Montana Skatepark Association

What Montana Skatepark Association does

The Montana Skatepark Association (MSA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID 82-0583110), founded in 2000 in Missoula, Montana, and operating on a 100% volunteer basis. Its core function is end-to-end skatepark development assistance for Montana communities, providing guidance, design consultation, fundraising support, and project administration for free, public, concrete skateparks. To date, MSA has helped fund or create nearly 50 skateparks across Montana and contributed over $2 million in cumulative dollars to skateboarding infrastructure and programming. Its flagship facility, the 15,000-square-foot MOBASH skatepark in Missoula, was named one of the top 5 skateparks in the country by Thrasher Magazine and drew nearly 10,000 attendees at its Tony Hawk-hosted grand opening in September 2006.

MSA's revenue mechanics are diversified across individual donations, foundation grants (Tony Hawk Foundation, The Lennox Foundation, Headwaters Foundation, Appleseed Foundation, Vitalogy Foundation, The Skatepark Project), annual fundraising events including the ON DECK skate deck art auction (OD11 raised $50,693.31 in a single year), merchandise sales through shop.montanaskatepark.org, and per-item business partnerships such as the Locals Only restaurant donating $0.25 per menu item. Primary customer segments are Montana municipalities seeking recreational infrastructure and underserved youth (with explicit emphasis on rural communities and Indian reservations such as St. Ignatius on the Flathead Indian Reservation). Ancillary programs include the Drop In project funding mechanism, Girls on Shred rural outreach (which traveled 800+ miles across nine towns in its 2021 launch), the annual Madness in the Mountains statewide scavenger hunt via the Goosechase app, and the forthcoming "Grit to Grind" Chronicle Books publication authored by board member Andy Kemmis with a foreword by Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament.

The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors led by President Chris Bacon (also owner of the Board of Missoula / Edge of the World skate shop since 1993), Vice President Ross Peterson, Treasurer Julie Norris, and Secretary Andy Kemmis. Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam) serves as Collaborator/Friend/Skater/Advisor at Large and has been a central fundraising partner since pledging a $50,000 matching donation in 2003. The MSA has no parent company, operates exclusively within Montana, and focuses its program spend on community skateparks rather than commercial or technology ventures.

Name

Montana Skatepark Association

Legal name

Montana Skatepark Association

Website

https://montanaskatepark.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Montana Skatepark Association is a 100% volunteer, 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 in Missoula that helps Montana communities design, fund, and build free public concrete skateparks, having contributed over $2 million and assisted with nearly 50 parks statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Recreation Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGADAJ

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAIAMAH

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

Keywords

• Skatepark development
• Community recreation services
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Concrete skatepark construction
• Grassroots community building

Headquarters

HQ city

Missoula

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual donations from supporters. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all contributions are tax deductible. Montana Skatepark Tax ID #: 82-0583110.
2. Grant Funding: Writing grants to foundations and organizations. Has received grants from Tony Hawk Foundation, Headwaters Foundation, The Lennox Foundation ($100,000), Appleseed Foundation ($5,000), and others.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sales of stickers, t-shirts, posters, and custom skate decks through the MSA shop and at events. Also sells engraved bricks during fundraising.
4. ON DECK Art Auction: Annual skate deck art auction featuring contributions from artists around the country. Proceeds fund skatepark construction. OD6 raised $8,935; OD11 raised $50,693.31.
5. Partnership Donations: Restaurants like Locals Only donate $0.25 per menu item to the MSA. Local businesses host fundraising events and donate proceeds.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Montana Skatepark Association (MSA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that assists Montana communities with guidance, consultation, and funding for free, concrete, public skatepark design, construction, and project administration. The 100% volunteer-based organization has helped fund and build nearly 50 skateparks across Montana since 2000, while also supporting existing parks with equipment, programming, and community-building initiatives.

Product overview

Montana Skatepark Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a single unified offering focused on building free, concrete, public skateparks across Montana. The organization provides skatepark development services including design consultation, construction administration, and funding assistance to Montana communities. Related programs include the ON DECK art auction (annual fundraiser featuring custom skateboard decks from artists), the Grit to Grind book (chronicle of MSA's history published by Chronicle Books), Madness in the Mountains (annual statewide skate scavenger hunt using the Goosechase app), Girls on Shred (women's skate mentorship and equipment program), and a Drop In program supporting skatepark projects. The organization is 100% volunteer-based and has helped fund nearly 50 skateparks across Montana since 2000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Skatepark Development & Funding Core service providing guidance, consultation on skatepark design, construction oversight, and project administration for Montana municipalities and communities. Also funds skateboards, protective equipment, and program development for existing skateparks.
• Grit to Grind Book Book published by Chronicle Books documenting the inspirational story of the inception, growth, and continued work of the Montana Skatepark Association, featuring interviews with founders, skater testimonials, and photographs.
• MSA Merchandise

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 50 skateparks built across Montana with over $2 million in contributions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Jeff Ament / Montana Pool ServiceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Jeff Ament, Pearl Jam bassist and longtime Missoulian, pledged a $50,000 matching cash donation in 2003 and has been helping fund skatepark projects for over a decade and a half. He created Montana Pool Service, a nonprofit that works with MSA on projects including adding street features with bowl designs to new parks. His dream is to have a skateboard park in every town and city in Montana.
• Missoula Redevelopment Association (MRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded $100,000 matching grant in 2003 and additional $75,000 in 2005. Helped MSA acquire tax increment fund monies and provided administrative support through their Director Ellen Buchanan.
• Grindline Skateparks (Seattle, WA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected as designer and construction firm for MOBASH skatepark. Worked with MSA on design process including two public meetings with the community.
• Evergreen SkateparkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilt multiple Montana skateparks including Superior, MT, Shelby, MT, and others with MSA funding assistance.
• Dreamland SkateparkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilt Polson skatepark featuring the first-ever concrete 'helmet' to skate. Also completed Phase II additions with significant street features.
• Missoula Parks and Recreation DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly partner in MOBASH project. MSA Board member sat on McCormick Park Redesign Committee. Land is owned and maintained by City of Missoula.
• Big Sky Brewing CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected MSA as one of only two local nonprofits to benefit from their summer concert series in 2004 and 2005. Donated all profits from beverage and parking sales to MSA.
• American Expedition Vehicles (AEV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMissoula-based Jeep conversion company that donated a custom Jeep Wrangler for MSA's vehicle raffle fundraiser.
• Locals Only Restaurant (Missoula)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonates $0.25 from every menu item ordered to MSA. In 2017, a similar partnership raised over $9,000 for another nonprofit.
• Edge of the World / Board of MissoulacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal skateboard/snowboard shop owned by MSA President Chris Bacon since 1993. Served as pickup location for early fundraising (pay-to-skate wood ramp) and continues to host merchandise pickup and events.
• Braille Skateboarding (Aaron Kyro)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAaron Kyro, founder of Braille Skateboarding and former Red Lodge local, spearheaded the original flat concrete slab that MSA helped replace with a full skatepark during the pandemic.
• Girls on ShredcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSA program dedicated to extending reach to rural skateparks across Montana. Provides free clinics with female skate instructors, equipment loans, and full setups to kids in need. Traveled over 800 miles in one week to nine rural Montana towns.
• Jeff Ament's Army (JAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA division of MSA specifically dedicated to supporting charities, artistic endeavors, and philanthropic efforts important to Jeff Ament, Pearl Jam, and their fans. Fan-run and fan-supported since 2009.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Ben Raemers Foundation: Nonprofit supporting mental health and well-being within the skateboarding community. Direct peer in mission-driven skateboarding philanthropy, with an emphasis on education and support services rather than facility construction.
• The Skatepark Project: National nonprofit (formerly Tony Hawk Foundation) that funds public skateparks in low-income communities. Closest direct peer: same core mission of public skatepark funding, but operates at national scale rather than state-level and is grant-making only rather than also administering projects.
• Stoked Mentoring: NYC-based nonprofit pairing at-risk youth with mentors in action sports including skateboarding. Direct peer in the youth-development-through-action-sports category; comparable programmatic model but urban-focused rather than rural-state focused.
• Portland Skatepark Alliance: Oregon-based volunteer nonprofit that designs, advocates for, and helps fund public skateparks in the Portland region. Direct peer with an almost identical operating model — community-led fundraising and municipal partnership for park builds — in a different geography.
• Skateistan: International nonprofit using skateboarding as a tool for youth empowerment and education, with programs in Afghanistan, South Africa, and Cambodia. Direct peer in using skateboarding as a youth development vehicle, with a global rather than statewide footprint.
• Harold Hunter Foundation: Memorial foundation honoring NYC skater Harold Hunter that provides scholarships, skateboards, and programming access to underserved youth. Direct peer in combining skateboarding with youth opportunity, though East Coast-focused and smaller in scope.
• Boards for Bros: Nonprofit distributing free skateboards and gear to underprivileged youth across the U.S. Direct peer in skateboarding-equity work, but focused on equipment access rather than facility construction and programming.

Others

• Grindline Skateparks: Seattle-based commercial skatepark design and construction firm that built MOBASH for the MSA. Ecosystem vendor rather than peer — same skatepark domain but for-profit builder paid for services rather than nonprofit fundraising partner.
• Spohn Ranch Skateparks: Design-build skatepark firm working with municipalities and nonprofits nationwide. Comparable ecosystem participant in skatepark creation, but commercial and national in scope rather than a state-focused nonprofit.
• Evergreen Skateparks: Commercial concrete skatepark builder that has constructed multiple MSA-funded projects in Superior and Shelby, MT. Ecosystem vendor in the same overall skatepark delivery space but operating as a paid contractor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=fcz0jkjPKGw
• Xx.com/MTskatepark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/montana-skatepark-association

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Montana Skatepark Association