IM Program
The IM Program was built on a simple idea: when young people feel confident in the water, that confidence can carry into every part of their lives.
Inspired by Michael Phelps’ journey, the program combines water safety, mental wellness, healthy living, and goal-setting education designed to help participants build confidence, resilience, and lifelong skills that support wellbeing in and out of the water.
Whats Inside
the IM Program?
Each component of the IM Program works together to support the whole child physically, mentally, and emotionally through water safety, healthy living, mental wellness, and confidence-building education.
Every session is designed to help participants feel safer in the water and more confident in themselves.
Water Safety
Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death for children worldwide. The IM Program’s water safety curriculum is designed to help participants become safer, more comfortable, and more confident in and around the water.
Through progressive in-water instruction, participants build foundational swimming and water safety skills across four levels:
IM Comfortable
IM Moving
IM Strong
IM Confident
Mental Wellness
The IM Program’s mental wellness curriculum provides interactive lessons designed to help participants build confidence, emotional awareness, resilience, and healthy coping skills that support wellbeing in everyday life.
Developed in partnership with Nemours KidsHealth®, the curriculum encourages positive conversations around emotions, self-confidence, healthy habits, physical activity, and goal-setting.
Lesson categories include:
IM Comfortable
IM Healthy
IM Successful
IM Confident
Where You Can Find
the IM Program
The IM Program is delivered in communities around the world through trusted partners including Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics.
These partnerships help expand access to water safety, mental wellness, and healthy living education in supportive community environments where participants can build confidence, resilience, and lifelong skills.
While every community is unique, the mission remains the same: helping young people develop skills that support wellbeing in and out of the water.
Learn More & Get Involved
The IM Program goes beyond swimming. It is designed to help young people build confidence, resilience, and lifelong skills that support wellbeing both in and out of the water.
Whether you are interested in partnering with the Foundation, bringing the program to your community, or supporting our mission, there are many ways to help expand access and create meaningful impact.
We are honored to work with organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America who serve individuals facing barriers to access quality water safety and mental health education. By partnering with these organizations, we can bring our IM Program to youth from all walks of life.
We work with Special Olympics International to adapt the IM Program for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Because all athletes deserve the opportunity to train and compete at high levels, our program provides high-quality training for Special Olympics swim coaches and helps them give their athletes the opportunity and encouragement to become more comfortable, confident, and faster in the water.
Bring the IM Program to Your Community
Want to run the IM Program at your club or organization?
Here’s what to expect as a partner:
- Easy-to-follow training and materials
- Ongoing support built around your team
- A flexible program that grows with your needs
How to Apply
- Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria. (Details coming soon)
- Submit your grant application online.