Grants Program Strategic Plan

The Bikes Belong Grants Program, founded in 1999, helps put more people on bicycles more often by awarding grants to important and influential projects that leverage federal, state, and local money and build momentum for bicycling. These projects include paved bike paths and rail-trails as well as mountain bike trails, bike parks, BMX facilities, and large-scale bicycle advocacy initiatives.

The Bikes Belong Board of Directors developed this Grants Program Strategic Plan to ensure that the program and the projects we support closely align with Bikes Belong’s mission. Please keep the strategic plan in mind as you develop your grant proposal.

Mission: To put more people on bicycles more often.

Vision: A nationwide network of cities, towns, and public spaces with superior bicycle facilities, inspiring people of all ages and abilities to ride for recreation, transportation, and the pure joy of cycling.

Values:
• Bikes belong everywhere—on roads, paths, and trails; in public parks and open space; on public transit; and at the workplace, schools, and other destinations.
• Bicycling is the best activity and form of transportation in the world.
• We can take diverse approaches to generate more bicycle ridership. These include:
  • Building bicycle facilities
  • Raising the visibility of bicycling
  • Strengthening bicycle advocacy and advocacy/industry coordination
  • Supporting retailers who sell and service bicycles in communities
  • Working with other groups that have similar goals
  • Supporting innovative and replicable ideas
  • Promoting bicycle safety
Goals:
• Encourage ridership growth and increase bicycle industry sales by supporting bicycle facilities projects.
• Support bicycle advocacy initiatives that have the potential for significant impact on ridership growth.
• Promote bicycling to the public.
• Build political support for bicycling.
• Leverage other sources of funding for bicycling.
• Serve geographically diverse regions and populations.
Action Plan:
• Accept and fund applications for bicycle facility and large-scale bicycle advocacy projects.
• Evaluate and coordinate with existing grantees.
• Share success stories from funded projects through communications and promotional materials.
• Re-evaluate grant guidelines annually to ensure alignment with Bikes Belong’s mission.