National Nordic Foundation

What National Nordic Foundation does

National Nordic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota with a mailing office in Woodstock, Vermont, focused on funding and supporting developing US Nordic skiers across cross-country and Nordic combined disciplines. Founded in 1999, NNF operates as a centralized grant-making intermediary that channels individual donations, major gifts, and equipment-sponsor contributions toward training camps, international competition trips, and athlete development opportunities identified in coordination with US Ski and Snowboard and Nordic Combined USA. Its program portfolio includes the Pillar Projects (National Training Group and Regional Elite Group camps), Athlete Grants, Continental Cup performance bonuses, the SuperTour presenting sponsorship, and the Trail to Gold Fellowship for women coaches.

The foundation's primary products and services are programs rather than technology assets. The Drive for 25 annual fundraising campaign is the flagship revenue engine, coordinating grassroots outreach through a regional ambassador network across the Midwest, New England, Alaska, and Pacific Northwest. The 2025 campaign raised $137,066 from 1,028 individual donors plus a $20,000 matching contribution. Secondary revenue streams include limited-edition merchandise (Lake Placid World Cup Finals prints by Becca Rorabaugh at $100 each, BIVO bottles, eqpd gear bags) and proceeds from an annual summer auction of skiing memorabilia.

NNF's business model is donation-driven and community-led. Pricing is purely voluntary on the donor side, with merchandise sold at fixed prices. GTM relies on email, organic social (Facebook, Instagram, X), media partnerships with Cross Country Ski Magazine and SkiPost, and regional ambassadors who recruit donors within local ski communities. Distribution is concentrated in a single domestic market (United States), with no international fundraising footprint. Headcount is 1-10 employees, supported by an active board and a leadership team drawn from Olympic medalists, World Cup winners, and top US coaches. The organization does not have a parent company, venture backing, or any disclosed technology product surface.

Name

National Nordic Foundation

Legal name

National Nordic Foundation

Website

https://nationalnordicfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Nordic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that funds developing US Nordic skiers through athlete grants, training camps, and competition subsidies. It partners with US Ski and Snowboard and Nordic Combined USA, relying on individual donations via its annual Drive for 25 campaign plus merchandise and event proceeds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Nonprofit Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Services, Nec (8900)

akta.pro primary industry

Athletics Fundraising, Sponsorships & NIL Support (EDALAIAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Nonprofit foundation
• Athlete development funding
• Nordic skiing support
• Sports grantmaking
• Community fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue stream through individual donations, annual Drive for 25 campaign, challenge grants, and general donations. Donations are tax-deductible as NNF operates as a 501(c)(3) organization.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of NNF-branded merchandise including prints, BIVO bottles, and eqpd gear. Lake Placid World Cup Finals prints sold for $100 each with proceeds benefiting NNF.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

National Nordic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that funds and supports the development of US Nordic skiing athletes from junior through elite levels. It operates a portfolio of grant programs, training camps, competition sponsorships, and an annual fundraising campaign (Drive for 25), partnering with US Ski and Snowboard and Nordic Combined USA to identify athletes and subsidize their path toward World Cup and Olympic competition.

Product overview

National Nordic Foundation (NNF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a unified grant-making and fundraising entity rather than a technology product company. Its portfolio consists of athletic development programs including the Drive for 25 annual fundraising campaign, Pillar Projects (NTG and REG camps, international exchanges), Athlete Grants, Trail to Gold Fellowship for women coaches, SuperTour sponsorship, and Continental Cup bonuses. These programs work together to bridge the funding gap for developing US Nordic skiers from junior level to World Cup and Olympic excellence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drive for 25 NNF's annual flagship fundraising campaign that pairs collective donations from 1,000+ individual donors with matching funding opportunities to support developing Nordic skiers in the United States; coordinated with Giving Tuesday each year.
• Pillar Projects Training and competition trips in the US and abroad subsidized by NNF for qualified athletes, including National Training Group (NTG) camps, Regional Elite Group (REG) camps, U16 national camps, and international exchanges identified as key development steps toward World Cup, World Championship, and Olympic success.
• Athlete Grants Longer-term competitive funding for athletes available through an application process, designed to make top-level competitive skiing accessible based on ability rather than background.
• Trail to Gold Fellowship Coaching grant program providing American women coaches and technicians the opportunity to gain World Cup experience alongside US Ski Team coaching and waxing staff; a partnership between NNF, the Women's Ski Coaches Association, and the Olympic Women's Book Project.
• SuperTour Sponsorship NNF serves as the presenting/title sponsor of the SuperTour, the top-level domestic racing circuit in North America that provides a direct pathway for athletes to earn World Cup starts.
• Continental Cup Bonuses Sponsorship of Continental Cup-level racing including OPA Cup Finals, with performance-based funding bonuses for early-career professionals ($2,500 for 1st, $1,250 for 2nd, $750 for 3rd) to bridge career development to World Cup level.
• Lake Placid World Cup Finals Limited Edition Print Limited edition print by artist and APU skier Becca Rorabaugh commemorating the Lake Placid World Cup Finals, limited to 200 prints at $100 each, with proceeds benefiting NNF.
• NNF Merchandise (BIVO Bottles and eqpd Gear Bags) NNF-branded merchandise sold through partner retailers, including BIVO 21-oz NNF bottles and eqpd gearbucket bags, with proceeds supporting the foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 Junior World Championship medals since 2017 (vs. 4 prior to 2017)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Olympic Women's Book ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Originated Trail to Gold Fellowship funding from book proceeds 'Trail to Gold, the Journey of 53 Women Skiers'. Continues partnership for ongoing fellowship program.
• US Ski and SnowboardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose partnership with USSS allows NNF to effectively eliminate financial barriers for American skiers. USSS determines athlete qualification criteria and identifies Pillar Project camps and events. NNF subsidizes unfunded expenses for qualified athletes.
• Nordic Combined USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support Nordic Combined athletes in the US, including funding for development opportunities and competition support.
• SalomonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEquipment sponsor providing ski equipment support for NNF-supported athletes.
• Fischer SkisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEquipment sponsor providing ski equipment support for NNF-supported athletes.
• Women's Ski Coaches Association (WSCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSCA partners with NNF on Trail to Gold Fellowship program, selecting women coaches to gain World Cup experience alongside US Ski Team staff.
• Cross Country Ski MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing visibility for NNF mission and campaigns.
• SkiPostminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing visibility for NNF mission and campaigns.
• Flyingpoint RoadminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhotography partner capturing athlete images for NNF communications and archives.
• Alpina SportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEquipment sponsor providing ski equipment support for NNF-supported athletes.
• Camp SolesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner organization working with NNF on athlete development initiatives.
• NENSA (Eastern Region)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEastern region skiing organization that runs Regional Elite Group (REG) camps with NNF support.
• CXC (Central Region)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral region skiing organization that runs Regional Elite Group (REG) camps with NNF support.
• Enjoy WinterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization providing visibility and support for NNF initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• USA Biathlon: National governing body for biathlon in the U.S., with associated donor-funded athlete support programs. Closest comparable in scope to NNF — a winter endurance sport federation with a small U.S. footprint that depends on grassroots fundraising to bridge the gap to international competition.
• USA Swimming Foundation: The charitable arm of USA Swimming, funding athlete development, learn-to-swim, and pipeline programs. Highly comparable operating model to NNF — a 501(c)(3) raising donor dollars to subsidize athlete and coach development not covered by federation budgets.
• US Speedskating: U.S. national governing body for speedskating with affiliated athlete-support fundraising. Directly comparable to NNF as another niche winter sport whose U.S. federation relies on donor dollars to send athletes to international and Olympic competition.
• USA Hockey Foundation: Foundation supporting USA Hockey's national team pipeline and youth development. Same donation-driven, athlete-development fundraising model as NNF, scaled to a much larger U.S. sport.
• Women's Sports Foundation: Founded by Billie Jean King, WSF funds female athlete development, coaching, and research. Comparable to NNF as a 501(c)(3) sports grantmaker — and specifically relevant given NNF's Trail to Gold Fellowship targeting women coaches.
• USA Bobsled & Skeleton: National federation for U.S. bobsled and skeleton with donor-supported athlete development. Comparable to NNF in mission (funding winter-sport athletes not fully covered by federation budgets) and in operating reliance on grassroots donor programs.

Emerging players

• Fast and Female: Nonprofit supporting young female athletes in skiing and other sports through mentorship, events, and grants. Comparable to NNF's Trail to Gold initiative in targeting the female-athlete development gap, with a partially overlapping donor base among Nordic ski parents and coaches.
• Level Field Fund: Nonprofit providing financial grants directly to U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Comparable to NNF in mission — bridging the funding gap for developing athletes not yet on full national-team stipends — and an emerging player in the niche athlete-grantmaking space NNF operates in.

Regional players

• Teton Adaptive Sports: Wyoming-based nonprofit providing adaptive Nordic and alpine ski programs. Comparable to NNF as a community-funded winter sport development nonprofit, though narrower in scope (adaptive athletes, single region) and focused on access rather than elite pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation: The philanthropic arm of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic movement, supporting a broad portfolio of sport national governing bodies including skiing. Comparable to NNF as a sport-development grantmaker, but with a much larger donor base and cross-sport mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nationalnordicf
• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalNordicFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/gonnf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-nordic-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 National Nordic Foundation