Figure Skating in Detroit

What Figure Skating in Detroit does

Figure Skating in Detroit (FSD) is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 as the first affiliate of the award-winning Figure Skating in Harlem program. The organization serves girls of color, primarily ages 6–18 from under-resourced Detroit communities, through a portfolio of youth-development programs that combine figure skating instruction with academic enrichment, off-ice fitness, leadership training, and life-skills education. Its flagship offering is the I Can Excel (ICE) after-school program, which runs October through May at partner locations in Detroit (The School at Marygrove and the Adams Butzel Recreation Center) and delivers 9–15 hours per week of skating lessons, tutoring, STEM education, and life-skills classes.

The organization's core technology stack is minimal: no proprietary platforms, AI/ML systems, or mobile apps are disclosed. Program delivery is human-intensive, relying on more than 50 contracted or partner tutors, skating coaches, social workers, and counselors supported by an 8-person staff. Supporting programs include the free 5-week Summer Dreams Day Camp (hosted at The School at Marygrove and Michigan Central), Community Workshops, the GO FIT off-ice fitness track, synchronized skating teams, and recurring signature events such as the annual Spring Ice Show, She Shines Women's Leadership Breakfast, and Mentoring Magic Summit.

FSD's business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack. It draws on individual donations (online and monthly giving), corporate sponsorships (Amazon, Comerica, Huntington Bank, MGM Grand Detroit), foundation grants (United Way, Skillman Foundation, The Children's Foundation), sliding-scale tuition for ICE, and ticketed event revenue (e.g., $25 Spring Ice Show general admission, $100/$650 She Shines breakfast tickets). The organization reaches 300+ program participants annually and has expanded its summer programming footprint to Michigan Central, the City of Detroit's adaptive reuse development, signaling institutional alignment with broader Detroit revitalization efforts.

Name

Figure Skating in Detroit

Legal name

Figure Skating in Detroit

Website

https://figureskatingindetroit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Figure Skating in Detroit is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 that combines figure skating instruction with academic and leadership programming to serve 300+ BIPOC girls ages 6–18 in Detroit each year.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Figure skating instruction
• After-school education
• Summer day camps
• Leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Philanthropy: Individual donations collected through online portal, monthly giving programs, and one-time contributions. Donations support coaching, mentoring, and educational resources.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from signature events including She Shines Women's Leadership Breakfast ($100 ticket, $650 table), Spring Ice Shows ($25 general admission), and various fundraising events.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support specific events and programs. Sponsorship packages available at various levels for events like the Annual Spring Show and community skating events.
4. Program Fees (Sliding Scale): I Can Excel program tuition operates on a sliding scale basis to ensure accessibility for Detroit families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Figure Skating in Detroit delivers after-school, summer day camp, and community workshop programs that combine figure skating instruction with academic enrichment, STEM/STEAM education, life skills, leadership development, and mentorship for BIPOC girls ages 6-18 in Detroit. The signature I Can Excel (ICE) program runs October-May at partner schools and recreation centers, while Summer Dreams operates as a free 5-week summer day camp. The organization also produces signature annual events including the Spring Ice Show, She Shines Women's Leadership Breakfast, and the Mentoring Magic Summit.

Product overview

Figure Skating in Detroit operates as a non-profit youth development organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs for girls ages 6-18 in Detroit. The core offerings include the I Can Excel (ICE) after-school program (signature year-round programming combining figure skating with academic tutoring, STEM education, and leadership development), the Summer Dreams day camp (free 5-week summer intensive with STEAM and skating), and Community Workshops (introductory sessions for potential participants). Supporting programs include GO FIT off-ice fitness training, synchronized skating teams, life skills classes, career exploration trips, and cultural field trips. The organization also produces signature events including the annual Spring Ice Show, She Shines Women's Leadership Breakfast, and Mentoring Magic Summit. All programs integrate academic enrichment with athletic instruction to build champions in life, with a focus on BIPOC girls from under-resourced communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• I Can Excel (ICE) After School Program Signature after-school program combining figure skating instruction with academic enrichment, off-ice fitness, and leadership development for girls ages 6-15 in Detroit. Students receive 9-15 hours per week of programming including skating lessons, tutoring, STEM education, and life skills classes. Runs October-May at The School at Marygrove and Adams Butzel Recreation Center, Mon-Thu 4:30-6:30pm. Tuition on sliding scale.
• Summer Dreams Day Camp Free 5-week summer day camp providing reading/math instruction, figure skating, STEAM workshops, off-ice fitness, and entrepreneurship activities for students entering grades 1-10. Partnership with Grand Valley State University offers exclusive programming for high school students at Michigan Central. Operates Monday-Friday, July-August.
• Community Workshops Introductory workshops introducing girls to health, nutrition, academic, and leadership aspects of the figure skating program model, including basics in figure skating. Serves as outreach to recruit potential full-year program participants. Has served over 100 girls through three sessions.
• Day Camps Summer day camp programs for metro-Detroit girls ages 6-15 featuring STEM, entrepreneurship, dance/fitness, poetry, and figure skating activities.
• Spring Ice Show Annual season finale performance where skaters take the ice to share their progress, passion, and pride. The 8th Annual Spring Show (2025) was themed 'Ice Camera Action!' and received the Spirit of Detroit Award.
• She Shines Women's Leadership Breakfast Annual event launched in 2022 celebrating Detroit-based women leaders who are making lasting impact in their industries and communities. Designed to inspire the next generation of leaders among FSD participants. Tickets $100/ticket, $650/table (seats 7).
• March Mentoring Magic Summit Half-day summit for girls ages 12-18 held during National Women's History Month. Features eSTEAMED Women of Detroit theme with round table discussions and mentorship opportunities.
• Community Skating Event Free community skating event focused on heart health awareness, with registration required due to limited capacity. Includes donation collection for Youth Advisory Council community service projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% graduation rate among program participants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Figure Skating in HarlemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFigure Skating in Detroit is the first affiliate modeled after the award-winning organization Figure Skating in Harlem. FSH has over 25 years of program success and served as the foundation for FSD's innovative youth development model combining education with figure skating.
• Grand Valley State University (GVSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGVSU partners with FSD for the Summer Dreams program, teaching Design Thinking, Financial Literacy, and Detroit Trio College Prep classes to rising 9th and 10th grade students at Michigan Central.
• DAPCEP (Detroit Association of Partners for Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership supporting educational programming and opportunities.
• Detroit Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership providing access to students and facilities.
• City of Detroit Parks and RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting FSD programs at Adams Butzel Complex.
• Wayne County Community College DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for She Shines Women's Leadership Breakfast and Mentoring Magic Summit. College access programming partner.
• Michigan CentralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Summer Dreams program for rising grades 9-10, offering Design Thinking and Financial Literacy classes.
• Jack Adams Memorial Rink / Adams-Butzel ComplexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome rink for I Can Excel After School Program (October-May). Primary venue for on-ice instruction and performances.
• Detroit Skating ClubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner rink in Bloomfield Township used for special teams practices during the program year.

Scale indicators6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Figure Skating Club of Detroit: Regional figure skating club serving Detroit-area skaters with instruction and competitive pathways. Comparable in providing figure skating instruction in the Detroit metro area, though as a traditional skating club rather than a youth-development nonprofit.
• Girls on the Run: National nonprofit combining physical activity (running) with life skills curriculum for girls in elementary and middle school. Comparable in combining athletics with social-emotional and confidence-building outcomes for young girls, with a multi-city affiliate model.
• Figure Skating in Harlem: Parent organization and direct model source for FSD. Figure Skating in Harlem combines figure skating with academic enrichment for girls of color in New York City and has 25+ years of operating history, identical programmatic structure, and overlapping mission and donor base.

Broad incumbents

• Girls Inc. National nonprofit network operating affiliates across the U.S. that deliver enrichment programming focused on girls' development in academics, leadership, and healthy living. Comparable mission, multi-site affiliate structure, and youth-development framing.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national youth-development organization with after-school and summer programming focused on academic success, healthy lifestyles, and character. Operates at community-based sites similar to FSD's delivery model, though serving all youth rather than a girls-only demographic.
• YWCA USA: National nonprofit network focused on eliminating racism, empowering women, and providing youth programming. Comparable in combining youth-development services with a women's empowerment mission and community-based programming model.

Emerging players

• Black Girls Do Skate: Community-focused organization promoting skateboarding among Black girls and women. Comparable in targeting girls of color in action sports, though skateboarding rather than figure skating, with a community-event-driven model.
• Girls Who Code: National nonprofit focused on closing the gender gap in technology through after-school clubs and summer programs for girls. Comparable in delivering structured after-school enrichment programming aimed at under-represented girls and in measurable outcome reporting.
• Learn Fresh: Nonprofit using sports (NBA, NFL, MLB partnerships) to deliver STEM and academic enrichment to underserved youth. Comparable in blending athletics with academic enrichment for youth from under-resourced communities using sport as an engagement hook.

Others

• Detroit Public Schools Community District: Local education district serving Detroit K-12 students and an FSD partner. Relevant as a host and referral ecosystem for FSD programs, rather than a direct competitor, providing access to the under-resourced youth population FSD targets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fsindetroit
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@figureskatingindetroit8234
• Facebookfacebook.com/GirlsOnIceDET
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/figure-skating-in-detroit
• Instagraminstagram.com/figureskatingindetroit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Figure Skating in Detroit