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National Sports Center Foundation

EIN 41-1646516 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AMATEUR SPORTS BY PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCES AT THE NATIONAL SPORTS CENTER FOR OVER FOUR MILLION PEOPLE ANNUALLY RESULTING IN 85+ MILLION DOLLARS OF TOURISM ECONOMIC IMPACT.

Income
$17.5 million
Spending
$19.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 93%
Employees
367
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$178,359, deputy executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 5% 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

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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

    11 of 14 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $8.0 million spent. FIELD SPORTS: YOUTH SOCCER PROGRAMS AND OTHER FIELD SPORTS ARE HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND PROVIDE ATHLETES, OF ALL LEVELS OF SKILL, OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUALITY TRAINING, INSTRUCTION AND COMPETITION. PARTICIPANTS IN TOURNAMENTS, CAMPS, CLINICS, LEAGUES, AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS ON A YEAR-ROUND BASIS. THE NATIONAL SPORTS CENTER FOUNDATION ALSO PROMOTES AND ORGANIZES INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS AND COMPETITION OPPORTUNITIES IN SPORTS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LACROSSE, RUGBY, ULTIMATE, BASEBALL, FOOTBALL, GENERAL HEALTH AND FITNESS. THE INVESTMENT IN EMERGING SPORTS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE NSC'S MISSION BECAUSE THESE SPORTS OFTEN APPEAL TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES.
  2. $5.2 million spent. ICE SPORTS: THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES IN ICE SPORTS FOR YOUTH, INCLUDING MINNESOTA'S LARGEST FIGURE SKATING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, AS WELL AS LEAGUES AND TOURNAMENTS FOR GIRLS AND BOYS IN HOCKEY ON A YEAR-ROUND BASIS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO SPONSORS NUMEROUS OTHER YOUTH PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SUCH AS COMPETITIONS, TRAINING, EDUCATION AND CLINICS. ALL OF THESE AMATEUR SPORTS PROGRAMS CONTRIBUTE TO THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE THROUGH ATHLETICS. THE FOUNDATION PROGRAMS CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE LOCAL TWIN CITIES COMMUNITIES AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.
  3. $1.5 million spent. GOLF: GOLF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND GOLF ACTIVITIES SERVING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS ANNUALLY. OUR GOLF PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE LARGEST JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. UNIQUE PROGRAM SUCCESS INCLUDES PROGRAMMING FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS, GOLF FOR VETS AND FIVE HIGH SCHOOL GOLF PROGRAMS.
  4. $2.3 million spent. HOST SERVICES: THE NATIONAL SPORTS CENTER FOUNDATION ALSO PROMOTES AND ORGANIZES INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS AND COMPETITION OPPORTUNITIES IN SPORTS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LACROSSE, RUGBY, ULTIMATE, BASEBALL, FOOTBALL, GENERAL HEALTH AND FITNESS. THE INVESTMENT IN EMERGING SPORTS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE NSC'S MISSION BECAUSE THESE SPORTS OFTEN APPEAL TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES. OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE UTILIZING THE FACILITIES FOR COMMUNITY-BASED EVENTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL NETWORKS IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC-IMPACT CONTRIBUTION TO THE TWIN CITIES COMMUNITIES AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 April 1992.

    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.