trail clearing technique and tools

[2manyrocks]

The boy scouts in my area of middle TN do a lot of trail work, and have done some serious projects to earn their Eagle badges.

The average guy is probably thinking he spent $2000 for a mower and $150 for his weed wacker so why should he help someone with $50k of trail equipment to maintain a trail that he read is "free and open to the public"?

I am not beating you up here. I'm trying to help you understand how someone might react to what is out there from what I read looking at your FB and other pages.

Based on my experience, your messaging needs to change in order to get the results you want.

It might be helpful for you to look at other nonprofit websites and see how they present their needs for funds.

 

[ArlyA]

We have helped 501c3 for many many years and they all struggling to take in $. What we spend on machines is little difference than other xc area's.

 

[Rockbadchild]

You obviously don't want to let it go then keep the trails for yourself... close it fence it off with a chains and lock it but you keep using it and put your number on it for any questions, you will see when people can get access to something that when they will want to pay for it... and when someone will want to use it set your price.

 

[MoKelly]

I think Warren Buffet made the observation —- “anything that is free is abused”.

 

[airbiscuit]

Have you tried trail days? Well advertised days where people can come work on the trails? I know that's had success in B.C.
Mountain Biker's creed is "No shovel, no ride."

I'm sure you've already thought of the lockbox requesting donations at the trailhead for maintenance. But these days I'm sure that would grow legs and walk off more often than not.

I have finally figured out that most people don't think like us worker bees. They are oblivious to the effort it takes to make and maintain trails, and many never have done anything like that type of work.

I like the idea of Trail Days. Put up posters, use social media, etc. Most importantly,

• Have a presence of a half a dozen people at the trail head
• Cook some cheap hot dogs on a camp stove and hand out lemonade
• Hand out business cards with the go fund me link and a description of all the volunteer labor
• Have a "tip jar" for instant donations
• Have someone on the trail working so they can actually doing work and available for conversation

Not 100% sure this will work, but it is more tangible, harder to avoid.

 

[2manyrocks]

We have helped 501c3 for many many years. They are all struggling to take in $. What we spend on machines is little difference than othe xc area's.

It is important to look at this from the perspective of the person or group you're trying to raise money from. People want to know how their money is going to be used before they give. They also want to know that their giving is actually doing something useful.

In your case, I think the beginning point for you to start your appeal is this is the only trail in the area where dogs are welcome. It costs $________ per season to do ___________ to keep these trails open. Otherwise, without their support, the trails cannot be maintained and will eventually no longer be open for safety reasons or whatever.

Don't say "free and open to the public" if you have to have support because that immediately undermines your other message that support is needed.

Most grant organizations want to see that the people benefiting from the group they are funding are contributing based on their financial ability. If you apply for a grant saying no one is giving us money, it would take something extraordinary to obtain a grant. If the people who use the trails won't even support the cause, I suspect you won't have much luck obtaining grants.

Grant organizations want to see that the organization is self sustaining, but there is a benefit to be had if they were to receive a grant that would help them reach some goal that increases the benefit to the community.

Grant organizations also like to see results. E.g., there were ___ users of the trails in 2021, __ in 2022, and ___ in 2023. It's the only dog friendly trail in the area.

They like testimonials from users.

The other thing grant organizations want to see is the checkbook to see how the money is actually being spent. They can be turned off if much of the money is flowing to insiders or it looks like they are just funding some individual's goals. They don't like it if the checking account is not separate from the personal checking account.

 

[airbiscuit]

Here is the GFM page if anyone here would like to see us keeping these trails up.

Lots of good ideas from TBNrs here. Here's another - Step up and make a donation yourself (see above).

 

[2manyrocks]

Just a few trail fundraising stories. Could be you with some rebranding and a new approach to your messaging to prospective donors.

Six Unique Trail Funding Solutions - American Trails

Our Mission is to advance the development of diverse, high quality trails and greenways. Through collaboration, education, funding, and communication, we help raise the value of trails.

www.americantrails.org

Parks Projects | Parks Foundation Kalamazoo

www.parksfoundationkalamazoo.com

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan announces $600,000 in funding to maintain trails, greenways

A round of grants from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Trails Maintenance Fund totaling $600,000 will help improve trails maintenance in our region.

cfsem.org

Annual Marquette Trails Fest fundraiser begins

Marquette Trails Festival race director said this is a record-breaking year, with over 1,000 racers signed up. All proceeds from these races will go right back into the NTN trails.

www.uppermichiganssource.com

Michigan Trails Fund Grant Awards Announcement

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the following appointments to the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports pursuant...

michiganfitness.org

Michigan Trails Fund

www.michigantrailsfund.org

 

[MossRoad]

Daily Mining Gazette?

I didn't realize it's now owned by Ogden Newspapers.

Ogden Newspapers - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[ArlyA]

I didn't realize it's now owned by Ogden Newspapers.

Ogden Newspapers - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Ya, and they've been around since 1890.

 

[kenmbz]

Looks like the old "you need money to make money" type campaigns.
Here is only Arly, his wife and a few sometimes helpers starting from their own funds.
To throw parties and entertain people costs up front money.

Winning over a Mayor or such would help, but they won't do anything if they don't think it will help them, a lot.

 

[MossRoad]

Ya, and they've been around since 1890.

Our local paper (now owned by Gannett ) still has a very good outdoor writer that covers all kinds of things just like your trail story. Many articles weekly. Sorry you can't get someone local to hear your story.

 

[ArlyA]

Looks like the old "you need money to make money" type campaigns.
Here is only Arly, his wife and a few sometimes helpers starting from their own funds.
To throw parties and entertain people costs up front money.

Winning over a Mayor or such would help, but they won't do anything if they don't think it will help them, a lot.

We are in the township with just a few thousand people in it. We don't have the trails, parking and volunteers to do anything. NTN has full time employees where as Sandy and I do over 90% of all the work on BRT's. We did have someone respond on FB who might write grants for us.....

 

[ArlyA]

I didn't realize it's now owned by Ogden Newspapers.

Ogden Newspapers - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I should have added that some type of news conglomerate that's called "the Keweenaw report" called me today and we had a long chat but will do something about BRT's next week. They have radio and Television outlets.

 

[groundcover]

Need a youngster to set you up on Utube ! Some of those channels make bank ! Sure you would get lots of followers as beautiful as the area is. Just need a kid with some time and a drone.

 

[ArlyA]

Just to remind everyone, we are looking for marketing, grants and organizational like help, not trail work. User $$$ would sure be nice. I'll repeat something a trail guru friend told us years ago about trail help volunteers. His words not mine. "They are worthless, they don't know what they are doing. Give them 6 jobs and they do 3, then you need to following them and clean up anyway" We are better off to get three of my trained guys on the job than 6 of them!"... We found this to be correct. This is his company today. Rock Solid

 

[Grumpycat]

I think Warren Buffet made the observation —- “anything that is free is abused”.

Many dirtbike clubs have a work requirement policy. One must work the trails a minimum number of hours/year to be allowed to renew membership.

Paying dues is cheap. The labor is the expense in providing trails.

 

[ArlyA]

Our local paper (now owned by Gannett ) still has a very good outdoor writer that covers all kinds of things just like your trail story. Many articles weekly. Sorry you can't get someone local to hear your story.

I got in touch with the editor and we'll get together for hike on the trails.

 

[ArlyA]

I posted this in the pole-saw at work thread. We hiked the section we cleared earlier this summer and found a fresh dead-fall.

 

[ArlyA]

Many dirtbike clubs have a work requirement policy. One must work the trails a minimum number of hours/year to be allowed to renew membership.

Paying dues is cheap. The labor is the expense in providing trails.

We, that is us two, do 95% of the work on the trails. Were as donations covers 80 to 90% of the expenses. We don't have memberships.