Today, WCC finds itself at a crossroads: It is imperative that WCC rehabilitate the boathouse, both to stop the building from further deterioration and to satisfy our lease obligations with the National Park Service.

Rehabilitating the historic boathouse has been years in the making. After several fits and starts, WCC has a new path forward. Our multi-phased financially feasible approach addresses both the boathouse’s most urgent renovation needs and reinvigorates the Club for future growth.

Phase 1: Renovation and Stabilization

Estimated Start Date: 2025
Funding Goal: $2.5M

The Club’s new strategy focuses on repairing and rehabilitating the boathouse’s structural integrity, stabilizing its exterior, and improving its physical appearance. This critical work will preserve the historic character of the boathouse, protect the structure from further deterioration, and rehabilitate WCC’s iconic architectural presence on the Potomac River. These improvements will allow the Club to reoccupy the entire ground floor of the boathouse, open the West Bay for indoor boat storage, and expand our community-building activities.

RENOVATION HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Stabilizing the entire boathouse structure, ground floor and second floor.
• Replacing the roof and west wall.
• Repairing/replacing shingles, wood trim, soffits, windows, and doors.
• Repainting the entire structure.
• Redirecting the water currently impacting the boathouse.
• Remodeling the West Bay so it can be used for indoor boat storage.
• Relocating the weight room from the East Bay to increase indoor storage.
• Adding temporary men’s and women’s locker rooms, restrooms, and showers.
• Transforming the former grill room into a weight room, open to members year-round.

Based on the success of our early fundraising efforts and necessary permitting, we anticipate beginning Phase 1 renovations in 2025. Following the successful completion of Phase 1 and with additional funding, subsequent phases and renovation projects will begin. Our ultimate goal is a fully rehabilitated boathouse prepared for decades of further use and enjoyment.

How You Can Help

WCC is eager to build on our long history as a paddling and community hub and rehabilitate the boathouse to its original beauty and purpose.

Since 2015, generous WCC members and other supporters have contributed over $500,000 in restricted donations to our Building Fund. These funds have been held in our organizational reserves and will be dedicated to the implementation of Phase 1. We are moving through the early stages of our fundraising campaign, soliciting requests and garnering support from those enthusiastic about our mission and plans for the future. To express WCC’s belief in the potential of this project, 100% of our Board of Directors and Fundraising Committee have made generous campaign commitments. Now, we need your help!

An investment of $1M or more is needed from a group of passionate individuals who can support our campaign. In addition, we intend to utilize a combination of WCC reserve investment and bank financing toward the goal.

• Make a secure online donation via PayPal or debit/credit card
• Make a multi-year pledge by downloading and filling out the WCC Gift Commitment Form below
• Mail a check to Washington Canoe Club, PO Box 25449, Washington D.C. 20027
• Contact the Fundraising Committee for information about a donation via direct deposit, stock, securities, IRA, etc.: fundraising@washingtoncanoeclub.org.

Support Our Campaign

We are calling on you, our WCC community, to help us raise the funds necessary to achieve Phase 1 of our plan.

Make a One-Time Leadership Gift or Pledge
Our immediate need is to garner early support for our campaign to ensure a successful start to our renovation efforts. Your generosity will galvanize other individuals, support continuing and expanded Club membership, assist in securing financing for subsequent phases, and propel our rehabilitation efforts forward. You may choose to make a one-time gift or a multiyear pledge.

Join the Champion’s Circle
The Champion’s Circle is a group of remarkable donors who have made cumulative gifts of $10,000 or more to our renovation campaign as part of this recent fundraising effort or in years past. Their strength and commitment serve as a beacon for others to step forward and help keep the WCC strong for future generations. In honor of their lasting impact, Champion’s Circle donors will be recognized on a special plaque in the WCC’s remodeled boathouse. Donors may also choose to remain anonymous.

Learn More

Additional campaign resources and documents are found below. If you have questions about our campaign or how to donate, please contact fundraising@washingtoncanoeclub.org.

Renovation Email Updates:
October 2025
August 2025
February 2025
January 2025
November 2024
October 2024
August 2024

Champion’s Circle donors ($10,000+) will be recognized on a special plaque in the WCC’s remodeled boathouse.

Champion’s Circle $10,000+

Bob and Amy Allen
Anonymous
Mercedes and Mark Baird
Norm Bellingham
George Bernstein
Chris Brown
Joe Cafferata and Allison Davis
Tom Cooney
Cynthia and Brad Carpenter
David Cottingham
David Crawford
Sally Davidson
John and Heidi Fahey
Mo Fathelbab
Doug Gelfand
Robin Gradison and Richard Whitmire
Charisse and Gene Hiigel
Hugh Hillard
Mark R. Koumans and Lucy F. Perkins
Grace Hong and David Olsen
Kimberly and Tom Lane
Malen Link
Coralie Miller
Melissa Diane Obegi
Steve Pearlman and Laura Nelson
David Petrovics
Blaise and Kelly Rhodes
Sam Ritchie
Leslie Roberts
Linda and Jim Ross
Joel Rynes
Denise Schlener and George Bren
Larry and Jen Schuette
Shirley Schuette 
Andrew and Samantha Soles
Stephen Weiss
Maureen and Mark Williams

Campaign Donors $5,000 - $9,999

Anonymous
Randy and Lisa Cone
Louise Flynn
Marcy Garland
Rosemary Leblond
Michael and Carmela Leith
David Podloch
Holly Stewart
Susan Welchman
Cheryl Zook

Campaign Donors $1 - $4,999

Tina Aghili
Sylvan Altieri
Dale Andrade
Anonymous
Kimberly Baker
Pope Barrow
Judith Bell
Norman Bell
Suzanne Berl
Todd Bewley
Julia Blatt
Andrew Blenkle
Hilary Boardman
Arlene Bowes
Robert Bowman
Susan Braatz
Robert Brock
Caroline Brosius
Eden Brown
Hilary Brown and Charles Read
Robinson Brown
Andrea Browning
John Brunschwyler on behalf of the Halich family
Ingrid Bush
Jamie Butler
Leo Cacatian
Jared Callahan
Derek Campbell
David Cantrell
Ellen Carberry
Richard Carroll
Lori Cassels
Dennis Chambers
Dennis Chapman
Chris Chiras
Jeff and Christie Ciabotti
Daniel Cidon
Joel Clement
Caroline Cooney
Joshua Corn
Margaret Coulombe
Denis Crean
Kenneth Crocket
Louise Cromwell
John Dahill
Audrey Dannenberg
Barbara David
Nathaniel Day
Todd DeLelle
Thomas DeMuth
John Deriggi
Matthew and Paige DeZee
Jackie Diedrich
Margaret Dubeck
Tammy Duchesne
Andrew Dunham
Tomasz Dziadkowiec
Geoff Dugeon & Kristi Martinsen
Karl Egbert
Lisa Enloe and Sandra Tullius
Amy Erwin
Bryan Fenton
Alberto Fernandez
Alice Findler
Kenneth Fisher
Scott Fisher
Paul Flack
Joanne Flanders
Henry Fonvielle
John and Kim Franklin
Ivan Gale
Matthew Gardner
Todd Georgelas
Elizabeth Gilliland
Neal Glickfield
Erin Golding
George and Fran Goodall
Sharon Goodall
John & Judith Goodrow
Brian M. Grant
Karl Grass
Robin Griffin
Nathaniel Gueltzau
Mary Ann Haas
Michael Hagar
David Halpern
Dan Hammer
Adrienne Hand
Peter Harnik
Theresa Haught
Bonnie and Dan Havens
Christine Hayes
Saunders Hillyer
Paul Hirsch
James Holt
Jennifer Howard
Herb Howe
Nicholas Hudak
Craig Hukill
Philippa Hughes
Terry L. Hume
Kevin Humphreys
Jason Jarrell
Emil "Charlie" Johnson
Amber Jones
Laura Jones
Cindy Kacher
Laura Kaufer
Susan Kelly
Ryan Key
Julie Kim
Rita Klees
Carrie and Patrick Klein
Erica Klinger
Stephanie Knabe
Sherman Knight
Kyle Kosinski
Steve Krehbiel
Henry Labalme
Glenn-Marie Lan
Michelle Lapinski
Jason Lee
Steven Lee
Adrienne Leon
Peter Leyton
Patricia Linderman
John Long
Margaret Lopez-Balboa
Martin Lowenfish
Christopher Luchtedfeld
Jeff Ludwig
Matt Luff
Wendy Lynch
Adrian Mackenna
Caitlin MacKenzie
Lisa Man
Timothy Manning
Alex Marki
David Marsh
Larry Martin
Karl Mattison
Lynn Mattucci
Lance Mabry
Sandra Marquis
Jorge Mazo
Christine McCann
Steve McClain
Jimmie McClellan
Robinson McClellan
Rosalind McClellan
Michael McErlean
Hugh McFarlane
Thomas McHenry
Michele McMahon
Kathleen McNamee
Catherine Melquist
Marc & Cassie Meyer
Angela Miller
Alexander Moen
Kate Mooney
Tobin Moore
Jennifer Morris
John Mott
Elisa Lees Munoz
Patricia Munoz
Caryle Murphy
Andrew Myburgh
The Nelson Family
Joseph Nichols
Judson Nirenberg
Lawrence Novey
Dawn Carla Nunziato
Carole O'Gara
Claudia Oglialoro
Masako Ohashi
Haruhisa Ohtsuka
Andre Olivier
John Ord
Fredrick Osborn
JD Pell Osborn
Debra Page
Katherine Palmer
Owen Anthony Palmiotti
Pheobe Papageorgiou
Gail Parry
Patagonia
Rob Patterson
Anthony Peck
Elizabeth Pennisi
Bill Per-Lee
Robert Perschel
Sarah Pheasant
Laura Porras
Helen Quick
Edward Rackley
Gordon Radley
Lisa Ramm
Alexander Rasmussen
Emilia Rastrick
Elizabeth Ravesteijn
Sheldon Ray
Thomas Reiter
Cary Ridder
Mary Rollefson
Thomas Rondeau
Gil Ross
Ian Ross
Mary Ross
Christina Rovelli
Carly Rubenstein
Emily Russell
Shane Rye
Andres Sandoval
Gisele Saralegui
Neil Schechter
Timothy Schieffelin
Richard Schoenfeld
Michele Schurtz
Carlo Sdralevich
Alexia Saliba
Clare Sant
Terrence Sauvain
Paula Schasberger
Neil Schecter
Ed Sharp
Catherine Schmidt
Alejandro Schwedhelm
Allison Scuriatti
Neil Sheehan
Susan Shen
Geoffrey Shepherd
Susan Shillinglaw
George Smawley
Stuart Smith
Kermit Smyth
Brent Snow
Sydney Soll
Alice Spencer
Benjamin Spencer
Samuel Spencer
Felix Springer
Chris Stacey and Sam Stebbins
Kiersten Stadler
Mary Stapp
Elizabeth Lesley Stevens
Kim Stewart
Chris Stomberg
Elizabeth Stone
Drew Story
Kelly Strategies
Bret Strogen
Samuel Strokes
Peter Stuchlak
Beverly Sullivan
Kathleen Summers
Peter Swiek
John Tambornino
Kristen Tauber
Eric Teoh
Susan Thornton
Jennifer Touchette
Chris Tousimis
Warren Towns
John Uhar
Dennis Van Valkenburg
Mark Venturi
Gloria Vestal
Kurt Wagenbach
Mary Walsh
Edwin Walter
Johannes Wehebrink
Christopher Wells
Emily Wells
Randy Welsh
John Widness
Anthony Williams
Craig Winning
Elizabeth Wissner
Rebecca Wodder
Lisa Wood
William Woodruff
Kelly Wrenn
Amir Zeldes
Aviva Zyskind