In 2022 581 Climate Riders, Runners, Risers, and Hikers enabled us to award over $3.8 million in grants. This brings our total impact to more nearly $11 million since 2008. Our independent efforts to generate powerful grants have resulted in direct support to help fight legal battles for public lands and clean air. We’ve amplified diverse voices in sustainable transportation and provided funds for organizations building safer options for bicyclists and walkers. Our grants have led to renewable energy projects in national parks, relieving pollution in critically impacted ecosystems.
Together we’ve braced an environmental movement that needs new voices and an active citizenry willing to walk the walk and bike the bike.
We delivered 324 grants to beneficiaries working in sustainability, renewable energy, climate action, conservation, and public health. Below we’ve profiled a few of our Climate Ride grants in action.
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Create opportunities for the most vulnerable members of society by using cycling to improve health, economic stability, and individual and collective capacity. Increase cycling among all community members. Promote cycling as a social, sustainable, and green mode of transportation.
“RICH CITY Rides is pleased to join this year’s Climate Ride and garner support for our programs! We always ride further together.” – Najari Smith, Founding Executive Director
Bike Programming | Community Strava Club, Community Care Social Rides, Youth Bike Club, Bike Repair Workshops, Commuter Cyclist Program and more.
Everybody Rides Program | Provides refurbished bikes by request at no cost.
Find them here: richcityrides.org
Action for the Climate Emergency (ACE) has a mission to educate, inspire and support young people to lead the fight for their future. They ensure young people have everything they need to understand the science and advocate for solutions to the climate emergency.
“ACE is immensely grateful for the partnership of Climate Ride. Beyond contributing to our work to address the climate crisis, the Climate Ride team has played an instrumental role in connecting ACE to other leaders in the space, strengthening and supporting collaboration in the environmental movement. We are thrilled to partner with Climate Ride in the fight for our future!” -Ash Lauth, National Director of Campaigns
Climate Advocacy | ACE advocates for a world beyond fossil fuels—a world in which our leaders tell the truth, acknowledge the climate emergency and act at an emergency-level speed to stop it.
Action Team Network | While elected leaders bury their heads in the sand, ACE is organizing, building power, and demanding solutions that meet the scale of the problem. ACE Action Teams across the U.S. work together to create a powerful force to demand that our leaders act on the climate emergency right now.
Education and Storytelling | Young people have the right to know about the climate emergency and the opportunity to take action to stop it. Our award-winning collection of digital media, Our Climate Our Future, educates young people about the climate emergency and activates them into action.
Find them here: www.acespace.org
Climate One from The Commonwealth Club is the premier platform for the conversation about the climate emergency. Through our podcast, national radio show and live convenings for thought leaders and concerned members of the public, we create opportunities for dialogue and inspire a more complete understanding of the current crisis.
“Cycling is more than just a way to get around. It’s a powerful tool that can promote a healthier planet, while also serving as a source of joy for individual riders. At Climate One, we are proud to share Climate Ride’s commitment to protecting the health of the planet. Their support of our program has been invaluable in driving the climate conversation forward, and we are deeply grateful for their partnership. We also want to thank the riders, whose dedication and passion inspire us all. We are honored to have them on our team.” Wency Shaida, Development Manager
Weekly Podcast | In our weekly podcast and public radio program, Climate One from The Commonwealth Club engages advocates, influencers and policymakers in empowering conversations that connect all aspects of the climate emergency the individual and the systemic, the scary and the exciting – to deepen your understanding of the most critical issue of our time.
Live Programming |Moderated by host Greg Dalton, Climate One’s live programs offer opportunities for candid and meaningful discussions with diverse voices, while also offering the opportunity to build connections and community with an engaged audience.
Stephen H. Schneider Award | Since 2011, Climate One has presented the Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication, which is an annual award for a prominent climate scientist with an outstanding record as a communicator and mentor.
Find them here: climateone.org
The Glacier National Park Conservancy assures the Glacier National Park experience by providing support for preservation, education, and research through philanthropy and outreach.
“Our partnership with Climate Ride has literally transformed Glacier National Park. In just the past couple of years, the contributions from Climate Riders funded the conversion of the Apgar Visitor Center to sustainable solar power, and fully funded the expansion of spring shuttle services to improve biker access to the iconic Going to the Sun Road. It’s truly incredible to see the combined power people brought together for passion and purpose.” -Doug Mitchell, Executive Director
Preservation | The Conservancy funds projects and programs that preserve Glacier’s heritage for future generations.
Education | The Conservancy funds education initiatives to engage current and future park stewards of all ages.
Research | The Conservancy supports world-class research and science exploring the park’s wildlife and alpine landscapes.
Find them here: www.glacier.org.
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
The Wild | Earthjustice uses the law to preserve a rich, sustainable and diverse natural heritage for current and future generations. They select cases that will protect endangered species, sensitive habitats and threatened wildlands, reduce human impacts on ecosystems, and hold accountable those who damage them.
Healthy Communities | Earthjustice has been at the forefront of safeguarding the fundamentals of human health—the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. They are fighting for a future where children can breathe clean air, no matter where they live, where the food we feed our families and the products we use in our homes are free of toxic chemicals, and where communities everywhere are safer, healthier places to live and work.
Climate and Energy | Earthjustice is committed to ending the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels and working to secure a clean energy future. Climate change is the single greatest environmental threat facing the world today. At stake is nothing less than our children’s—and our planet’s—future.
Find them here: www.earthjustice.org.
The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) is a membership-based nonprofit organization that works to make all communities in LA County healthy, safe, and fun places to ride a bike through advocacy, education, and outreach.
Operation Firefly | Operation Firefly (Operacíon Luciérnaga) is an education and bike light distribution program of LACBC intended to make sure people riding bikes in LA County are riding safely at night.
Active Streets LA | ASLA co-powers communities through participatory planning to create safe walking and bicycling routes to parks, schools, and local businesses along their neighborhood streets.
Bike + Ped Count | The LA City Bike+Ped Count is the largest source of data on the numbers of people that walk and bike on Los Angeles streets. The data collected demonstrates year-over-year increases in the numbers of people biking and walking, particularly where the city has installed new and improved infrastructure.
Blue Line First/Last Mile | This pilot project aims to improve safety and access to each Blue Line station by engaging community members early in the planning process.
Bicycle Friendly Businesses | Bikes mean business! LACBC has teamed up with Business Partners to support businesses that support bicycling. Current LACBC members can show their membership card and save at business partners!
Find them here: la-bike.org.
The Alliance for the Great Lakes works to protect the Great Lakes for today and tomorrow.
Adopt-a-Beach | For more than 25 years, Alliance for the Great Lakes Adopt-a-Beach volunteers have worked to keep Great Lakes shorelines healthy, safe, and beautiful.
Saving Lake Erie | Massive, bright green toxic algal blooms cover large parts of Lake Erie each summer. This is an unacceptable threat to drinking water for more than 11 million people. The Alliance for the Great Lakes works to regulate runoff pollution from large farms that cause this bloom.
Fighting Plastic Pollution | As plastic pollution breaks down in the Great Lakes, microscopic pieces of plastic are found in the lakes and even treated drinking water. We’re fighting for plastic-free water.
Find them here: greatlakes.org.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a non-profit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change.
Engaging Citizens | With over 400 local chapters, CCL empowers everyday people to work together on climate change solutions. Together they are building support in Congress for a national bipartisan solution to climate change.
Climate Advocate Training and Education | CCL trains supporters how to make meaningful contributions every day that drive Climate Action forward, whether by building relationships with their members of Congress, local businesses, or media. CCL provides training and tools to help them maximize their skills.
Creating Political Will for Climate Action | Their consistently respectful, nonpartisan approach to climate education is designed to create a broad, sustainable foundation for climate action across all geographic regions and political inclinations. By building upon shared values rather than partisan divides, and empowering CCL supporters to work in keeping with the concerns of their local communities, CCL works towards the adoption of fair, effective, and sustainable climate change solutions.
Find them here: citizensclimatelobby.org.
350.org is building the global grassroots climate movement that can hold our leaders accountable to science and justice.
“Climate Ride is a long-time partner of 350.org‘s grassroots work fighting the climate crisis. Their grant helps us keep fossil fuels in the ground, divest trillions from the fossil fuel industry, and empowers our organizing. 350.org is lucky to have passionate climate riders and hikers like you with us in this fight.” – May Boeve, Executive Director.
Online Campaigns | 350.org distributes online resources in the form of organizing and training workshops and education, videos, education materials, memes, images, and other media to encourage people to: 1) keep carbon in the ground; 2) help build a new, more equitable low-carbon economy; and 3) pressure governments into limiting emissions.
Grassroots Organizing | 350.org has created local groups around the globe in over 188 countries who work in coordination with one another to create demonstrations and international days of action.
Mass Public Actions | 350.org acknowledges that world leaders are incapable of solving climate change on their own. They create opportunities for supporters to get out in the streets and make their voices heard — that is how they demonstrate our power as a movement, and that is how they force governments to make the right decisions.
Find them here: 350.org.
Beyond Fistula is a non-profit charity that helps women and girls in Africa who have recently undergone surgical repair for fistulas. Donating to our organization helps these women get an education and training in order reintegrate into society.
Scholarship Fund | A scholarship program that provides funds for young fistula survivors to return to primary or secondary school. Donations help these girls and women, who were previously outcasts, get an education and reconnect with others their age.
Vocational Program | Provides fistula survivors with vocational training in their choice of tailoring, hairdressing, catering, computer skills, farming, and business. These skills help them become financially stable or even financially independent in the future, hugely assisting them in reintegrating with their communities as respected and contributing citizens.
Production Program | Borne out of the tailoring vocational program, the production program provides fistula survivors the opportunity to learn a new skill, gain self-confidence, and earn a fair trade income by making and selling tote bags and other handmade items in an emotionally supported environment. Each woman is paid directly for her products, supporting a fair trade practice.
Permaculture Farm | We give women a farm skills seminar to teach sustainable farming techniques. These techniques show how to use the land to fertilize itself (chop and drop) and how to prevent erosion of nutrients by using ground cover. We teach improved planting techniques and skills to improve their crop yield.
Find them here: beyondfistula.org.
Bike East Bay promotes healthy, sustainable communities by making bicycling safe, fun and accessible. They improve cycling through advocacy, education, and fun events. Because of Bike East Bay, the East Bay is a leader for innovative and accessible bikeways and streets that meet the needs of all users. They ensure cycling stays a mainstream, comfortable and safe choice for people of all cultures, ages, abilities, and backgrounds and that bicycles are well integrated into the transportation system and are a key part of thriving communities.
Bike East Bay promotes healthy, sustainable communities by making bicycling safe, fun and accessible. They improve cycling through advocacy, education, and fun events.
Because of Bike East Bay, the East Bay is a leader for innovative and accessible bikeways and streets that meet the needs of all users. They ensure cycling stays a mainstream, comfortable and safe choice for people of all cultures, ages, abilities, and backgrounds and that bicycles are well integrated into the transportation system and are a key part of thriving communities.
“Climate Riders are the ultimate active activists: building community and fundraising for a better future. Bike East Bay is grateful and inspired by the Climate Ride team who fundraise for streets that put people first: your support makes a better future possible!” –Eileen Rice Communications Director
Advocacy | Increase the number and diversity of people biking.
Education | Overcome barriers to bicycling via programs educating all road users.
Community Engagement | Build strong and collaborative relationships with representation from all East Bay communities.
Find them here: www.bikeeastbay.org.
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