In 2020, despite being an extraordinary year because of the pandemic and travel restrictions, more than 100 Climate Riders, Runners, Risers, and Hikers enabled us to award over $100,000 in grants. This brings our total impact to more than $6.2 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.
2020 was a challenging year for nonprofits and Climate Ride was no exception. With the coronavirus pandemic, we had to cancel many events, and the events we did hold saw limited participation due to local restrictions. Despite this, we were able to navigate the events of the past year and even introduce a new virtual event, all while laying a solid foundation for the future. We expect to grow and expand as the world emerges from this devastating pandemic.
We delivered 95 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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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.