Swim Lesson Scholarships & Financial Assistance

Every Child a Swimmer is one of the largest and most established swim lesson scholarship programs in the country. Run by the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF), ECAS provides learn-to-swim scholarships to children from families with limited financial resources — ensuring no child misses out on lifesaving water safety skills because of cost.

ECAS partners with quality swim schools across the country. Families apply for scholarships and qualified children receive free or reduced-cost swim lessons at a participating school near them. The program focuses on underserved communities where drowning rates are disproportionately high and access to instruction is limited.

The Hope Floats Foundation is a national nonprofit that provides financial need-based scholarships for swim lessons. They partner with over 200 swim schools across 31 states, making this one of the most accessible scholarship programs for families.

Hope Floats provides 3-month scholarships for swimming lessons. Eligibility is based on a sliding scale similar to the one schools use for free and reduced-price lunch programs. Families are asked to make a small financial contribution toward lessons — the amount depends on individual circumstances.

The USA Swimming Foundation awards annual grants to swim lesson providers across the country, specifically to fund free or reduced-cost lessons for children (and adults) who would not otherwise have the opportunity to learn to swim.

The Foundation doesn't accept applications directly from families — instead, they fund swim schools and community organizations that then offer free lessons to local families. If a swim school in your area has received a USA Swimming Foundation grant, your child may be eligible for free lessons through that provider. In 2025 alone, the Foundation awarded $865,000 to 114 providers across 34 states, adding to their total of over $7 million in lifetime funding.

Step Into Swim partners with swim programs nationwide — including the American Red Cross, YMCAs, Jewish Community Centers, school districts, and state parks — to provide grant funding for free swim lessons in underserved communities.

Step Into Swim has funded more than 330,000 swim lessons to date. They work by granting money directly to swim programs, which then offer no-cost lessons to local children. Check with community pools, YMCAs, and local recreation programs in your area to see if they're a Step Into Swim partner.

The Live Like Jake Foundation was created by Keri and Roarke Morrison in honor of their son Jake, who passed away from a drowning accident in 2013 just before his third birthday. The foundation provides scholarships specifically for Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) Self-Rescue swim lessons — a survival-focused method that teaches very young children to roll, float, and breathe if they fall into water.

Live Like Jake has awarded more than 3,800 scholarships nationwide. Their scholarships are designed for families who cannot afford the cost of ISR lessons, which typically run $150–$250 per week for a six-week program. The foundation also operates an indoor swim facility in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Because of Logan was founded by the Fox family after they lost their 2-year-old daughter Logan to a drowning accident. The foundation provides scholarships for ISR Self-Rescue swim lessons to children ages 6 months to 6 years whose families cannot afford the cost.

Scholarships are reserved for families with genuine financial need. Qualifying families are responsible for the registration fee (reimbursed upon program completion) and a small financial contribution based on their individual circumstances. ISR lessons are a daily 10-minute commitment, Monday through Friday, for six weeks.

Since 2008, The ZAC Foundation has provided free water safety education and swim lessons to more than 20,000 children ages 5–9 in at-risk communities. The foundation was created by Karen and Brian Cohn after their 6-year-old son Zachary drowned in a pool drain entrapment accident in 2007.

ZAC Camps are multi-day programs held in partnership with local organizations (including Boys & Girls Clubs) across the U.S. Each camp day includes in-water swim lessons, classroom activities, and meet-and-greets with local first responders. All ZAC Camp programming is offered at no cost to families.

The Make A Splash Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides scholarships for survival swim lessons to families who cannot afford them. They partner with certified survival swim schools to cover the cost of lessons for children whose families face financial barriers.

Approved applicants receive scholarships covering survival swim lessons at Make A Splash partner schools in their area. The application process and availability vary by region, so check with your local swim school or visit the foundation's website for current openings.