Help More Kids Thrive.
Join the Thrive Together Challenge and help the Michael Phelps Foundation expand access to water safety and mental wellness education through our IM Program.
The IM Program pairs learn-to-swim instruction and water safety education with classroom lessons that help kids understand their emotions, build resilience and set goals.
Bring your friends, family, coworkers or teammates from any sport together to raise funds that support program training, educational materials and grants. Start or join a team and help more kids build confidence and skills to thrive in and out of the water!
How the Thrive Challenge Works
Get Started
1. Start or join a team
Bring together friends, family, coworkers or teammates—or join an existing team. Everyone is welcome.
2. Make it personal
Personalize your fundraising page with a photo and why you’re supporting the challenge.
3. Share and fundraise
Share your page and invite others to give. Every dollar helps expand water safety and mental wellness education through the IM Program.
Fundraising Rewards
Raise $50 individually
Earn an MPF Thrive Champion keychain.
Raise $100 individually
Earn both the Thrive Champion keychain and an MPF stress ball.
Raise $2,500 as a team
Teams that raise $2,500 receive a signed Michael Phelps cap for their team and an entry into the drawing for a 30-minute virtual meet & greet with Michael.
Please note that reward images are illustrative. Final colors, design and appearance may vary. Physical rewards ship to U.S. addresses only. See Official Rules for eligibility and details.
See Your Impact
Frequently Asked Questions
Funds help support and expand the Michael Phelps Foundation’s IM Program through training, educational materials and grants that bring water safety and mental wellness education to more communities.
No! Friends, families, schools, workplaces, clubs and community groups can all get involved. You don’t need to swim or complete a fitness challenge to fundraise.
Yes—with parent or guardian permission and adult supervision. An eligible adult must represent the team for the drawing. Adults should oversee fundraising accounts and sharing, and avoid posting children’s personal contact information.
You may donate or fundraise from outside the United States where permitted by applicable law and supported by our donation platform. Physical fundraising rewards ship only to addresses in the 50 United States or District of Columbia; international shipping is not available. The virtual meet & greet drawing has separate eligibility requirements for U.S.-based sports-related teams and their adult representatives. See the Official Rules for full details.
The campaign runs October 20–December 18, 2026. The virtual meet & greet drawing will take place December 21, 2026. See the Official Rules for exact entry deadlines and eligibility.
Click “Start or Join a Team” above and sign up through our fundraising platform. Personalize your page, then share it with friends and family.
You can also download our Team Fundraising Guide for setup instructions, fundraising ideas and reward details.
Yes! Raise $50 on your individual page to earn a Thrive Champion keychain. Raise $100 to earn both the keychain and an MPF stress ball. Your fundraising also contributes to your team’s total.
Yes. Donations you make to your own fundraising page count toward your individual fundraising total and your team’s total.
Yes! Every qualifying team that raises at least $2,500 during the campaign receives one cap signed by Michael Phelps for the team. This earned reward is separate from the virtual meet & greet drawing.
Celebrate your team’s accomplishment! You might recognize your top fundraiser, honor an outstanding teammate, display the cap at your club, or use it as an auction item at a future team fundraising event. We recommend agreeing on your team’s plan before fundraising begins.
Celebrate your team’s accomplishment! Recognize your top fundraiser, honor an outstanding teammate, display the cap at your club, or use it as an auction item at a future team fundraising event. We recommend agreeing on your team’s plan before fundraising begins.
Qualifying fundraising rewards will be shipped by mid-February 2027. MPF will contact qualifying participants or adult team representatives to collect shipping information. Physical rewards ship only to addresses in the 50 United States or Washington, D.C.
Keychains, stress balls and signed caps ship only to addresses in the 50 United States or District of Columbia. International shipping is not available. This restriction does not prevent otherwise permitted donations or fundraising from outside the U.S. Drawing eligibility is governed separately by the Official Rules.
Email [email protected]. We’re happy to help with registration, team setup or campaign questions!
Campaign Resources
