Funds can be raised by:

• selling things.
• applying for grants.
• increasing the number of members.
• obtaining sponsorships.
• holding events.
• performing services.

Specifics for some of these:

Selling things

• Cafepress.com is a source for goods that logos can be applied to.
• Calendars:
  • MEC has put out calendars for cyclists; useful as an example.
  • “Nude calendars” (e.g. firefighter; see Wikipedia article for other examples) are popular, especially if they use celebrities as models (e.g. David Suzuki, Scott Bryson); nudity aligns with the relative lack of protection that cyclists have on the road (symbolic, metaphoric).
  • Could display names of sponsors.
  • Could incorporate Cyclist Union messaging.
  • Pictures could incorporate product placement.
• Bike-related goods, co-branded goods; start small with things like reflective stickers, bells, then build on successes by scaling up, e.g. helmet covers, locks.

Applying for grants

• Good for getting things off the ground; not as good for supporting ongoing operations.

Holding events

• Bike tours of neighbourhoods of the city.

Performing services

• Currently  Cyclist Union  does lock removals, bike valet parking (hire for events); what are some other ideas?

Additional notes

• It’s crucial to put together a team that will see the idea through.
• It’s good to align the fundraising effort with a/the goal of the organization.
• People want to know where their money is going; be explicit.
• Show fundraising progress (e.g. those “thermometers” that get filled in to show how much has been raised).
• It’s easier to give money to an organization that is well-known and understood.
• Think of longer-term campaigns rather than one-off events.
• If possible, start small and scale up.
• Good to look at successful models of fundraising (perhaps also failures, for lessons learned).
• Aligning with groups who have compatible interests to yours can be useful.