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The Skating Club of Boston

EIN 04-1839710 · Norwood, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BE A LEADER IN ADVANCING PARTICIPATION, EDUCATION, AND EXCELLENCE IN SKATING FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, AND MEANS.

Income
$20.4 million
Spending
$21.0 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-13.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
279
Volunteers
1,000
Highest pay
$337,628, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 99% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $15.3 million spent. THE SKATING CLUB OF BOSTON OPERATES FIGURE SKATING PROGRAMS IN ITS NEW, STATE OF THE ART THREE-RINK FACILITY IN NORWOOD. OFFERINGS INCLUDE RECREATIONAL PUBLIC SKATING; RECREATIONAL AND COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS IN PAIRS, SINGLES, AND DANCE SKATING; TEAM SYNCHRONIZED SKATING; AND A THEATRE-ON-ICE PROGRAM. THE CLUB ALSO OPERATES A HIGH-PERFORMANCE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN COMPETING AT THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. ON BEHALF OF U.S. FIGURE SKATING, THE NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY FOR THE SPORT, THE CLUB ALSO PERIODICALLY HOSTS QUALIFYING REGIONAL, SECTIONAL, AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. CLUB MEMBERS HAVE WON OVER 145 NATIONAL TITLES, SEVERAL WORLD TITLES, AND TWO OLYMPIC CHAMPIONSHIPS. ITS MEMBERS HAVE ALSO GONE ON TO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL OF GOVERNANCE IN THE SPORT. THE CLUB HAS A YOUTH IN SPORT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES MONETARY SUPPORT FOR CITY YOUTH AND LOCAL SKATERS LEARNING, APPRECIATING, AND EXCELLING IN THE SPORT OF FIGURE SKATING. IT UNDERWRITES THE SKATING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IN THE SKATING ACADEMY AND SUPPORTS LOCAL YOUTH WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE COST OF SKATING. THE SKATING CLUB OF BOSTON OPERATES FIGURE SKATING PROGRAMS IN ITS NEW, STATE OF THE ART THREE-RINK FACILITY IN NORWOOD. OFFERINGS INCLUDE RECREATIONAL PUBLIC SKATING; RECREATIONAL AND COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS IN PAIRS, SINGLES, AND DANCE SKATING; TEAM SYNCHRONIZED SKATING; AND A THEATRE-ON-ICE PROGRAM. THE CLUB ALSO OPERATES A HIGH-PERFORMANCE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN COMPETING AT THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. ON BEHALF OF U.S. FIGURE SKATING, THE NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY FOR THE SPORT, THE CLUB ALSO PERIODICALLY HOSTS QUALIFYING REGIONAL, SECTIONAL, AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. CLUB MEMBERS HAVE WON OVER 145 NATIONAL TITLES, SEVERAL WORLD TITLES, AND TWO OLYMPIC CHAMPIONSHIPS. ITS MEMBERS HAVE ALSO GONE ON TO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL OF GOVERNANCE IN THE SPORT. THE CLUB HAS A YOUTH IN SPORT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES MONETARY SUPPORT FOR CITY YOUTH AND LOCAL SKATERS LEARNING, APPRECIATING, AND EXCELLING IN THE SPORT OF FIGURE SKATING. IT UNDERWRITES THE SKATING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IN THE SKATING ACADEMY AND SUPPORTS LOCAL YOUTH WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE COST OF SKATING.
  2. $1.2 million spent. THE SKATING CLUB OF BOSTON OPERATES THE BOSTON PARK DEPARTMENT'S FACILITY AT THE FROG POND ON THE HISTORIC BOSTON COMMON AS PART OF A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON. THE CLUB OPERATES THE FROG POND ON A YEAR-ROUND BASIS WITH THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FOUR SEASONS OF FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, CLUB-MANAGED ACTIVITIES CENTER ON OPERATION OF THE SKATING RINK INCLUDING SKATE RENTALS, PUBLIC SKATING, PRIVATE OUTINGS, AND GROUP AND PRIVATE SKATING LESSONS. THE CLUB ALSO PRODUCES A SKATING SHOW DURING THE WINTER TO CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR AS PART OF BOSTON'S FIRST NIGHT CELEBRATIONS. DURING THE WARM WEATHER MONTHS, THE CLUB MAINTAINS AND OPERATES THE REFLECTING AND SPRAY POOL AT THE FROG POND AS WELL AS A CHILDREN'S CAROUSEL. YEAR-ROUND, THE CLUB OPERATES THE FROG POND CAFE. IN ADDITION TO THE WINTER SKATING SHOWS THAT ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC, THE CLUB ALSO PROMOTES AND PRODUCES A FREE MOVIE NIGHT SERIES, FREE YOGA CLASSES, AND OTHER EVENTS OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO LOCALS AND TOURISTS ALIKE. THE SKATING CLUB OF BOSTON OPERATES THE BOSTON PARK DEPARTMENT'S FACILITY AT THE FROG POND ON THE HISTORIC BOSTON COMMON AS PART OF A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON. THE CLUB OPERATES THE FROG POND ON A YEAR-ROUND BASIS WITH THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FOUR SEASONS OF FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, CLUB-MANAGED ACTIVITIES CENTER ON OPERATION OF THE SKATING RINK INCLUDING SKATE RENTALS, PUBLIC SKATING, PRIVATE OUTINGS, AND GROUP AND PRIVATE SKATING LESSONS. THE CLUB ALSO PRODUCES A SKATING SHOW DURING THE WINTER TO CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR AS PART OF BOSTON'S FIRST NIGHT CELEBRATIONS. DURING THE WARM WEATHER MONTHS, THE CLUB MAINTAINS AND OPERATES THE REFLECTING AND SPRAY POOL AT THE FROG POND AS WELL AS A CHILDREN'S CAROUSEL. YEAR-ROUND, THE CLUB OPERATES THE FROG POND CAFE. IN ADDITION TO THE WINTER SKATING SHOWS THAT ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC, THE CLUB ALSO PROMOTES AND PRODUCES A FREE MOVIE NIGHT SERIES, FREE YOGA CLASSES, AND OTHER EVENTS OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO LOCALS AND TOURISTS ALIKE.
  3. $492,917 spent. THE SKATING CLUB OF BOSTON'S SKATING ACADEMY IS NEW ENGLAND'S PREMIER SKATING SCHOOL WITH MULTIPLE PROGRAMS IN SEVERAL BOSTON-AREA LOCATIONS. ENROLLMENT IS CLOSE TO 2,000 STUDENTS, WITH NEW PROGRAMS AND LOCATIONS BEING OFFERED EVERY YEAR. IN ADDITION TO ITS STANDARD CURRICULUM FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS, THE ACADEMY ALSO OPERATED A THERAPEUTIC SKATING PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WITH EMOTIONAL, LEARNING, AND OTHER DISADVANTAGES, AS WELL AS A TWO-WEEK SUMMER SKATING CAMP. THE CLUB'S SKATING ACADEMY ALSO OPERATES ITS SKATING IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM, OFFERING STUDENTS IN BOSTON THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO SKATE. THE PROGRAM IS FULLY-SPONSORED BY THE CLUB AND OUTSIDE SPONSORS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.