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Pettit National Ice Center Inc

EIN 39-1712146 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE, OFFER, AND SUPPORT RECREATIONAL, INSTRUCTIONAL, COMPETITIVE ICE SKATING-RELATED ACTIVITIES, AND PROGRAMS FOR THE WELL BEING OF ITS USERS AND COMMUNITY.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
105
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$120,300, general manager

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 August 31, 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. $1.9 million spent. SPEED SKATINGTHE PETTIT NATIONAL ICE CENTER HAS BEEN AN ELITE TRAINING SITE FOR OLYMPIC-LEVEL SPEEDSKATERS SINCE ITS OPENING 12/31/92. BY AGREEMENT WITH US SPEEDSKATING (USS), NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY UNDER THE USOC, THE PETTIT CENTER PROVIDES FREE OR DISCOUNTED ON-ICE AND OFF-ICE TRAINING FACILITIES FOR QUALIFIED USS AND HIGH POTENTIAL ATHLETES. IN ADDITION, THE PETTIT CENTER HOSTS REGIONAL AND NATIONAL COMPETITIONS AS MAY BE DESIGNATED BY USS.
  2. $870,190 spent. HOCKEY, PUBLIC USE AND FIGURE SKATINGTHE PETTIT NATIONAL ICE CENTER SERVICES THE COMMUNITY WITH DAILY SKATING SESSIONS. THESE SESSIONS SUPPORT AND PROMOTE SKATING AS A HEALTHY AND FUN ACTIVITY FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. THEY ARE ALSO POPULAR FOR YOUTH AND ADULT GROUP RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO KIDS ON ICE SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS AND OUTINGS BY THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA. ADDITIONALLY, THE PETTIT CENTER'S INDOOR 450-METER RUNNING TRACK IS UTILIZED ALMOST DAILY BY INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS SUCH AS HIGH SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND RUNNING CLUBS.
  3. $352,271 spent. SKATING SCHOOLTHE PETTIT NATIONAL ICE CENTER OFFERS PROGRAMS OF INSTRUCTION AT INTRODUCTORY, BASIC SKILLS AND DEVELOPMENT LEVELS FOR RECREATIONAL SKATING, FIGURE SKATING, SPEED SKATING AND HOCKEY. THE INTRODUCTORY PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE SCHOOLS ON ICE SKATING INSTRUCTION FOR AREA SCHOOL - AND HOME-SCHOOL STUDENTS. PETTIT CENTER SKATING SCHOOL FOLLOWS THE USA HOCKEY AND U.S. FIGURE SKATING SKILLS STANDARDS. THE PETTIT CENTER SKATING SCHOOL IS RECOGNIZED BY U.S. FIGURE SKATING AS ONE OF THE LARGEST PROGRAMS IN THE NATION. THE BASIC SKILLS PROGRAMS ALSO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPANTS TO CONTINUE THEIR DEVELOPMENT BY JOINING LOCAL FIGURE, HOCKEY AND SPEED SKATING CLUBS. THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE CAMPS, LEAGUES AND SPECIAL EMPHASIS TRAINING FOR THE THREE ICE SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL SKATERS. THE FACILITY ALSO HOSTS REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1991.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.