This course is designed to empower leaders of trail organizations with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively manage and grow their organization. Participants will learn essential strategies for governance, fundraising, and event planning, as well as best practices for membership recruitment, community engagement, and sustainable trail advocacy. The course provides practical insights into leveraging national support, including 501(c)(3) status and funding opportunities, to maximize local impact. Tailored for IMBA trail organizations, this program equips leaders with actionable resources to build thriving, inclusive communities and ensure long-term organizational success. Whether you're a seasoned leader or new to advocacy, this course offers valuable guidance to elevate your efforts.

Securing funding for trail projects can be complex, but keep in mind funders are eager to invest in trails and the dedicated individuals who champion them. This guide offers a high-level overview of the diverse resources available, including public, private, and corporate options. A thorough understanding of these various options is important for building a comprehensive and successful fundraising strategy that will realize your Community Trail Vision(opens in a new tab) and enhance the capacity of your organization.

Advocating for Mountain Biking This resource is designed for Trail Champions - passionate leaders who advocate for their community’s access to trails, prioritizing mountain biking trails. The objective is to learn how and why to get involved in your state's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) process. By understanding the SCORP's role as a guiding document and a prerequisite for funding opportunities, you'll be empowered to ensure that mountain biking is a recognized and prioritized recreational activity in your state.

One of the first steps in creating great trails is creating a community-wide trail vision. This vision, whether informal or formal, outlines the desired future state of a community's entire trail network, including existing trails, potential new projects, and the types of experiences each trail system aims to provide. A strong, inspirational vision statement is the foundation for every project step, keeping your community focused on its goals and reflecting the primary purpose of your efforts. Community Trail Vision Plan Having a comprehensive community vision ensures that land managers, decision-makers, community funders and other stakeholders prioritize projects that add value and conserve valuable resources. This ultimately sets an inclusive and aspirational standard for your community's trail development to unlocking both access to land and essential funding.

Creating high-quality trails come from a powerful partnership between passionate community volunteers and skilled professionals. Volunteers have long been the backbone of the trail-building movement—many early mountain biking trails were lovingly built by hand, one shovel at a time, by passionate local riders. Trail development has evolved over the years as communities recognize trails as essential recreation infrastructure. The demand for trails is high, and while skilled professional crews from local trail organizations, trail building companies or land management agencies are often responsible for planning, design, and construction, volunteers remain essential to the long-term care and sustainability of these trail systems. This collaboration is what makes a trail system truly successful: it unites the professional skill with the grassroots passion required for long-term care. Volunteers are essential not only for maintenance but also for their invaluable advocacy and community momentum, ensuring the health and longevity of their trail systems for generations to come. This professional-volunteer partnership has become the gold standard: professionally built, volunteer-maintained.

Community at the Center Community engagement is at the heart of successful trail development establishing meaningful relationships with individuals and community leaders. No trail project is without its challenges, and sometimes these come in the form of objections from a stakeholder. Across the nation, new and expanded trail systems are increasingly recognized as vital recreational infrastructure. These systems not only warrant significant investment in planning, funding, and maintenance, but they also offer substantial returns by attracting residents and tourism dollars. The success of any trail project hinges on assembling a team composed of diverse stakeholders such as: Local government officials Land and trail managers Trail funders Neighborhood representatives Current & prospective trail users.