Community Impact Grant Guidelines

OPEN CALL

Application Period: March 2 - Apr 30, 2026

Grant awards typically range from $5,000 - $15,000, and this is a direct grant issued in a lump sum. There is no matching component required. To determine specific grant amounts, the Outride team will consider finalist’s applications and assess the scope of work, organizational need, intended grant outcomes, and the goals of the portfolio. The grant is unrestricted and can be used for programming or indirect costs, but the awards will be selected on the basis of programmatic quality, goals, and outcomes.

Eligibility

  • Grantees must be based in the U.S. or Canada

  • Nonprofit organizations with a current 501(c)(3) public charity status or have a fiscal sponsor that has a current 501(c)(3) public charity status, with an operating budget of less than $5M

  • Government agencies, including school districts.

  • Active Outride Riding for Focus program grantees.

  • Grantees must be aligned with one of our funding priorities:

    • Creating Lifelong Riders: Cycling programming aligned with our focus on brain health, including community-based riding, skill development, safety instruction, bike repair and maintenance programs, and social connection, for youth (under 18) and older adults (55+)

    • Strengthening Riding for Focus Programs: Strategic partnerships and support to Outride Riding for Focus focused on increasing sustainability, creating beyond school pathways, and enrichment

  • Grantees must be aligned with one of our priority populations:

    • Youth (under 18 years old)

    • Older adults and aging populations (55+ years old)

Reporting

Awarded grantees will submit an impact report at the end of the one-year grant term. The impact report is a survey of results and outcomes over the course of the grant term.

2026 Funding Priorities

Creating Lifelong Riders

Cycling programming aligned with our focus on brain health, including community-based riding, skill development, safety instruction, bike repair and maintenance programs, and social connection, for youth (under 18) and older adults (55+). We support programmatic initiatives that deepen engagement and foster ongoing participation, including:

  • Ride clubs

  • Adventure/outdoor riding programs

  • Racing teams

  • Intergenerational programs

  • Skills workshops and rider education programs

  • Bike repair and maintenance programs

  • E-bike safety and education

These programs help riders develop skills, discover new forms of cycling, and stay connected to supportive communities.

Success in this area often looks like: increased participation and retention; more first-time riders progressing in skills and confidence; inclusive teams/clubs with strong mentorship

Strengthening Riding for Focus

We partner with organizations that support Outride Riding for Focus (R4F) grantees, with emphasis on sustainability and enrichment, to ensure long-term program quality and community integration. Support may include:

  • Program expansion or continued implementation

  • Equipment maintenance

  • Educator training/curriculum support

  • District level partnerships

Success in this area often looks like: stable, high-quality R4F programs; smooth transitions to community riding; measurable benefits to focus, engagement, and wellbeing.

At the core of both these priorities is a focus on cycling for social, emotional, and cognitive health. Proposals that thoughtfully articulate how they are aligned with this principle will be the most competitive.

We Don’t Fund

  • Individuals: We only fund organizations.

  • International organizations not based in the US or Canada

  • Trail development or infrastructure: Capital budgets are beyond our scope; we will refer strong infrastructure proposals to dedicated funders/programs.

  • Events, fondos, races, or fundraisers: We prioritize ongoing programming rather than single day activities.

  • Political campaigns or advocacy/policy/lobbying initiatives

  • Programs not focused on cycling, or cycling programs without an intentional focus on mental, social emotional, and cognitive health or on expanding equity and access. Large, national organizations with operating budgets greater than $5million

We do not fund infrastructure or advocacy/policy initiatives; our dollars are targeted to programmatic access and capacity.

How We Select Grantees

Outride will consider a number of factors, including:

  • Clear alignment with one or more of our priorities

  • Demonstrated or strong potential for equitable access and inclusive participation

  • Organizational readiness and capacity to deliver

  • Commitment to learning and program evaluation appropriate to size and capacity

Outride staff will carefully consider each application against our selection criteria.

  • The grant committee will review and score each eligible application.

  • Each application is read by two reviewers.

  • Scores are then averaged and ranked.

  • Outride staff will notify awarded applicants by Summer of 2026.

Timeline

  • Applications invited: March 2, 2026

  • Applications due: April 30th, 2026

  • Grants awarded: Summer 2026

Application Guidance

  • Be thoughtful and specific. The best applications use concise language, clear data, and vivid descriptions to articulate their vision and impact.

  • Include the numbers. Find a way to quantify your impact and present metrics and data that support your proposal. Present a feasible budget aligned with your ask.

  • Be aligned. Outride is on a mission to empower all people to experience the social, emotional, and cognitive benefits of bicycling has outlined specific funding priorities and target populations; competitive applications will be highly aligned with these guidelines. If we’re not the right funder for you, we might be able refer you to a partner.

BY INVITE

By-invite grants support organizations at higher levels of funding than our open call. These grants support organizations with a proven track record of success in increasing access to cycling’s benefits at scale and systemically.

These grants may include multi-year commitments to support long-term program stability, or innovative models with the potential for broader learning. This pathway is intentionally limited and complements our Open Call, allowing us to broaden access while investing more deeply where evidence shows the strongest impact.