What Bridge to Skate does

Bridge to Skate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit organization founded around 2013 by Chantelle Heroux and headquartered in Costa Mesa, California (registered in New York). The organization delivers free skateboarding-based youth development programming to children and teens ages 7–17, with its largest demographic being at-risk and foster youth in Los Angeles County and underserved communities internationally. Its core service platform comprises six interconnected program pillars — Skateboard Discovery, Recreation and Fitness, Personal Development, Community Engagement, Creative Expression, and New Construction — supported by a Skateboard Library lending model, a Skateboard Recipient Program distributing 365+ refurbished boards annually, a Trade-In Program for equipment upgrades, free learn-to-skate clinics, after-school and summer programs (run in collaboration with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Youth Activities League), monthly competitions, twice-monthly excursions, educational sponsorships (~$325/year for Latin American students), and infrastructure projects including skateboard parks, playgrounds, and schools. There is no proprietary technology stack; the offering is human-delivered programming, mentorship, and physical infrastructure rather than a software product.

The organization operates on a donation-based revenue model, funded through individual contributions, corporate and foundation grants, art auctions, and equipment donations — all programs are provided free of charge to participants. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: monthly skateboarding competitions in South Central Los Angeles since 2011, international contests (Honduras, Colombia), and partnerships with East Side Riders Bike Club, the Los Angeles Unified School District, GN4LW, the US Embassy in Paraguay, and the Honduran government (which donated land for skate park construction in Tegucigalpa). Bridge to Skate claims operating presence across 15 nations including the United States, Honduras, Guatemala, Paraguay, Colombia, Senegal, Peru, Chile, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, with documented infrastructure outcomes including two skateboard parks and one school in Honduras and three operating skate schools in Guatemala, Paraguay, and Colombia.

Headcount is reported at 11–50, and revenue is not publicly disclosed. The organization is privately held as a 501(c)(3) with no parent company, no funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no disclosed investors. Distribution channels are direct field programs, partner-hosted locations, and lending libraries at schools, skate shops, and community centers. Marketing relies on organic social media (Facebook ~3,241 fans, Instagram ~3,393 followers), press coverage in skateboarding publications (Transworld Business, Concrete Wave Magazine, The Hundreds), and community word-of-mouth. Strategic intent centers on deepening international infrastructure, expanding inclusive programming (Girls and LGBTQIA+ Skate Night, 2026), and increasing annual skateboard distribution volume.

Name

Bridge to Skate

Legal name

Bridge to Skate

Website

https://bridgetoskate.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bridge to Skate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free skateboarding-based youth development programs — including after-school care, mentorship, competitions, equipment lending, and school construction — to at-risk youth ages 7–17 in Los Angeles County and 14 other nations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth-to-Adult Bridge & College Readiness (Noncredit) (EDAAAEAK)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Skateboarding programs
• Nonprofit youth services
• Community youth programs
• Youth empowerment

Headquarters

HQ city

Costa Mesa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit organization, Bridge to Skate operates primarily through donations from individuals, companies, and foundations. The organization hosts fundraisers, art auctions, and accepts cash and equipment donations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bridge to Skate provides free youth skateboarding programs including after-school and summer programs, learn-to-skate clinics, monthly competitions, mentorship, educational sponsorships, and infrastructure construction (skateboard parks, playgrounds, schools). All programming is delivered at no cost to youth participants, ages 7-17, with equipment provided through a skateboard library model. The organization serves at-risk and foster youth in Los Angeles County and underserved youth internationally across 15 nations.

Product overview

Bridge to Skate is a nonprofit organization offering a platform of interconnected programs centered around skateboarding as a vehicle for youth empowerment. The core programs include Skateboard Discovery (skateboarding introduction), Recreation and Fitness (competitions and fitness), Personal Development (education and mentorship), Community Engagement (community involvement), Creative Expression (art programs), and New Construction (infrastructure building). Supporting features include the Skateboard Library (equipment lending), Skateboard Recipient Program (donations), Trade-In Program (equipment upgrades), After-school/Summer Programs, Learn-to-Skate Clinics, Youth Empowerment Program (Y.E.P.), Mentorship Program, Out Takes! excursions, Educational Sponsorships, and Cultural Awareness Clinics. The programs collectively serve youth domestically through two free after-school programs in Los Angeles County and internationally across fifteen nations, providing everything from free equipment to education and community infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 27 students and 1 teacher at La Escuela Mendoza school in Los Laureles, Honduras
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• GN4LWsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 June 2026Partnership for Girls and LGBTQIA+ Skate Night events, promoting inclusive skateboarding opportunities for underrepresented groups in the community.
• East Side Riders Bike ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Los Angeles community organization collaborating with Bridge to Skate on youth programming and community events.
• Los Angeles Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partnership providing access to school facilities and coordination for after-school programs serving youth across Los Angeles County.
• Los Angeles Sheriff's DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the Youth Activities League, provides support for skateboarding programs, events, and community engagement initiatives. Law enforcement partnership focused on positive youth development.
• US Embassy in ParaguaysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Proyecto Freestyle PY tour in Paraguay, supporting international skateboarding programs and cultural exchange.
• Government of HondurascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated land for skateboard park project in Tegucigalpa, demonstrating government support for youth development initiatives.
• Skateboard Brands and CompaniescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRelationships with skateboard brands and companies who share Bridge to Skate's mission, providing equipment and support for the skate library and recipient programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Life Rolls On Foundation: Nonprofit using action sports (surfing, skateboarding) to empower youth with disabilities and underserved populations. Comparable adaptive/inclusive action-sports youth programming model.
• Concrete Wave Foundation: Foundation connected to Concrete Wave Magazine supporting skateboarding-related youth programs. Comparable media-driven advocacy and community programming overlap.
• Exposure Skate: Nonprofit hosting skateboarding contests, camps, and creative programs for underrepresented youth, including girls and LGBTQIA+ skaters. Comparable inclusive programming (mirrors BTS's GN4LW partnership) and contest-driven engagement model.

Direct peers

• Skateistan: International nonprofit using skateboarding for education and youth empowerment in countries including Afghanistan, Cambodia, and South Africa. Directly comparable global-skateboarding-for-youth-development model.
• Harold Hunter Foundation: NYC-based nonprofit using skateboarding to provide scholarships, mentorship, and community programming for underserved youth. Directly comparable in mission, target demographic, and skateboarding-centered youth development approach.
• The Skatepark Project: The Tony Hawk Foundation–led nonprofit funds and builds public skateparks in underserved communities. Directly comparable to Bridge to Skate's park-building mission in Honduras and focus on youth access to skateboarding infrastructure.
• Boards for Bros: Nonprofit that collects and refurbishes skateboards for donation to underprivileged youth. Closely mirrors Bridge to Skate's Skateboard Recipient Program (365+ boards distributed annually) and trade-in model.
• Adopt a Skatepark: Nonprofit that builds and refurbishes skateparks in underserved communities. Comparable in its park-construction mission to Bridge to Skate's New Construction program in Honduras.
• Stoked Mentoring: Nonprofit pairing at-risk youth with action-sports mentors (skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing) in NYC and beyond. Directly comparable model of using action sports for youth empowerment, mentorship, and life-skill development.

Regional players

• Sessions Skatecamp: Los Angeles–based nonprofit running free skateboarding day camps and after-school programs for underserved youth. Highly comparable in geography, target demographic, and free-program model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bridgetoskate
• YouTubeyoutube.com/bridgetoskate
• Facebookfacebook.com/bridgetoskate
• Instagraminstagram.com/bridgetoskate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bridge-to-skate

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Bridge to Skate