Be A Boarder

Be A Boarder is an all-volunteer Twin Cities based non-profit whose mission is to provide access to skateboarding.

We are dedicated to removing the barriers that prevent kids from participating in skateboarding and are committed to providing access to skateboarding by providing equipment, education, and community engagement. Through skateboarding, youth are empowered to engage in a healthy activity, gain confidence, discover creativity, and make a difference in their community. Be A Boarder became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization March 21, 2017, and has since impacted the lives of more than 600 youth in the Twin Cities.

Donation Gifts

When you donate $20 or more you will receive the gift of our upcoming zine RAZORTALE, a Be A Boarder GTMD sticker, and a Be A Boarder patch. 

The first 10 donations at $50 or more will also receive a t-shirt from our St. Paul Saints event (limited sizes). 

The first 5 donations at $100 or more will also receive a limited edition screen printed poster designed by Tod Foley that celebrates Elliot Skatepark in Minneapolis. 

Be A Boarder will contact donors through email to arrange shipping. Donation gifts will ship in December.

Please help us meet our goal of $5000 this giving season.

If you are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor or recurring donor please contact us!

We reach kids in a variety of ways including free clinics, collaborations with schools and youth groups, as well as through our Ambassador Program, launched in summer 2020. Our Ambassadors are young adults who are skateboarders and want to help others. Through their connections and love of skateboarding, Ambassadors provide skateboards to youth who don’t have access to one, along with safety equipment and free instruction. Ambassadors also provide a hand up with the support of a new friend, and as part of a community who accepts them for who they are--a skateboarder.

With the generous donations of our supporters, we are able to procure the skateboards and safety equipment we need for our Ambassadors to distribute. This includes collecting and rehabbing used skate equipment and purchasing new components when needed. Your donation will make a huge difference to the youth we serve and empower.

Thanks to our generous supporters, 2022 has been a great year! We began by celebrating our 5th anniversary with friends old and new at Can Can Wonderland in St Paul. This event included a giant indoor vertical ramp for skate demos accompanied by a variety of bands and was a great reminder of the joy that skateboarding brings to many people. This event also helped us raise money, build boards, and share our message. Our second big event this year was in collaboration with the St. Paul Saints. In August we were featured at a game complete with our president, James Kaul, throwing out the first pitch. Thanks to the generous support of Resonate Design and the St Paul Saints, Be A Boarder shared its message with a new audience, raised money for our programs, and more than 60 kids learned how to skate during the game. Our main focus continues to be providing access to skateboarding, which we did in many ways throughout the year including collaborations with the Minneapolis Public Schools, Venture Academy, and many others, as well as through our Ambassadors. We cannot do this alone and our volunteers and Ambassadors make all of this possible!

We hope you’ll consider supporting us in our 2023 endeavors. Our generous donors make everything we do possible.