Overview

With generous support from General Motors (GM), the League of American Bicyclists is delighted to announce its fourth year of Community Spark Grants to support the growing number of local grassroots changemakers and organizations across the country working to improve their communities through bicycling.

In 2025, the League’s Bicycle Friendly America program will award Community Spark Grants, of $2,000 each, to 10 organizations for projects and programs that spark change and catalyze a community’s ability to create places where bicycling is a safe, easy, and more accessible option. Our desire is for organizations to propose projects that help create Bicycle Friendly Communities and build capacity for local leaders and influencers by uplifting the community and creating inclusive coalitions that can shed new light on current issues.

Eligible organizations are nonprofits and public or government organizations/agencies. Of the 10 organizations to receive awards, 5 must be in GM Facility communities and the other 5 can be anywhere in the US but must meet the League’s Equity & Accessibility Criteria. We are seeking proposals for projects that can be completed by the end of the calendar year (December 31, 2025).

Funds may support a wide range of bicycling-related projects such as but are not limited to, short-term pop-up events, tactical urbanism demonstrations, educational events or resources, accessibility audits, or street safety improvements. We are especially looking for projects with new perspectives that increase opportunities for healthy and active ways to get around, focus on issues faced by people from ethnic or racial minority groups, and include authentic engagement with the community.

Priority will be given to projects that have the broadest impact and have an equity lens to the work, such as, but not limited to working with underserved or under-resourced populations, or projects led by or primarily serving people from ethnic or racial minority groups, low-income populations, older populations, youth, and/or people with disabilities. For projects that are combining this funding with other sources, we want to see that this funding will make up a significant portion of the project’s overall budget or will provide “seed” funds that are necessary for the project to get off the ground.

The Community Spark Grant application will open on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. The deadline to apply for a 2025 Community Spark Grant is January 17, 2025, at 5:00 pm ET. Applicants will be notified of award decisions in March.

Grant Timeline

• Application Opens: November 12, 2024
• Application Closes: January 17, 2025, at 5pm ET
• Applications Reviewed: January-February 2025
• Applicants Selected and Notified: March 2025
• Project Execution: March-December 2025
• Final Reports Due: End of December 2025

Eligible Organizations

• Public or Government Agencies/Organizations (e.g. Library, Parks and Rec Department)
• Non-Profits - 501(C)(3), 501(C)(4), and 501(c)(6) 
• Other types of organizations will be considered on a case-by-case basis
• U.S.-based organization

Equity & Accessibility Criteria

The League is proud to be able to offer Equity & Accessibility criteria as a determining factor for at least 5 of the 10 Community Spark Grants this year. The questions in the application pertaining to this new equity criteria are meant to help applying organizations showcase their need, project scope, and community characteristics as applicable. Those applying to be considered for the Equity & Accessibility grants should take the League's definition of equity and accessibility into consideration and use it as the framework for guidance in this section. The League firmly believes that Equity & Accessibility are the essential lenses through which all other Bicycle Friendly America work must be viewed to achieve a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.

The League defines “Equity” as the just and fair inclusion into a society in which everyone can participate and prosper. The goals of equity must be to create conditions that allow all to reach their full potential, by erasing disparities in race, income, ability, geography, age, gender, and sexual orientation. The principle of equity acknowledges that there are historically underserved and underrepresented populations and that fairness regarding these unbalanced conditions is needed to assist equality in the provision of effective opportunities to all groups.

“Accessibility” refers to improving and increasing access and mobility options for everyone, including, and in particular, for people with disabilities. The League recognizes that not every disability is visible to others and that not every person with a permanent or temporary mobility or accessibility need identifies as ‘disabled’. Whether from a cognitive, sensory, or physical disability, age, temporary illness, or injury, there are people in every community who face a range of mobility challenges for whom a bike or cycle may open a world of possibilities to increase accessibility.

We will review each Community Spark Grant application holistically and use the 7 specific Equity & Accessibility questions to help us narrow down the finalists. Selection will be based on those who demonstrate the greatest impact of their project for the community with the greatest demonstrated need.

Eligible GM Facility Communities 

Thanks to the support of General Motors, 5 of the 10 Community Spark Grant awards in 205 will be available to GM communities or surrounding regions. See the complete list of GM Facility communities here. If you have questions, please contact anna@bikeleague.org. 

Project Categories 

Fundable projects should be in one of the following categories: 

• One Time Event
• Series of Events
• Classes/Educational Opportunity
• Pop-up Infrastructure/Traffic Calming* 
• Placemaking/Tactical Urbanism*
• End-of-Trip Facilities (bike parking/fix-it stations, etc.)
• Giveaways or subsidies for bicycle equipment and/or accessories (e.g. lights, helmets, bells, locks, etc.)
• Bike audit, count, survey, or other evaluation/assessment effort (must have follow-up/community involvement to be eligible) 
• Miscellaneous/Other 

*Given the dollar amount and relatively short timeline of Community Spark Grant awards, we recommend using temporary/non-permanent structures and materials such as paint, vertical delineators, bollards, and signage, as permanent structures often run into permitting, shipment, and cost issues that can delay a project. See here for example projects and links to resources to help you brainstorm project ideas. 

What is not eligible for funding: 

• Most permit-required infrastructure, such as sidewalks or concrete for road widening. 
  • Exceptions:
    • Bike racks or bike fix-it stations would be allowable but need to show broader community context and impact. 
    • Temporary structures or demonstration/quick builds including paint, vertical delineators, bollards, and signage would also be allowable.
• Funding for personal use. 
• Funds used solely towards covering a staffer’s salary. 
• Petitions or signature gathering. 
• Funds only used for advertising or promotional materials.
• Studies/research. 

Technical Note:

This online application system allows multiple users to collaborate on an application. There is a “manage collaborators” button at the top of the online application where applicants can manage who has access to the form and allow for more than one person to fill out answers. We encourage communities and organizations who are applying for a grant to work with others in their local community to submit one joint application. See our application portal FAQs page for more information about collaborating on the application.

Questions: 

If you have questions, please email Anna Tang at anna@bikeleague.org 

We look forward to receiving your application!

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