Bridger Ski Foundation

What Bridger Ski Foundation does

Bridger Ski Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community ski organization chartered in 1975 in Bozeman, Montana, with organizational roots in organized skiing dating to 1936. BSF delivers year-round educational and competitive ski programs across seven disciplines — Alpine, Nordic, Freestyle (Moguls), Freeskiing (Park), Freeride (Big Mountain), Snowboarding, and Skimo (Ski Mountaineering) — spanning ages 5 through an Olympic Development Pro Team, plus an Adult Masters program. Approximately 1,000 athletes are served at peak winter season, supported by roughly 140 coaches and a small full-time staff led by Executive Director Evan Weiss, Program Directors Mike Papke (Freestyle) and Andrew Morehouse (Nordic), and Director of Development Laura Huggins.

The organization also operates a community trail stewardship program, grooming over 80 kilometers of free public Nordic ski trails at seven Bozeman locations (Sunset Hills with snowmaking, Highland Glen, Bridger Creek Golf Course, Sourdough, Sacajawea Middle School, Chief Joseph Middle School, and Hyalite via U.S. Forest Service partnership). Program registration flows through Ski Club Pro; donations are processed via DonorPerfect; merchandise is sold through Squad Locker (BSF receives 15% of sales); race registration via RunSignup; and concussion management via ImPACT baseline testing for athletes 12 and older. There is no proprietary technology platform — BSF is a service organization composed of these standard SaaS integrations.

Revenue is generated through nine streams: program registration fees (with a $150 non-refundable deposit), annual memberships ($50 individual / $100 family), donations and fundraising (~50% of operating budget), voluntary trail pass donations, event and team sponsorships, merchandise, Montana Bridger Bowl license plate proceeds (funding the scholarship program), planned giving and the "1936 Club" legacy program, and voluntary Sunset Hills Jib Park passes. BSF holds U.S. Ski & Snowboard Gold Level Club Certification (2015) and was named both 2026 Development Club of the Year and 2026 Cross Country Club of the Year, while back-to-back U.S. Junior National Club Championships (2025 and 2026) and 17 All-American honors in the 2025-26 season underscore competitive outcomes. The organization is currently fundraising for its first permanent headquarters via the "Build the Base" capital campaign.

Name

Bridger Ski Foundation

Legal name

Bridger Ski Foundation

Website

https://bridgerskifoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bridger Ski Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ski organization in Bozeman, Montana, offering year-round programs across seven ski disciplines and maintaining over 80 kilometers of free community Nordic trails for public recreation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community youth ski programs and winter trail services

NAICS

Skiing Facilities (71392)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Ski & Snowboard Schools (Instruction & Coaching) (THAAAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Youth ski programs
• Community Nordic trails
• Nonprofit ski organization
• Alpine racing teams
• Winter trail grooming

Headquarters

HQ city

Bozeman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Registration Fees: Fees collected from athletes and families registering for Alpine, Nordic, Freestyle, Freeride, Skimo, Snowboarding, and Freeskiing programs. Fee structures vary by program type (Intro, Devo, Comp, Prep, PG, Collegiate, Adult Masters) and discipline. $150 of each program fee is non-refundable upon registration.
2. Annual Memberships: BSF Individual and Family annual memberships sold to community members. Individual membership is $50/year; Family membership is $100/year. Memberships are valid June 1 through May 31 of the following year. Memberships support the nonprofit club and include perks such as early entrance to the Annual Ski Swap.
3. Donations & Fundraising: BSF commits each year to fundraise approximately 50% of its operating budget. Unrestricted donations support youth ski programs, scholarships, Community Winter Trails, and strategic initiatives. Donors can restrict donations to particular programs. Monthly giving options are available. BSF also runs a Build the Base campaign for new headquarters construction.
4. Trail Passes & Voluntary Contributions: Community Winter Trails are free and publicly accessible, but BSF solicits voluntary trail pass donations and day passes to help fund grooming operations at 7 locations. Suggested contributions include: $15 day pass, $20 multi-use donation, $75 individual trail membership, $150 family trail membership. Over 80 km of trails are maintained.
5. Sponsorships: Local businesses and organizations sponsor BSF through event sponsorships, team sponsorships (Alpine, Nordic, Freestyle & Freeskiing), Trails & Grooming, and special projects. The Director of Development (Laura Huggins) manages sponsorship relationships.
6. Merchandise Sales: BSF gear and merchandise sold through Squad Locker e-commerce store. BSF receives 15% of all sales through this channel. Gear includes apparel and accessories branded for the organization.
7. License Plate Program: Montana Bridger Bowl license plate donations fund the BSF Scholarship Fund, providing financial aid to Alpine, Freestyle, and Nordic athletes.
8. Legacy/Planned Giving: BSF accepts planned gifts through wills, retirement accounts, charitable trusts, charitable gift annuities, stock donations, qualified charitable distributions (IRA), and beneficiary designations. Donors joining the '1936 Club' receive commemorative recognition at Bridger Bowl, Sunset Hills, or the new headquarters.
9. Jib Park Voluntary Passes: Sunset Hills Jib Park, a free in-town rail park, is supported by voluntary donations: $40 season pass or $10 day pass.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bridger Ski Foundation (BSF) is a Bozeman, Montana-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers year-round youth and adult ski education and competition programs across seven disciplines — Alpine, Nordic, Freestyle (Moguls), Freeskiing (Park), Freeride (Big Mountain), Snowboarding, and Skimo (Ski Mountaineering) — from introductory classes (age 5) through an Olympic Development Pro Team. The organization also grooms and maintains over 80 km of free community Nordic ski trails at seven Bozeman locations, supported by voluntary donations. Revenue comes from program registration fees, memberships, donations, sponsorships, merchandise, and planned giving.

Product overview

Bridger Ski Foundation (BSF) is a nonprofit community ski organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of ski programs across multiple disciplines: Alpine, Nordic, Freestyle (Moguls), Freeskiing (Park), Freeride (Big Mountain), Snowboarding, and Skimo (Ski Mountaineering). Programs range from beginner Kinder classes (age 5) through competitive teams, Pro Team, and adult Masters programs. BSF also operates a separate Community Winter Trails system that grooms over 80+ km of free public Nordic trails at 7 locations in Bozeman. Supporting offerings include summer camps (domestic and international), scholarship programs including the Soren Joseph Hartnett Legacy Scholarship, annual membership, and merchandise. The organization operates under a Gold Level Club Certification from U.S. Ski & Snowboard and was named 2026 Development Club of the Year and Cross Country Club of the Year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Alpine Ski Programs Competitive and recreational Alpine skiing programs for ages 7 and up, including Club Team, Devo (U10-U12), Comp teams (U14, U16, U18-21), and PG Team, with summer camps at Mt. Hood. Programs train and compete at Bridger Bowl.
• Nordic Ski Programs Cross-country skiing programs from introductory kinders (age 5) through Prep Team, Comp Team, PG Team, Summer Collegiate Program, Pro Team (Olympic Development), and Adult Masters programs.
• Freestyle (Moguls) Programs Moguls skiing programs for ages 7 and up including Club Team, Devo, and Comp & Full Time teams, with summer camps. Athletes compete in Northern Division Championships and Junior Nationals.
• Freeskiing (Park) Programs Park skiing programs for ages 7 and up including Club Team, Devo, Comp team, and camps, with trampoline camps in Bozeman. Competitions include USASA regional and national events.
• Freeride (Big Mountain) Programs Big mountain skiing programs including Freeride Prep Team and Freeride Comp Team, competing in IFSA-sanctioned events.
• Snowboarding Programs Competitive snowboarding team participating in USASA events at local, regional, and national levels.
• Skimo (Ski Mountaineering) Programs Ski mountaineering team competing in U.S. nationals and regional races, with training at local trailheads. Features U14, U16, and U18 athletes across disciplines including Mixed Relay, Sprint, Vertical, and Individual.
• Community Winter Trails BSF grooms over 80+ kilometers of community Nordic ski trails at 7 locations in Bozeman including Sunset Hills (with snowmaking), Highland Glen, Bridger Creek Golf Course, Sourdough, Sacajawea Middle School, Chief Joseph Middle School, and Hyalite (in cooperation with U.S. Forest Service). Trails are free to the public, funded through donations and voluntary trail passes.
• Summer Camps Summer ski camps across all disciplines including Alpine camps at Mt. Hood and Norway, Freestyle/Freeride/Freeskiing/Snowboarding camps at Beartooth Pass and Park City, Nordic rollerski camps, trampoline camps, and international camps to Norway and New Zealand.
• Scholarship Programs Financial aid and scholarship programs including the Soren Joseph Hartnett Legacy Scholarship for Nordic athletes ($500-$2,000 for program fees, $500-$1,000 for equipment/camps), plus the general scholarship fund supported by Bridger Bowl license plate donations.
• BSF Annual Membership Annual membership program supporting the nonprofit club. Individual membership is $50, Family membership is $100, valid June 1 through May 31. Includes benefits such as early entrance to the BSF Annual Ski Swap.
• BSF Gear Shop Online merchandise store offering BSF-branded apparel and gear through Squad Locker. BSF receives 15% of all sales.
• Sunset Hills Jib Park Free in-town jib park at Sunset Hills with rails and boxes for skiers and snowboarders. Supported by voluntary season passes ($40) or day passes ($10). Includes the annual Rail Jam event.

Quantifiable outcome

• Back-to-back U.S. Junior National Club Championships (2025 and 2026) with 18 national qualifiers and 17 All-American honors in 2025-26 season
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• One Valley Community Foundation (formerly Bozeman Area Community Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2020The Soren Joseph Hartnett Legacy Scholarship Fund was established through One Valley Community Foundation to provide scholarships for BSF Nordic and Crosscut Biathlon athletes. The foundation manages the fund and processes donations.
• Bridger Bowl Ski AreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBridger Bowl is BSF's primary Alpine and Freestyle training venue. Athletes train and compete at Bridger Bowl. The partnership also includes the Bridger Bowl license plate program through Montana DOJ, where plate donations fund the BSF Scholarship Fund. BSF operates under a special use permit with Custer Gallatin National Forest.
• Crosscut Mountain Sports CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrosscut Mountain Sports Center is the primary Nordic training venue for BSF athletes. BSF and Crosscut share athletes and facilities, with cross-disciplinary collaboration and joint event hosting (e.g., IMD races held at Crosscut with BSF athletes).
• U.S. Ski & SnowboardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSF is a member club of U.S. Ski & Snowboard (formerly USSA), the national governing body of Olympic skiing and snowboarding. The organization holds Gold Level Club Certification (2015) and received Development Club of the Year (2026) and Cross Country Club of the Year (2026) Gold Awards. BSF follows all US Ski & Snowboard SafeSport guidelines, concussion policies, and competition rules.
• U.S. Forest Service (Custer Gallatin National Forest)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSF operates under a special use permit with the Custer Gallatin National Forest and assists the U.S. Forest Service in trail grooming at Hyalite. BSF grooms community trails at multiple locations including some on forest service lands.
• ZeroZoneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerZeroZone is a sponsor of the Sunset Hills Jib Park Rail Jam event. The partnership includes co-branding for the annual Rail Jam event held at Sunset Hills.
• WorldBoardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorldBoards is a sponsor of the Sunset Hills Jib Park. Sponsorship provides funding for the in-town jib park operations and maintenance.
• Build PhysiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerBuild Physio is a sponsor of the Sunset Hills Jib Park, supporting the in-town park skiing facility.
• Montana State University (MSU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSF and MSU co-host Nordic racing events. BSF Nordic Comp and Devo teams host races at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center in conjunction with MSU collegiate RMISA Championships. The organizations share facilities and event infrastructure.
• Simkins LumberminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured sponsor of BSF. Simkins Lumber is highlighted on the BSF website as a featured sponsor supporting the organization's mission to keep skiing accessible and affordable.
• Crosscut BiathlonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrosscut Biathlon shares athletes and the Soren Hartnett Legacy Scholarship Fund with BSF Nordic. Soren Hartnett was a member of both BSF Nordic and Crosscut Biathlon programs, and the scholarship supports athletes in both programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF): Idaho-based 501(c)(3) ski education foundation offering multi-discipline programs (Alpine, Nordic, Freestyle, Snowboard) from introductory through elite levels. Highly comparable as a mountain-town, multi-discipline, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Gold-certified nonprofit competing for similar athlete development outcomes.
• Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (SSWSC): Colorado-based multi-discipline (Alpine, Freestyle, Nordic, Snowboard) nonprofit ski club. Comparable multi-sport nonprofit model serving a mountain community with similar competitive programming.
• Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club: Wyoming-based nonprofit ski club in a comparable mountain community (Teton Village), offering Alpine, Freestyle, Nordic, and Snowboard programs. Directly comparable in scale, discipline breadth, and rural-mountain-community context.
• Aspen Valley Ski Club (AVSC): Colorado-based nonprofit ski club providing Alpine, Freestyle, Freeskiing, and Snowboard programs from beginners through elite competitors. Directly comparable multi-discipline nonprofit model serving a mountain community with U.S. Ski & Snowboard affiliation and similar competitive ambitions.
• Park City Ski & Snowboard Club: Utah-based nonprofit ski club offering multi-discipline programming with strong freestyle and freeskiing heritage. Comparable in scale and multi-discipline structure, located in a major ski destination market.

Others

• Bridger Bowl: Bozeman-area nonprofit ski area and BSF's primary Alpine/Freestyle training venue. Critical partner and adjacent operator serving overlapping Bozeman skiing community; connected via BSF special use permit and Bridger Bowl license plate donations funding BSF scholarships.
• Crosscut Mountain Sports Center: Bozeman-area Nordic skiing facility and BSF's primary Nordic training venue partner. Comparable mission around Nordic skiing access, shared athlete pool, and joint event hosting—core operational partner rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• National Winter Activity Center: Nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing youth participation in snow sports through education and access programs. Comparable mission around youth ski accessibility, though operating at broader national scope rather than a single mountain community.

Emerging players

• Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports: Nonprofit providing adaptive skiing and sports programs. Less directly comparable in market but adjacent in nonprofit ski education/access space and could intersect with BSF's scholarship and accessibility initiatives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bridger-ski-foundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Bridger Ski Foundation