Swim Up Hill

Swim Up Hill is a purpose-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Paralympic medalist Jamal Hill to end the global drowning epidemic through culturally relevant, innovative swim instruction. At the heart of the organization is the patented Swim Up Hill Method™—a blended learning model that combines online tutorials, at-home drills, and short in-pool sessions to teach most individuals how to swim in just days. This method makes swimming accessible to over 50 million low- to middle-income people of color in the U.S. and abroad who have historically been excluded from aquatic education and face disproportionate drowning risk.

Our mission is to teach 1 million people how to swim every year by 2028. Since 2018, we've impacted over 20,000 lives and expanded programming into three countries, with upcoming school-year and community pool installations expected to reach over 16,800 youth by August 2025. From YMCA locations to public schools, our programs are being adopted by organizations nationwide, including the National YMCA, the Red Shield, and more.

Backed by partners such as Speedo, USA Swimming, LA84, and the LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Organizing Committee, we’re scaling a movement that blends elite credibility with grassroots reach. With more than 70% of organizational expenses reinvested directly into programs and minimal reliance on grant funding, Swim Up Hill continues to demonstrate a sustainable model of high-impact social change.

Through youth swim leagues, instructor training, virtual simulators, adaptive learning tools, and culturally relevant media campaigns, Swim Up Hill is not just saving lives—it’s improving them. By replacing fear with confidence, we are rewriting the narrative around swimming in Black, Brown, and marginalized communities. Join us as we teach, uplift, and empower—one safe swimmer at a time.