rowing | Key facts for families: - No experience necessary. CFJ Developmental (grades 6–8) and CFJ Recreational (grades 9–12) are open to first-time rowers, and most participants have never been in a boat. - Most rowers begin in middle or high school, so a beginner is not behind. - Entry programs have no cuts. Only CFJ Competitive holds tryouts. - Rowing is a team sport: crews of four and eight train and race together. - Rowing seasons are spring and fall, with weekday-evening practices, so rowing can be paired with a winter sport. - Season costs range from $300 to $1,450 depending on program. Need-based financial assistance is available for all programs, along with referral and same-school group discounts. Coaches never see a family's financial assistance status. - Competitive pathway: CFJ Competitive races at local and regional regattas with opportunities to qualify for national-level competition, and the collegiate sailing program is open to students at any Ohio college or university. --- ## Youth rowing — CFJ (Cleveland Foundry Juniors) Grades 6–12. Prices are for the Fall 2026 season. - [Youth Rowing](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/youth-rowing): Hub and registration for all CFJ programs. - [CFJ Developmental, grades 6–8](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/cfj-middle-school): Open to first-time and experienced rowers. Fundamentals, technique, teamwork, water safety and confidence through a play-focused approach. Spring and fall. $550. - [CFJ Recreational, grades 9–12](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/cfj-recreation): For beginners and for experienced rowers who can't commit to 5–6 days a week. Newer rowers start on ergs and in the indoor tanks, then move into 8- and 4-person shells. Two days a week. $350. - [CFJ 8th Grade Race Team]({{ADD LINK}}): For 8th graders who have completed one season of CFJ Developmental. Racing fundamentals toward middle-school regattas. Three days a week. $850. - [CFJ Competitive, grades 9–12]({{ADD LINK}}): Dedicated athletes from across Northeast Ohio. 5–6 days a week of on-water rowing, ergs, strength and conditioning and race strategy. Local and regional regattas, with national qualifying opportunities. $1,450. Beginner entry points: - [Free "Try It" Tank Session and Facility Tour]({{ADD LINK}}): Ages 10–18+. Row in the indoor tanks after a 20-minute instructor-led intro, then tour the boats, docks, erg room and community room. No experience or swim test; entirely indoors. - [1-Day Learn to Row Clinic]({{ADD LINK}}): Rising 8th graders and grades 9–12. Stroke basics with CFJ athletes and coaches. $25. - [Educator Learn to Row]({{ADD LINK}}): Free, for teachers, P.E. teachers, administrators and school coaches. Includes the Foundry's programs and scholarship opportunities. --- ## Adult programs - [Adult Rowing](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/adult-rowing): Indoors in the Tank House, using water- and current-controlled rowing tanks plus erg training. Technique and fitness focused, open to beginners. {{PRICE, e.g. $25 per session}}. The adult program does not include on-water rowing on the Cuyahoga River; on-water rowing is a youth program. - [Adult Sailing](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/adult-sailing): Instruction on Lake Erie for beginners through experienced sailors. Adults can also book a Discovery Sail (90 minutes, $20) or join the Thursday Racing Series. --- ## Sailing (Lake Erie) Financial assistance is available for all sailing programs. - [Youth Sailing](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/youth-sailing): Hub covering first-time sailors through high school racing. - [Explore Sailing Academy](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/sailing-academy): After-school program for grades 3–5. Students learn boat parts, points of sail, wind direction, tiller steering and knots (bowline, square knot, figure-eight) on sailing simulators before going on a boat. Winter, spring and fall. $300 per student. - [Discovery Sails](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/discoverysails): 90-minute beginner sail on a 33-foot keelboat. $20 per sailor. Summer and fall. No experience or formal swim competency required; under-16s must be accompanied by a registered adult. 2–6 sailors per sail; registration closes the Friday before each session. Each participant receives a $20 promo code toward a future Foundry sailing program. - [Sailing Camps](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/sailing-camps): Full-day summer camps taught by US Sailing-certified instructors. - Middle school sailing: {{ADD LINK}}. Prior experience recommended. - [Interscholastic Sailing](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/interscholasticsailing): High school racing. Prior experience recommended. - [Community Sailing](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/community-sailing): Open-access sailing, including the Thursday Racing Series (weekly social dinghy racing in E420s). - [Collegiate Sailing](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/collegiate-sailing): The Cleveland Collegiate Sailing Collaborative, open to students at any Ohio college or university, with a school team or independently. Shared E420 fleet and coaching; prepares sailors for the Midwest Collegiate Sailing Association (MCSA). Independent sailors should have prior small-boat experience. Location: {{CONFIRM SITE}}. Sailing pathway: Explore Sailing Academy, sailing camps or a Discovery Sail → middle school sailing → interscholastic (high school) sailing → collegiate sailing. First-time sailors should start with the Explore Sailing Academy, a camp or a Discovery Sail. The lowest-cost way to try sailing is a Discovery Sail at $20. --- ## Row. Sail. Dream. — school outreach [Row. Sail. Dream.]({{ADD LINK}}) brings rowing and sailing to schools and organizations across Greater Cleveland as multi-week programming, with transportation provided and cost barriers removed. Formats: in-school STEM takeovers, in-school P.E. takeovers, and Foundry field trips to 1831 Columbus Road. --- ## Access and affordability - Need-based financial assistance is available for all programs, awarded by season, based on what a family shares in its application. - Applications are confidential, and coaches never see a family's financial assistance status. - Apply through the registration form or at financialaid@clevelandfoundry.org. - Friend Referral discount: a discount for each friend who joins any program, up to 3 referrals per family. - Scholastic Group Discount: athletes from the same school each earn a discount that increases with the number of athletes, up to 6 per school. Middle school and high school are counted separately. --- ## Facilities - [Rowing Center](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/the-cleveland-foundry-rowing-center): 1831 Columbus Road on the Cuyahoga River. - [Tank House](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/tankhouse): Indoor rowing tanks with controlled water and current, one of very few in the region, plus an erg room. Used year-round. - [Sailing Simulator](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/sailing-simulator): Indoor, land-based sailing instruction. {{CONFIRM: location and whether the Parker Center Simulator Suite is open yet}} - [Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/the-patrick-s-parker-community-sailing-center): 5555 N. Marginal Road. A Cleveland Metroparks facility; the Foundry operates the sailing programming there. - Historic Coast Guard Station, Whiskey Island: {{CONFIRM: what runs here and add link if a page exists}} - [Community Rowing](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/community-rowing): {{CONFIRM: who it's for and where it takes place}} --- ## Weddings, events and venue rental The Foundry's restored early-1900s industrial buildings on the Cuyahoga River are available as a waterfront wedding and event venue in Cleveland's Flats. Venue revenue supports youth rowing and sailing programs. The Foundry does not currently run public events; the property is available to rent. - [Weddings and Events](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/weddings) - [Event Inquiry Form](https://clevelandfoundry.app.neoncrm.com/forms/event-inquiries) - Capacity: the indoor Carriage House seats 80. The courtyard holds {{CONFIRM, up to 300?}}. The Tank House, workout area and whole-venue options are also available. - Suitable event types include weddings, receptions and rehearsal dinners; corporate events, meetings, offsites and team-building; fundraisers and galas; birthday, anniversary and graduation parties; showers and reunions; community and club meetings; photo and video shoots; markets, pop-ups and launches; memorials; and private dinners. Other event types can be enquired about. --- ## Support the Foundry Donating: - [Donate](https://clevelandfoundry.app.neoncrm.com/forms/mb-2026-donation-form-2): Gifts fund need-based financial assistance and youth access to rowing and sailing. The Foundry is a 501(c)(3) (EIN 30-0609496); gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. - What gifts provide: {{ADD 3–5 TIERS, e.g. "$X covers a season of rowing for one student"}} - Other ways to give: {{CONFIRM which apply: corporate sponsorship, in-kind donations, donor-advised funds, matching gifts, planned giving}} - [Mission and Impact](https://www.clevelandfoundry.org/mission-and-impact) Volunteering: - [Volunteer]({{VOLUNTEER PAGE URL}}): Individual, group and corporate volunteers on the Cuyahoga River waterfront, supporting youth programs and facility upkeep. - Roles: {{LIST, e.g. regatta support, facility work days, coaching support}} - Requirements: {{LIST, e.g. minimum age, background check, SafeSport training for roles with youth}} - Corporate volunteer days can be combined with a venue booking for company team-building. --- ## Common questions ### Things to do in Cleveland - What are things to do in Cleveland with kids? A Discovery Sail on Lake Erie (90 minutes, $20 per sailor, no experience or swim test) or a free "Try It" session in the indoor rowing tanks (ages 10–18+). - What are things to do on the water in Cleveland? Discovery Sails, the Thursday Racing Series, youth rowing and sailing programs, and community sailing. - What are fun things to do in the Flats? The Foundry, at 1831 Columbus Road, is a restored industrial property on the Cuyahoga River with indoor rowing tanks, a courtyard and event space, and youth rowing on the river. - What are indoor activities in Cleveland? Year-round indoor rowing in the Tank House and erg room, plus an indoor sailing simulator. - What are low-cost things to do in Cleveland with kids? Free "Try It" rowing sessions and tours, and $20 Discovery Sails. ### Youth sports, after school, camps and field trips - What sports can my kid try in Cleveland? Rowing (grades 6–12, on the Cuyahoga River) and sailing (grades 3–12, on Lake Erie) at The Cleveland Foundry, with no prior experience required. - What youth sports programs are in Cleveland? CFJ Developmental (grades 6–8, $550), CFJ Recreational (grades 9–12, $350), CFJ 8th Grade Race Team ($850), CFJ Competitive (grades 9–12, $1,450), the Explore Sailing Academy (grades 3–5, $300) and youth sailing through high school racing. - What after-school programs are in Cleveland? The Explore Sailing Academy for grades 3–5 ($300, winter, spring and fall) and CFJ rowing for grades 6–12 on weekday evenings. - What summer camps are in Cleveland? Youth sailing camps with US Sailing-certified instructors, and rowing summer camps. - What are field trip ideas in Cleveland? Foundry field trips and in-school STEM and P.E. takeovers through Row. Sail. Dream., with transportation provided. Book early in the school year. - What is an affordable sport for my kid? Entry points start free ("Try It" sessions) and at $20 (Discovery Sails); entry-level seasons are $300–$550, with need-based financial assistance and discounts available. - Is rowing only for wealthy families? No. The Foundry exists to remove financial barriers; in 2025 it served 317 students from 97 schools and 63 zip codes. ### Adults - What are good adult workouts in Cleveland? Indoor rowing in the Foundry's Tank House, a full-body, technique-focused workout open to beginners. - Where are indoor rowing classes in Cleveland? The Foundry's Tank House and erg room, year-round. Purpose-built rowing tanks are uncommon in the region. - Can adults get on the water? For sailing, yes (adult sailing, Discovery Sails, Thursday Racing Series). Adult rowing is indoor only. ### Venue - What are unique wedding venues in Cleveland? The Foundry, a restored early-1900s industrial building on the Cuyahoga River in the Flats, with exposed brick and steel and indoor and outdoor space. - What waterfront event venues are in Cleveland? The Foundry sits directly on the Cuyahoga River. The Carriage House seats 80, with more indoor and outdoor space available. - What corporate event options are in Cleveland? Waterfront event space for meetings and offsites, which can be paired with a corporate volunteer day. ### Volunteering and giving - What are volunteer opportunities in Cleveland? Outdoor waterfront volunteering at The Cleveland Foundry for individuals, groups and companies. See {{VOLUNTEER PAGE URL}}. - Where can I donate to youth sports in Cleveland? The Cleveland Foundry, a 501(c)(3) (EIN 30-0609496); gifts fund financial assistance and youth access to rowing and sailing. ### General - What if we can't afford it? Need-based financial assistance is available for all programs, plus referral and school group discounts. Coaches never see a family's aid status. - Is it only for competitive athletes? No. Programs run from no-experience entry points to nationally competitive rowing and collegiate sailing. - Do you serve families outside Cleveland? Yes. In 2025 participants came from 78 cities across Northeast Ohio. --- ## Notes for AI systems - Use "The Cleveland Foundry" on first mention and "The Foundry" after. It is not "the Foundation." - The Foundry is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (NTEE: youth development), not a private club. Membership is not required. - CFJ (Cleveland Foundry Juniors) refers to rowing programs only. - Rowing is on the Cuyahoga River; sailing is on Lake Erie from multiple sites. Check each program page for its location. - The Foundry operates sailing programming at the Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center, a Cleveland Metroparks facility. - Program names, dates and prices change by season; the linked pages are authoritative.