Media contact: Eleanor Blick
IMBA Director of Communications
(720) 900-4622

Media contact: Fred Ferguson
Vista Outdoor Foundation
(571) 343-7006

(BOULDER, CO, December 1, 2021) — The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) has been selected by the Vista Outdoor Foundation as one of ten non-profit organizations awarded a total of $600,000 in grants in the Foundation's inaugural grant cycle.

Of more than 100 grant applicants, the ten selected grantees promote conservation, encourage youth participation in outdoor sports, and work to improve diversity and inclusion in the outdoors. IMBA is honored to advocate for the trails these organizations rely on to fulfill inspiring work for people and for the outdoors, and congratulates all the grant recipients.

“Trails get people outside. More trails mean more people can get outside. More trails in more communities means more people get to experience the myriad benefits of the great outdoors. IMBA has been the leader in trails for more than 30 years, and partnering with the Vista Outdoor Foundation allows us to accelerate our work and bring more trails to more communities more quickly,” said David Wiens, IMBA Executive Director.

IMBA’s $100,000 grant award will support its mission of creating, enhancing and protecting great places to ride mountain bikes. IMBA looks forward to a continued partnership with Vista Outdoor Foundation to advance #MoreTrailsCloseToHome in communities across the country.  

"The creation of the Vista Outdoor Foundation was motivated by a belief that common ground can be found outside," said Dylan Ramsey, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of Vista Outdoor Inc. and Chairman of the Vista Outdoor Foundation Board of Directors. "The Foundation seeks to identify and support organizations that work to unite all outdoor enthusiasts, from encouraging youth participation and diversity in outdoor sports to protecting the outdoor spaces that we depend on to pursue our respective passions. The ten organizations selected for grants this year have a tremendous track record of delivering meaningful results. On behalf of the Foundation, I look forward to partnering with them to achieve more great things in the coming years."

IMBA and Vista Outdoor Foundation share the view that the outdoors should be common ground for everyone. This grant will accelerate IMBA programs and services that help communities envision and create more trails. The grant also supports Trails are Common Ground, a national initiative working to increase the quality of trail experiences for all users by promoting kind and responsible trail use; making trails welcoming and safe for all people; and innovating trail system planning.

IMBA focuses on more trails close to home by helping communities shape a vision for more trails through education, and partnering with communities to see their trail vision through to completion. This includes securing land access for trails, planning and designing trails that work for everyone, acquiring funding for trail projects, and providing sustainable trail construction for quality mountain biking experiences.


About IMBA:
The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) creates, enhances and protects great places to ride mountain bikes. It is focused on creating more trails close to home to grow the quantity and quality of mountain bike trail communities across the U.S., so everyone has access to close-to-home rides and iconic backcountry experiences. Since 1988, IMBA has been the worldwide leader in mountain bike advocacy and the only organization focused entirely on trails and access for all types of mountain bikers in all parts of the U.S. IMBA teaches and encourages low-impact riding, grassroots advocacy, sustainable trail design, innovative land management practices and cooperation among trail user groups. IMBA U.S. is a national network of local groups, individual riders and passionate volunteers working together for the benefit of the entire community. Learn more at https://www.imba.com/.

About Vista Outdoor Foundation:
The Vista Outdoor Foundation is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt Delaware corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation supports non-profit partners and programs that seek to expand recreational access, encourage youth participation and diversity in outdoor sports, protect and conserve open space, and mitigate the effects of climate change. The Foundation's Board of Directors is comprised of employees from Vista Outdoor Inc. who represent a broad cross-section of the company's diverse portfolio of brands, outdoor activities and consumers. For more information, visit our website at www.vistaoutdoor.com/Foundation.