Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
In the previous year, we strengthened our position in the community, grew as an organization, expanded our outreach, won major awards and certifications, broke attendance records at all of our major events, and advanced towards our goal of building a home for year-round outdoor activity in Theodore Wirth Park.
Specifically, our programs for youth aged 8-13 experienced significant growth in participation and involvement. Loppet Nordic Racing (our competitive training wing) won a second straight national championship as the best junior club in the country, and we received Podium/Gold certification from the United States Ski & Snowboard Association (the only Nordic-only club to do so). All five of our major community events saw record attendance. Finally, we built on our relationships with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and Minneapolis Public Schools. Through partnership with the schools, we made great strides on an evaluation project demonstrating the effectiveness of our programs.
Current Goals
Events:
-More sustained entrepreneurial revenues through bigger and better events
Incorporating more youth and families from diverse backgrounds
-More engaged volunteers
Adventures:
-More family engagement.
-More and better events and programs that people can unite around and celebrate, building a greater sense of community in the Minneapolis area.
-Schools want to partner with the Loppet Foundation to improve both health and academic performance.
-The organization tracks its progress in youth development by examining the progress of kids and families over time.
Loppet Nordic Racing:
-Continued development of Fast Kids
-More robust year-round training for adults.
-Thriving Seniors programming, based mostly, if not entirely, on athletes that have come up through our system and/or are heavily connected to the Loppet.
-LNR is the go-to club for mountain biking as well as skiing.
Stewardship:
-The Loppet Foundation is the shining example of a public-private partnership in the Minneapolis area.
-The Foundation’s Adventure Center is the home base for a culture around endurance-based activities.
-Theodore Wirth Park is recognized as the center of cross country skiing in the country.
Organizational Infrastructure:
-The Loppet Foundation grows its team to be able to sustainably support all of these activities.
-The Foundation has physical space, technological skills and infrastructure that allow it to succeed.
-The Foundation has an Advancement Department that can support key initiatives.
-The Foundation has robust financial accounting and maintains a margin of 2% income over expenses over any given three-year period.
Community or Constituency Served
The Loppet Foundation works across different cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds, with a programmatic focus on North Minneapolis youth and their families. Through our events and youth adventure camps we bring together youth from all backgrounds, creating connections based on their shared passion for outdoor activities.
Geographic Area Served
Broadly, the Minneapolis area.
