Association of Aquatic Professionals
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our main goal is drowning prevention education. We developed a FREE drowning prevention program that has 3 parts: A portion for caregivers (we were the first organization to do this), a portion for children that both have a presentation as well as an instructor guide. We also have PSA's, a video, pamphlets and flyers in both english and spanish. We have Rowdy Gaines working on re-doing our PSA's currently. We provide a one stop shop for all aquatic professionals and partner and collaborate with any and all organizations that work towards the mission of drowning prevention. Our conference provides educational opportunities for all aquatic professionals in any facet of aquatics to ensure that they are up to date on the pool codes, risk management, liability, and safe practices at their facilities. We provide webinars and FREE newsletter each week to promote any and all aquatic safety groups and messages.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
AOAP Annual Conference & Exposition
The Association of Aquatic Professionals provides an Annual Conference and Exposition along with Diversity in Aquatics Convention. Our goals are to offer you the best educational and networking experience available at the most reasonable cost to you and your organization. You have a number of choices to register for the conference and trade show. https://aquaticpros.org/conference-exposition/
Where we work
External reviews

Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of groups brought together in a coalition/alliance/partnership
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
AOAP Annual Conference & Exposition
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2020 we became a member of the aquatics coalition http://www.aquatics-coalition.org
Number of donations made by board members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
AOAP Annual Conference & Exposition
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Board members contribute to the silent auction, the cork pull and various other annual activities
Number of return website visitors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our google analytics continue to climb annually.
Number of rallies/events/conferences/lectures held to further mission
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our conference continues to offer additional pre and post conference workshops as well as more sessions annually. With going virtual for most things in 2020 we offered many more webinars.
Number of clients participating in educational programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our participation numbers continue to rise annually for our webinars. Virtual options made participation easier for 2020
Average number of days taken to respond to customers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We have a policy to respond either immediately, if possible, however, within 24 hours at the maximum. The only way this does not happen is if the ED is abroad internationally.
Number of donors retained
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
AOAP Annual Conference & Exposition
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We continually find sponsors to assist us with providing the best educational offerings and our grant programs and all of our board members give as well as other members and non members
Number of clients reporting increased knowledge after educational programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We have conference attendees fill out session evaluations on site and then send out an overall conference evaluation. We also have participants evaluate the webinars that they take.
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We have volunteers on our board of directors, conference committee and various other AOAP Committees throughout the year.
Number of organizational partners
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We partner with various aquatic organizations throughout the year and at the conference
Total number of organization members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We continually are growing our membership by providing membership benefits that they are interested in. We are continually looking at how we can add benefits to our members.
Number of participants attending course/session/workshop
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
AOAP Annual Conference & Exposition
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Went Virtual with our conference in 2021. We were back in person in 2022 and beyond.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We provide life jackets and swim lesson grants to communities to help support the drowning prevention message. Our main goal in everything that we do is to educate professionals and the public on safe practices in and around water.
We strive to educate professionals and the public on drowning prevention education and how to run and operate facilities in a safe fashion. Also, to educate the public on water safety in general. Our overall goal is safety in and around the water. Water meaning and body of water from pools, rivers, open water, ponds, rivers, streams, home water sources such as buckets of water, bathrooms, bathtubs, basically any and all water sources.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
A. Mission Statement
“We believe in promoting and supporting the aquatic profession through advocacy, research, and education on aquatic issues and to provide a common forum for members, educators, and aquatic suppliers that contributes to their professional advancement.”
B. Vision Statement:
Description – The vision statement is given in two layers. The first layer is a general statement of vision. The second layer provides more detail on the components of the vision based on the core businesses of the Association.
Level One –
“The AOAP will be the leading organization representing aquatic professionals in advocacy, education, research, and professional collaboration.”
Level Two –
The AOAP will be the leading organization representing aquatic professionals in advocacy, education, research, and professional collaboration. This means that the AOAP will promote:
Advocacy – by getting ahead of issues and being an agent to favorably managing change affecting the aquatic industry, providing a consistent message, provide a respected and credible influence on aquatic issues, create elevated awareness for areas of concern, and presenting positions that are publicly valued.
Education – by increasing public awareness of the aquatic field, raising aquatic safety awareness, hosting compliant facilities training, demonstrating aquatic activities return on investment, and hosting forums to present non-biased information to the public and legislative bodies.
Research – promotion of current, fact-based solutions (scientific process) on aquatic issues and solutions, coordinate the investigative process that establishes resources to initiate innovation and better aquatic business practices.
Professional Collaboration – by providing a forum promoting an inclusive networking environment that fosters open idea exchanges, supportive relationships, shared goals, leadership development, and consensus building.
C. Values
The AOAP Board of Directors team will serve the Association with the following values:
“We care about our members, our profession, and the customers our members serve. We do this with integrity, respect, trustworthiness, and dedication to egoless, purpose based leadership.”
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We are proudly meeting these goals annually and we continue to grow our partnerships and collaborations with various groups.
We are the one stop shop for drowning prevention and pool code information. Our association continues to grow and get our message out there. We currently have a FREE weekly on-line newsletter that goes out to over 26,400+ individuals and that grows weekly as, again, it is free.
We provide on-line education on drowning prevention, risk management, legal liability, programming, facility operations and management and daily operations. We also developed an Aquatic Professional Designation for professionals within the field. https://www.splash-edu.org/courses/aquatic-professional-designation-aqp
We continually review our strategies and how we are getting the word out there. We participate in various radio interviews throughout the year and we promote FREE sessions during our conference for the public that cover drowning prevention initiatives.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
As stated above we have been on a mission to provide drowning prevention education, life jackets and swim lesson grants and our accomplishments have even surprised us in the mere 10 years that we have been around. We are so very excited to see what the future will bring. Our goal is to not have any more non-fatal or fatal drownings! We will continue to educate everyone on the dangers of water for children and non-swimmers and promote the importance of learn to swim programs and life jackets for all non-swimmers or not strong swimmers.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
We constantly look for feedback to continue to grow and meet the needs of aquatics education
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Getting people to provide it
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Association of Aquatic Professionals
Board of directorsas of 07/07/2023
2628949772 Cory Hilderbrand
Association of Aquatic Professionals
Term: 2021 - 2022
Cory Hilderbrand
City of Irvine
Craig Merkey
Penn State Harrisburg
Bob Kappel
ProMinent
Sue Nelson
Total Aquatic Programming
Mark Basnight
Lincoln Aquatics
Donita Grinde-Houtman
Derby Recreation
Tara Eggleston-Stewart
MNPCP
Gwen Willcox
City of Temecula
Jeff Fryer
River Road
Manda Groff
Gwinnet County
Christian Peck
Peoria Aquatics
Courtney Clay
City of Mesa
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 07/22/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.