This project is now in update mode. Check back regularly to see how things are progressing.
Lightweight Rowing Club of California
New goal of $12,500! Thank you all so much for your generosity! We're hoping to keep the momentum going and raise $2,500 to buy a set of new oars!
Lightweight Rowing Club of California (formerly California Lightweight Rowing Club) is a team with more than 50 years of history, dedicated to growing and fostering athletes as well as competing on a national level. Today, the team is home to over 50 men and women who train six days a week, enduring early mornings and arduous workouts for a love of rowing and the camaraderie of crewmates. The team prides itself on inclusion; we will teach and train any student interested enough to commit to the team as a part of a larger mission to expand the sport of rowing and its benefits to the Berkeley community.
To meet our goals of developing competitive athletes alongside fostering new ones, the team relies heavily on the generosity of family, friends, and alumni for the necessary resources. Funds for purchasing oars and boats, renting a boathouse, and providing financial aid to rowers are generated directly from donations. Your contribution will not only help us stay afloat but also ensure we can compete nationally.
In Spring 2025, the Cal Lightweight Rowing team competed at the Western Intercollegiate Regional Association (WIRA) Championships in Sacramento, CA, where we placed 1st in the Men’s Novice Lightweight 4+ and Women’s Varsity Pair. Our women’s pair extended their regional success at the national level, bringing home gold at the Jefferson Dad Vail regatta, the largest collegiate regatta in the United States.
During the summer, the Cal Lightweights represented UC Berkeley in Shenzhen, China, at the 2025 X9 Alliance of Universities and Institutes Rowing League. The team placed 5th in the mixed eight category, competing alongside local Shenzhen universities, Tsinghua University, Peking University, University of Oxford, University of Sidney, and University of Cambridge.
Our Fundraising Goals
We are a fully self-funded organization that relies heavily on help from our community. We compete with teams that are fully funded by their school's athletic department. Rowing is, unfortunately, a very expensive sport that requires substantial annual investments in equipment. As we head into this new season, we hope to build on the momentum of our past season and continue chasing excellence for our program.
In order to achieve these goals and remain competitive, we want to focus this year's crowdfunding efforts on equipment renewal. We would spend 30% on new oars, 20% on new ergs, and the remaining half on equipment relating to our shells.
If we do not reach our goal, we will prioritize what we need as a team to function, instead of purchasing new equipment or hiring additional coaching staff, for instance. Surpassing our goal will help sustain us in the future and get us closer to greater success on the national stage!
Below, you may find a breakdown of our planned expenses for the year. As previously stated, we plan to focus crowdfunding efforts on the equipment section of this pie chart.
Note: All estimates are rough only, and actual expenditures may vary.
Reach us at callightweightrowing@gmail.com or any of our social media!
$100
Thank you video!
You will receive a personalized thank-you video from the Cal Lights!
$250
Signed Team Poster
For donations of $250 or more, you’ll receive a print of the team — signed by our officers and coaches. This thanks includes all perks named above as well!
$600
Name an Oar
For donations of $600 or more, you’ll get your name(s) forever showcased on one of our oars. We’ll contact you to confirm what you want printed to make sure we get everything right!
$1,000
Added to Donor Wall
For donations of 1000$ or more, your name will be added to our new donor wall that will be displayed at the Lightweight Training Center as well as our website. This wall will be a physical testament to our donors' support of the team for many years to come. This perk includes all of the above perks as well!
$1,250
Name a new ergometer
You can name a new Concept 2 ergometer (rowing machine) that will be used daily by our rowers to improve their fitness off the water.
$2,000
Adopt a rower!
Help a rower's progression through Cal Lights by helping finance their dues. As an added perk, you will receive regular updates from the rower throughout the season.
$4,000
Name a boat seat
Your name will appear on one of the seats of our boats. We will contact you to determine which boat and which seat you would like to name!
$10,000
Name a boat
You can name a new Cal Lights rowing shell! We will contact you to determine what you wish to inscribe on the boat.
