Help Us Raise $50,000!

Over the past decade, mountain biking in Vermont has undergone a profound transformation, emerging as one of the State’s pillars of outdoor recreation. In 2022 alone, TrailForks recorded an impressive tally of over 580,000 ride logs in Vermont, surpassing pre-pandemic figures and underscoring that mountain biking’s popularity is no passing fad. During these past few years, VMBA has flourished into the nation’s largest statewide MTB advocacy organization, ending last year with nearly 10,000 members.

In the wake of this remarkable growth, the VMBA team recognized a need for a new, forward-looking strategy to chart our role in the years to come. Building off input from our members, Chapters, and partners, our Board and staff collaboratively developed a 5-year Strategic Plan anchored in seven major goals spanning Trails, Advocacy, Community, and the Organization – conveniently abbreviated as TACO. And while these goals are essential, our plan digs into the “how” and “what ” to realize each each objective, along with the partners we’ll rely on to make it happen.

As part of the plan, we set tangible benchmarks and milestones (trail markers?) to guide our progress, alongside a “roadmap” of desired achievements to keep us on track. While these will undoubtedly change over time, they chart a path to securing the sustainable future of mountain biking in Vermont. We  encourage you to check out a visual summary of the Plan and, if you have a little more time, read through the entire document.

Critically, we need your help to make the progress described in our plan possible. With roughly 90% of membership income going to our Chapters in the form of direct and indirect support, VMBA relies on individual donations for much of our operating budget. As part of this year’s Annual Fund Campaign, we are seeking to raise $50,000 by October 31st. Your dollars will be hard at work to help us …

While we encourage you to donate whatever amount you feel comfortable with, we do have a tiered set of donation levels with one or more special thank-you gift(s) to show our gratitude for your support:

• Become a Buddy with a gift of $100 and receive a special edition VMBA sticker & Thank You card.
• Join the Crew with a donation of $250, and we’ll also send you a small gift to show our appreciation.
• When you give $500, you’ll step up to the Squad and have the opportunity to join us at our VMBA Season Celebration with our Staff, Board, and significant community partners.
• Give as a Guide at the $1000 level, and you can expect to receive some special VMBA gear at the end of the year.
• Go big with a gift of $2000 or more as a Trail Steward, and you’ll receive all of the above PLUS a super-secret, exceptional surprise gift at the end of the season. 
• Support our work with a gift of $5,000 or more and be recognized as a Hero, with the opportunity to help shape how we pursue our mission and vision.

Most importantly, we immensely appreciate any support you can give today. VMBA has become the organization it is now thanks to the personal investment of thousands of our members, both in time & energy as volunteers and financially as Supporters. Every donation matters.

If you’d like to donate via check, you can mail it to: VMBA, PO Box 2055, South Burlington, VT 05407