What Make Life Skate Life does

Make Life Skate Life (MLSL) is a US-registered 501c3 non-profit organization (EIN 83-3329350) with an affiliated EU entity (0725427267), founded in 2013 by Arne Hillerns. Its core product is the construction of free, public concrete skateparks in underserved communities worldwide, executed by international teams of professional builders working alongside local youth. Each project follows a standardized model that pairs skatepark construction with a permanent operational transfer to a local partner organization, which then runs ongoing skate classes, equipment loaner programs, and outreach initiatives. As of the most recent project cycle, MLSL has built 18 skateparks across 17 countries spanning Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and North America, reaching approximately 5,000 young people per week including girls, refugees, and other underserved youth.

The organization's underlying technology is non-digital: it is a construction-and-program-delivery operation, not a software or platform business. Notable components include volunteer-led concrete skatepark construction (sized 300-1,200 m²), structured equipment loaner and class programs at each site, and a network of 18 locally autonomous partner organizations that sustain operations post-handover. Media and digital infrastructure is limited to a Squarespace website, a Donorbox recurring-donation platform, and project-specific Instagram accounts for community engagement.

MLSL's business model is donation-based, with no fees charged for any service or facility. Revenue sources include recurring individual donations via Donorbox, corporate sponsorships from action-sports retailers and brands (Levi's Skateboarding, SkatePro, NHS Skate Direct, Route One, Blue Tomato, Tactics, Skatewarehouse, Rolling Thunder Supply Co.), foundation grants (Ray & Vera Conniff Foundation, Decathlon Foundation), and project-specific governmental funding from embassies (German Embassy in Iraq, US Embassy Libya, French Embassy). Its go-to-market is community-led: projects are initiated through partnerships with local NGOs, municipal authorities, and ministries, with construction executed during international build trips and ongoing operations handed to in-country organizations. The end beneficiaries are not customers but program participants — underserved youth globally — while the de facto paying 'customers' are the diversified donor base that funds each build.

Name

Make Life Skate Life

Legal name

Make Life Skate Life

Website

https://makelifeskatelife.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Make Life Skate Life is a non-profit that builds free public concrete skateparks in underserved communities across 17+ countries, partnering with local organizations to deliver skate classes, loaner boards, and outreach that reach approximately 5,000 youth weekly.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development / Community Skatepark Construction

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor Fitness & Park Bootcamps (HSADABAC)

Keywords

• Community skatepark construction
• Youth skateboarding programs
• Nonprofit youth development
• Free public skateparks
• International skatepark projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Online Fundraising: The organization relies on donations from individuals and organizations worldwide. They use online fundraising platforms like Donorbox for recurring donations.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Various corporate sponsors provide monetary and in-kind donations including gear, equipment, and event support. Sponsors include Decathlon Foundation, SkatePro, NHS Skate Direct, Rolling Thunder Supply Co., Route One, Blue Tomato, Tactics, and Skatewarehouse.
3. Foundation Support: Support from foundations such as the Ray & Vera Conniff Foundation focused on improving underserved communities globally.
4. Government and Embassy Funding: Governmental entities like the German Embassy in Iraq and US Embassy Libya provide funding for specific projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Make Life Skate Life is a US registered 501c3 non-profit organization that designs and constructs free, public concrete skateparks in underserved communities across 17+ countries. Each project pairs international professional skatepark builders with local youth during construction, then hands the park over to a local partner organization that runs ongoing free skate classes, loaner board programs, and community activities.

Product overview

Make Life Skate Life is a non-profit organization that operates as a single unified service offering: building free, public skateparks for underserved youth worldwide. Their core product consists of skatepark construction projects that follow a consistent model including concrete skatepark building, volunteer-led construction, local organization partnerships, equipment loaner programs, and ongoing skate classes. Each of their 18 skatepark projects (India, Bolivia, Jordan, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Nepal, Morocco, Iraq Suli, Brazil, Lebanon, Libya, Canada, Laos, Tunisia, Philippines, Iraq Baghdad, and Uganda) represents a distinct project location rather than a modular software product. The organization also uses Donorbox for online donations but does not offer a technology platform or software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Skatepark Construction Projects (Core Service) Community-led construction of free, public concrete skateparks in underserved communities worldwide. Each project pairs international professional skatepark builders with local youth during construction, then transfers ongoing operations (skate classes, loaner boards, safety gear) to a local partner organization.
• India Skatepark (Holystoked Skatepark) A 350m² free public skatepark in Bangalore, India's first free skatepark, built with 34 volunteers. The project sparked the creation of Holystoked, a local organization that has since built more than 20 additional skateparks across India.
• Bolivia Skatepark (Pura Pura Skatepark) A 1200m² free skatepark at 4000m altitude in La Paz, Bolivia — the world's highest skatepark. Includes an equipment loaner system and skate classes for at-risk youth, operated by local partner Ayni Skate Project.
• Jordan Skatepark (7Hills Skatepark) A 650m² free community-built concrete skatepark in downtown Amman, Jordan, including weekly skate classes and a loaner program. Operated by local partner 7Hills Skatepark, which built a second park in 2021.
• Myanmar Skatepark (Mya Lay Yone Skatepark) A 400m² free skatepark in Yangon, Myanmar — the country's first — providing free skateboards and access to skateboarding for deprived youth in a safe environment. Operated by local partner Pushing Myanmar.
• Ethiopia Skatepark (Addis Skatepark) A free concrete skatepark in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's first, located on youth-center grounds. Open daily from sunrise to sunset and frequented by 50+ youth daily. Operated by Ethiopia Skate.
• Nepal Skatepark (Annapurna Skatepark) A 700m² international standard free skatepark in Pokhara, Nepal, with an extension added in 2021. Supported by online fundraising and Skate Pro.
• Morocco Skatepark (Taghazout Skatepark) A 750m² free skatepark in Taghazout, Morocco, serving as a hub for cultural exchange with free rental skateboards, protection gear, and skate classes three times a week.
• Iraq Suli Skatepark An 800m² free skatepark in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq — Iraq's first — with daily loaner board sessions, weekly skate classes, and outreach programs at refugee camps benefiting 50+ displaced youth weekly. Received the Goodpush Award.
• Brazil Skatepark (Maré Favela Skatepark) A 500m² free skatepark in Maré, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the Maré favela complex, promoting peace through skateboarding. Benefits 100 children and young people weekly with skate classes and loaner boards.
• Lebanon Skatepark (Snoubar Skatepark) A 1100m² free public skatepark at Horsh urban park in Beirut, Lebanon's first public skatepark. Includes a refugee program with free skateboard lending and skate classes three times per week, including girls-only sessions.
• Libya Skatepark (Tripoli Skatepark) A free skatepark in Tripoli, Libya — Libya's first — located on former girls' military college grounds. Provides safe community space with free equipment rental and female-only meetups, benefiting 60 girls and boys weekly.
• Canada Skatepark (Inukjuak Skatepark) A 300m² free skatepark in Inukjuak, Nunavik, Canada, benefiting Inuit youth in a remote town of 1,800 with a loaner program where locals earn salaries managing gear.
• Laos Skatepark (Vientiane Skatepark) A 360m² free public skatepark in Vientiane, Laos — the first public skatepark in the country — featuring skate classes on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Tunisia Skatepark (La Marsa Skatepark) A 950m² international standard free skatepark in La Marsa, Tunisia — the first skatepark in the Maghreb region. Skate classes benefit 60 participants per week, with the park serving at least 300 people weekly.
• Philippines Skatepark (Cloud Nine Skatepark) A 600m² free public skatepark on Siargao Island, Philippines — the island's first public, free-of-charge skatepark — with free weekly skateboarding classes led by local youth.
• Iraq Baghdad Skatepark Baghdad's first-ever skatepark, built on Ministry of Youth and Sports grounds in 2025, developed over five years with East by West design collaboration. Features ramps and obstacles for all skill levels.
• Uganda Skatepark (Kiteezi Skatepark) A 450m² free skatepark in Kiteezi, Kampala, Uganda, reaching 100+ young people weekly. Built by Climate Skaters with emphasis on girls' leadership, environmental awareness, and community development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5000 young people weekly have access to skateboarding at MLSL projects
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers16 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

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

• Rolling Thunder Supply Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal distributor of complete skateboards, run by lifelong skaters, has committed to supporting the implementation of skatepark projects worldwide.
• New Line SkateparkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian skatepark construction company with over 20 years of experience and 300 completed projects. Strong supporter since 2020, helping to create meaningful connections between youth and their communities.
• Route OneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLargest retailer of skateboarding apparel in the UK. Supported MLSL with monetary, in-kind donations, and event support.
• Blue TomatominorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline retailer specializing in skate and snow gear with physical stores across Europe. Selected MLSL as beneficiary of their Go Skateboarding Day fundraiser through online t-shirt sale.
• TacticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUS-based online skate and snowboard retailer supporting MLSL by offering customers the option to donate at checkout, while also striving to make board sports accessible through their stores in Washington and Oregon.
• SkatewarehouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProminent US-based online skate shop supporting MLSL by offering customers the option to donate at checkout for all sales.
• Inuulitsivik Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal health center that supported the Inukjuak Skatepark project in Canada, working with Inuit youth in the Nunavik region.
• MakivikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the Inukjuak Skatepark project in Canada for Inuit youth development.
• Inukjuak MunicipalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal municipality partner in the Inukjuak Skatepark project in Canada.
• East by WestflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigned the Baghdad skatepark in collaboration with local skaters, featuring ramps and obstacles for all skill levels.
• Un Ponte PerflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the five-year collaboration to develop Baghdad's first skatepark.
• Iraq's Ministry of Youth and SportsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry that provided grounds for Baghdad skatepark and collaborated on the five-year project development.
• Baghdad Skatepark ProjectflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner organization collaborating on Baghdad's first skatepark project.
• Just ChildhoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NGO in Lebanon collaborating with Skateboarding School Lebanon on refugee skate programs three times per week.
• Giraffe CrewcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTunisian skate collective collaborating with MLSL and Decathlon Tunisia on La Marsa Skatepark project.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SOS Outreach: Non-profit using outdoor action sports (primarily snowboarding and skateboarding) for youth development and mentorship. Comparable youth-empowerment framework leveraging action sports for at-risk populations across multiple geographies.
• Harold Hunter Foundation: NYC-based foundation providing scholarships, skateboards, and skateboarding programs to underserved youth. Similar non-profit mission of using skateboarding for youth empowerment, with a U.S. urban focus rather than international development.
• Skateistan: Non-profit that uses skateboarding as a tool for empowerment and education with youth in Afghanistan, Cambodia, South Africa, and other developing countries. Most mission-aligned peer, also delivering skate programs to underserved youth in low-income geographies.
• Stoked Mentoring: Non-profit pairing underserved youth with action-sports mentors across skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing. Shares MLSL's youth-development-through-skateboarding model with comparable target population in underserved U.S. urban areas.
• Skate Like a Girl: Non-profit that empowers girls, women, and gender-nonconforming individuals through skateboarding. Shares MLSL's girls-only programming focus and youth-development mission via skateboarding, with comparable instructional and community-building components.

Emerging players

• The Skateroom: Art-focused skate brand producing licensed artist skateboards that fund social skateboarding projects globally. Adjacent social-impact model—a commercial entity funding community skateboarding initiatives with overlapping beneficiary communities.

Broad incumbents

• The Skatepark Project: U.S.-focused skatepark funding foundation (formerly Tony Hawk Foundation) that has backed hundreds of public skateparks. Larger and more established player with overlapping mission of building community skateparks but operating primarily in higher-income U.S. markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/makelifeskatelife

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Make Life Skate Life