We second Brenna's recommendation for the Pollination Project. While we're fiscally sponsored, and we're a bike advocacy organization, we don't have 501(c)(3) tax exemption yet, though we will before late spring if all goes well with the IRS. As such, since we're still grassrootsy enough, we were able to apply last year and we ended up being awarded a $1,000 grant (or two separate $500 grants rather) via the Pollination Project.
One of the folks who works for them, who was our main contact through the application process, mentioned that he's a cyclist and I believe he said something briefly about being involved with his local bike scene. While the Pollination Project has a separate panel that ultimately decides who gets funding, and I highly doubt we received any sort preferential treatment (we don't personally know anyone who works for them), I believe the fact he was our contact versus someone else may have slightly helped. They're also not a large organization, so there aren't tons of levels of communication, or so I gather.
I don't have any evidence to support he helped push us over the edge for approval beyond knowing that our project request wasn't exactly the most optimal fit compared to some other examples they list on their website. While our project technically fit their requirements (otherwise we wouldn't have applied), we didn't receive immediate approval and they requested additional information before finally approving our project. So while I don't think our application contact had any major pull, the fact that he was handling our communication and application process, leads me to believe his involvement may have somehow given us the slight bump it felt like we needed for ultimate approval.
I'd like to think we were successful because our project was worth funding and my writing skills are finally honed, but I have a feeling it was a bit more than that, but I could be wrong.
Anyways, to make a long email short, check them out. They seem to be awesome folks and a great organization with a super worthwhile mission - I mean and they liked what we were doing enough to give us money that helped our efforts continue growing, so we have only good things to say.
On 01/08/2015 8:42 pm, yogabrenna@hotmail.com wrote:
Hey Sara and friends, I've got an electronic high 5 for you, Sara! Keep up the solid, important, not-always easy work! Your commitment, passion and creativity will pull you through the next big projects you're working on, so keep it up! Bike shares and open streets are HUGE things and it's awesome you're a part of making these things happen (we need more!) I hope you have a supportive team behind you and/or the enthusiastic volunteers are on their way.... I did some volunteering with the WRENCH in Winnipeg - your northern neighbour a few hours' drive away. Geoff at mech@thewrench.ca could be a good source of support, ideas, edocuments, resources that may be helpful to you. He's not always available on email right away but definitely has always been keen to guide me in the right direction when it comes to bicycle and community projects. He has a LOT of experience! Some cats from the wrench may be on this list.... Anyway, they run a ton of youth programs, earn-a-bike courses, community bike shop, advocacy. This one goes for all of you, but if you have a small project (not a large ngo) that needs some start up funding, check out The Pollination Project. They give a $1000 grant every day to projects that need just a little bit of moola to get something rolling. Sara if you're on Facebook, you can connect with me at Brenna Coupland (page: Beeyond a Bike). i have some friends in guadalajara mexico, vancouver and south africa that do huge cycle advocacy work and some bike share initiatives, though they are far, they may be able to help you out through email. Ride on all, Brenna Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you! -----Original Message----- From: Daniel Gulya <daniel.gulya@gmail.com> Sender: "Thethinktank" <thethinktank-bounces@lists.bikecollectives.org> Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2015 16:02:32 To: The Think Tank<thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org> Reply-To: The Think Tank <thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org> Cc: Sarah Schaan<sarah.schaan@gmail.com>; Jason Tanzman<jason.tanzman@gmail.com>; Cammie, Lamey<camelialamey@msn.com> Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Greetings from Fargo and looking for pedicabs, cycling advocacy, bike share program resources ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org">Unsubscribe from this list</a> ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org">Unsubscribe from this list</a>