For IMBA and our grassroots partner organizations, adaptability isn’t just a skill—it’s a necessity. The way we communicate with agencies, build coalitions, and manage internal operations evolves to suit the changing times.
 

Use this guide as a companion to the recorded webinar to explore practical ways to strengthen relationships, position your organization for success, and ensure the success of the trails and outdoor spaces we champion. 

Fundraising, Policy, & Organizational Growth: Ten Actions for Success

1. Strengthen Your Fundraising Strategy

Few Model Trail Communities have achieved their goals with just races, just member rides, or just grants. A strong development strategy is one that relies on multiple, flexible ways to generate funding.

1. Diversify revenue streams (membership, grants, corporate sponsorships, & events).
   1. Check out Funding for Natural Surface Trails
2. Take the Trail Friendly Community Assessment to get a better understanding of your organization’s baseline and clarify goals and actions.

2. Build Local & State Partnerships

Trails contribute to healthy communities and healthy people. Your organization can be the “backbone” for trails, and you likely need partners to achieve your goals.

1. Engage agencies and organizations with common goals related to economic development, outdoor recreation, and public and community health. 
2. Engage with local businesses, outdoor brands, and municipal governments.
3. Explore the creation of MOUs with partner organizations to share resources and expertise.

3. Develop Crew Leaders, and Pay Them

Investing in your trails is expected. Investing in your people is often overlooked, and necessary.

1. Ensure you train the people that lead your volunteers. 
2. When possible, ensure your teams are certified in skills necessary for trail stewardship, volunteer management, and safety.
   1. Invest in a Trail Care School for your community. 
3. Work with your Board of Directors to set goals and strategize toward paid staff positions.
    

4. Improve Advocacy Efforts

Advocacy and stewardship go hand-in-hand, and advocacy happens at local, state, regional, and national levels. Get engaged, and engage your community to protect and improve trails in your area.

1. Understand your state’s recreation economy and how trails fit in.
2. Get to know your SCORP and your state’s Office of Outdoor Recreation. 
3. Engage other mountain biking, trails, and outdoor recreation organizations within your state.
4. Submit your request for advocacy support using IMBA’s Action Cultivator Tool. 
5. Build relationships with your lawmakers. 
   1. Find Your State Lawmakers on State Legislature websites 
   2. Find Your Federal Member on Congress.gov

5. Expand Volunteer Engagement

Volunteers are the lifeblood of most IMBA Local Member Organizations: their dedication, commitment, and passion for trails fuels #MoreTrailsCloseToHome.

1. Train and certify crew leaders to reduce liability and improve credibility. 
2. Establish formal agreements with land agencies to manage volunteers effectively.

6. Create Long-Term Sustainability Plans

Strategic planning is essential to the success of trails organizations.

1. Develop a data-driven, five-year strategy to ensure financial health and trail stewardship.
2. Set clear benchmarks for growth, funding, and advocacy impact.
    

7. Leverage Data & Storytelling

No one can tell your community’s stories better than you can, and pairing colorful anecdotes with data creates impact.

1. Use trail counter data and economic impact reportsbig to showcase the importance of trails.
2. Highlight community stories on social media and in newsletters that demonstrate the benefits of trails.

8. Establish or Strengthen Membership Programs

Growing trails means growing ridership, and donations. Give your members a reason to become and remain contributors to your progress.

1. Offer tangible benefits for members (swag, exclusive events, discount programs).
2. Explore the technology available to manage and grow memberships effectively.

9. Develop Strategic Alliances with Land Agencies

Municipal, state, and federal agency staff are powerful and essential partners. Invest in your relationships.

1. Work proactively with federal, state, and local land managers.
2. Advocate for land-use agreements that benefit both agencies and trail groups.

10. Take Advantage of IMBA’s Resources

Whether you are just getting your organization started, or hiring additional professional staff, IMBA has tools, resources, and connections you can use to meet your goals.

1. Apply for Trail Accelerator Grants. 
2. Invest in a Trail Care School or Trail Management School in your community
3. Bring your agency partners to Trail Labs Foundations. 
4. Use IMBA’s advocacy network to amplify local and national issues.