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Community Skating Inc

EIN 77-0089303 · Palo Alto, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMMUNITY SKATING, INC. WAS FOUNDED TO OPERATE THE WINTER LODGE, A POPULAR MID-PENINSULA RECREATION FACILITY AND THE ONLY PERMANENT OUTDOOR ICE SKATING RINK WEST OF THE SIERRAS WHICH WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CITY OF PALO ALTO AS A RESULT OF A 1985 VOTER APPROVED MANDATE. THOUSANDS OF PRE-SCHOOLERS THROUGH SENIORS FROM SAN JOSE TO REDWOOD CITY AND THOSE WHO ENROLL IN A WIDE RANGE OF CLASSES FROM BEGINNING TO ADVANCED ARE SERVED BY THE WINTER LODGE.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
75
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$222,907, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 April 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 (1)
  1. $2.1 million spent. COMMUNITY SKATING, INC. OFFERS BEGINNING TO ADVANCED ICE SKATING LESSONS TO PRE-SCHOOLERS, YOUTH AND ADULTS IN ONE OF THE LARGEST ICE SKATING SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN THE NATION. IN ADDITION, MORE THAN 15,000 DEDICATED ICE-TIME ADMISSIONS ARE PROVIDED ANNUALLY FOR SPECIAL NEEDS GROUPS, SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES, SCOUTS, AND OTHER YOUTH AND CHURCH GROUPS. IN ACCORD WITH THE VOTER-APPROVED MANDATE, THE CITY OF PALO ALTO ACQUIRED THE LAND AND COMMUNITY SKATING, INC. ASSUMED SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING THE WINTER LODGE FACILITY. IN ADDITION TO ITS SKATING LESSON PROGRAM, THE WINTER LODGE PROVIDES A SPECIAL PLACE FOR COMMUNITY RECREATION ON ICE. IN THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN THE RINK IS CLOSED, COMMUNITY SKATING, INC. CONTRACTS WITH A TENNIS PROFESSIONAL TO PROVIDE A TENNIS SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, CONCENTRATING ON YOUNGER, BEGINNING PLAYERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 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 April 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 March 1987.

    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.