The Loppet Foundation

What The Loppet Foundation does

The Loppet Foundation is a Minneapolis-based 501(c) nonprofit outdoor recreation organization founded in 2003, operating within Theodore Wirth Regional Park. The organization manages over 12 miles of natural surface trails, ski trails with snowmaking capabilities, and an alpine learning hill, serving more than 40,000 people annually through year-round programming in skiing, mountain biking, paddling, trail running, fitness, and outdoor art.

Its revenue model is diversified across six streams: donations, annual memberships, program fees (youth camps, lessons, clinics), grants, trail passes, and corporate sponsorships from partners including Performance Running Gym, Mayo Clinic, Pryes, and Bachmans. The organization operates sub-brands including Loppet Cycle Works (mountain biking teams), Loppet Nordic Racing (competitive skiing), Loppet Adventures (youth programming), and Loppet Trail Kids (youth mountain biking). It holds PSIA Certified Ski School status and maintains a formal partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board for facility operations and lesson delivery. Recent strategic activity includes a $500,000 Conservation Partners Legacy Grant (September 2025) for habitat conservation, a Trailhead Cafe partnership with Aki's BreadHaus launching May 2026, and launch of a junior Performance Team for mountain biking.

Name

The Loppet Foundation

Legal name

Loppet Foundation

Website

https://loppet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Loppet Foundation is a Minneapolis nonprofit founded in 2003 that operates year-round outdoor recreation programming in Theodore Wirth Regional Park, serving 40,000+ youth, adults, and seniors annually through skiing, mountain biking, paddling, and fitness programs funded by donations, memberships, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation Services

NAICS

Skiing Facilities (713920), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Nordic & Cross-Country Centers (XC Skiing, Biathlon, Snowshoe Trails) (THAAAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ)

Keywords

• Outdoor recreation programs
• Youth ski camps
• Mountain biking programs
• Trail access passes
• Nonprofit recreation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations: The Loppet Foundation is a nonprofit that relies on community donations to support its mission of connecting people to the outdoors through experiences that grow community.
2. Memberships: Annual memberships that directly support the mission and provide added benefits to members including discounts and early access to programs.
3. Program Fees: Fees from youth programs, camps, lessons, and various outdoor activities including skiing, mountain biking, paddling, and fitness classes.
4. Grants: Conservation and programmatic grants including the $500,000 CPL Grant from Minnesota DNR for habitat conservation over three years.
5. Trail Passes: Revenue from ski trail passes and other recreational access fees for Theodore Wirth Park trails.
6. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from partners including Pryes, Performance Running Gym, Mayo Clinic, and Bachmans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Loppet Foundation operates year-round outdoor recreation programs and trail-based experiences at Theodore Wirth Regional Park in Minneapolis. It sells memberships, trail passes, lessons, youth and adult camps, competitive teams, and guided activities across skiing, mountain biking, paddling, fitness, and trail running. Programming, events, and amenities collectively serve over 40,000 participants annually.

Product overview

The Loppet Foundation is a non-profit outdoor recreation organization that operates as a multi-program platform connecting over 40,000 people annually to the outdoors through experiences that grow community. The organization offers a diverse portfolio of programs across multiple categories: youth programs (ages 5-13) including Loppet Adventures, Adventure Camp, Loppet Trail Kids, and Loppet Paddling; junior programs (ages 14-18) including Loppet Cycle Works teams (Cross Country MTB, Gravity, Off Season Training), Loppet Nordic Racing Juniors, and Adventures Junior-Loppet; adult programs including ski training, Loppet Fitness (strength training and yoga), rollerski, mountain bike clinics, outdoor art, and Learn to Ski lessons (PSIA Certified Ski School); clubs including Adult Run Club and Loppet Ski Club; camps including Adventure Camp and Trail Kids Mountain Bike Camps; and seasonal activities spanning cross-country skiing, fat-tire biking, skijor, snowshoeing, sledding, snowboarding, tubing, sauna, hiking, biking, disc golf, and trail running. The organization also operates amenities including the Trailhead Cafe and Theodore Wirth Par 3 Golf Club, and provides trail passes, trail maps/conditions reporting, and membership programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Loppet Cycle Works: Mountain biking department offering programs including Cross Country MTB Teams, Gravity Teams, Off Season Training, and Performance Team for junior riders.
• Loppet Nordic Racing
• Loppet Adventures
• Loppet Trail Kids
• Trailhead Cafe

Products and services

• Adventure Camp

Quantifiable outcome

• Connects over 40,000 people to the outdoors every year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Trailhead Cafe - Aki's BreadHauscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Aki's BreadHaus will power The Trailhead Cafe beginning May 2026. An interim six-month partner was announced starting December 1, 2025. The café will offer approachable, high-quality fare anchored in fresh bread with a curated beverage program.
• Performance Running GymcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPerformance Running Gym is the Official Run Coaching Partner of The Loppet. They provide coaching content for the blog and lead group runs including Tuesday Night Trails and Saturday Theo Loopers runs from the Trailhead.
• PryesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of The Loppet Foundation, listed among Loppet sponsors providing financial and promotional support.
• Mayo ClinicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor listed among Loppet sponsors, providing support for the organization's mission and events.
• BachmansminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor listed among Loppet sponsors, contributing to the foundation's sponsorship program.
• Minneapolis Park and Recreation BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPRB partners with The Loppet Foundation to provide lessons and learning opportunities at Wirth Park. The Loppet Foundation is a nonprofit with a mission to connect people to the outdoors.
• MORC (Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMORC manages most of Wirth's bike trails (Area 36, 45 North, and Conundrum trails are maintained by The Loppet, with the rest managed by MORC). Trail conditions are coordinated through the Trailbot app.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities: Community-based nonprofit offering youth programs, fitness, and seasonal camps in the Twin Cities; competes for overlapping youth and family participation dollars.
• Girl Scouts of the USA: National youth organization with outdoor adventure and camping programming; thematically adjacent to the Loppet Adventures / Trail Kids youth experience offerings.

Direct peers

• Three Rivers Park District: Minnesota-based regional park system that maintains trail networks, runs lessons, and hosts events competing for the same Twin Cities outdoor recreation participants as the Loppet.
• NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School): Outdoor education nonprofit that delivers skills courses and wilderness programming; comparable in mission-driven outdoor instruction model, though at greater geographic scale.
• Appalachian Mountain Club: Mission-driven nonprofit operating multi-activity outdoor recreation (hiking, skiing, paddling) with broad programming and lodging across the Northeast. Closest peer in mission, structure, and year-round activity mix.
• CXC (Central Cross Country Skiing): Regional Nordic ski organization offering lessons, racing teams, and trail programming; directly comparable to Loppet Nordic Racing in discipline, audience, and competitive scope.

Emerging players

• L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools: Brand-driven outdoor skills and recreation programming from a major outdoor retailer, partially overlapping the Loppet's clinics and lessons in paddle, bike, and fitness.

Broad incumbents

• REI Co-op: National outdoor retailer and co-op with an in-store and field class program that overlaps the Loppet's lessons and clinics, but operates at vastly greater scale and as a for-profit retail-anchored business.
• U.S. Ski and Snowboard: National governing body for Nordic and alpine skiing in the U.S.; comparable in Nordic programming context but operates as a federation rather than a local recreation provider.

Regional players

• Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board: Municipal operator of Theodore Wirth Park and direct partner of the Loppet; functions as both collaborator and competitor for recreational programming in the same footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/loppet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-loppet-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Loppet Foundation