Not everyone on this list is a bike collective.&nbsp; For example, I run a youth bike shop under an umbrella nonprofit affiliated with a university.&nbsp; We run afterschool, weekend and summer youth programs.&nbsp; We have been toying with the idea of expanding into bike sales and adopting a &quot;business model&quot; for a while.&nbsp; In fact, we just recieved a grant to seed fund the &quot;business&quot; end of our operation as both a means of self generating revenue for our programs and teaching life skills &quot;entrepreneurship&quot; to local youth.&nbsp; I would advise organizers not to shy away from the business model, so long as there is a clearly defined outcomes and mission to keep your organization in check.&nbsp; Raising funds and covering costs is not selling out.&nbsp; Lets not forget that all co-ops are a form of business. <br>
<br>-- <br>Adam Schwartz<br>Program Coordinator, The Renaissance Youth Bike Shop<br>Center For Educational Partnership<br>6200 Sheridan Street, Riverdale, MD<br><a href="mailto:adamgs@umd.edu">adamgs@umd.edu</a><br>(301) 405-3213<br>
<br>Co-Founder, Green Guild Biodiesel Coop<br><a href="mailto:adam@greenguildbiodiesel.org">adam@greenguildbiodiesel.org</a><br>(301)275-2362<br>