In the non-profit world, the end of the year means a lot of fundraising. But in terms of bike advocacy, “giving back” can mean so much more than just donating dollars. Here’s a quick run-down on the many ways you can give back to support bike advocacy, from local shops to national advocacy organizations like the League.
#1: Donate your old bikes and spare parts to give your gear a second life.
Local bike co-ops are the unsung heroes of bicycle access. Nonprofit bike shops across the country are constantly rolling miracles out the door, thanks to donated frames, spare parts, and all the old kids’ bikes that have been gathering dust until they’re wheeled into a community shop like the Charlotte Re-cyclery, Boise Bicycle Project, or WABA’s Gearin’ Up, to name a few (find more examples Bicycle League of America or in our directory)
From my own time at a bike collective, I swear: if you walk in with a box of assorted bike components to donate, someone (probably an overworked mechanic who’s been pawing through all the parts bins for that one specific piece) is going to light up like you just walked in with a puppy. Co-ops stretch every resource incredibly far, but they still need resources to stretch in the first place. Pro tip: before rolling up with a truckload of old bikes, don’t forget to give the shop a call to make sure they’ve got time, space, and capacity to accept your donation!
#2: Give your business by shopping local
Plenty of local bike shops do way more than fix flats and sell bikes. Many of the shops in our network are small businesses staffed by community members who advocate for bikes 24/7, whether they’re helping someone find the right bike or rallying a pack of cyclists to ride to a city council meeting.
One of the easiest ways to support these shops is to simply spend your money there. Instead of shopping online for your next gear splurge, take the time to head down to your favorite local bike shop and check out their inventory. Sure, the price tags might be a little bit higher, but it’s worth it to know that your dollars are going back into your community, supporting a group of local bike enthusiasts doing meaningful work to make biking better and more accessible. Plus, a bike shop visit gives you a chance to connect with shop employees (AKA your new best bike friends) who often have tons of insights on great places to ride nearby and tips on finding local groups to ride with.
Check out our Directory to find bike shops, member organizations, and advocacy groups near you!
#3: Donate your time as a volunteer
For volunteer-run organizations that don’t really have a budget, volunteer time is just as valuable as dollars. If there’s no paid staff, your local bike organization absolutely depends on volunteers to keep programs running, plan events, write grants, show up at meetings—all of it. And even when there are paid staff, volunteers are still vital.
Thinking back again to my days at QC Bike Collective, I still reminisce about the volunteers who made my life easier by showing up to help us recycle tubes, take in donated bikes, and keep an eye on all the bike repair stations around town. Even if you only have an hour or two to spare, that’s a donation worth cherishing. You can find advocacy organizations near you on (you guessed it!) our Directory.
#4: Make a year-end gift to your favorite nonprofits
Financial contributions are the lifeblood of most non-profit organizations. With 2026 proving to be the biggest threat to bike funding in over a decade, please consider supporting local and regional advocacy groups and organizations to help start the 2027 in a strong position. Individual donations make it possible for us to uplift local voices, strengthen state and regional coalitions, and go to bat for people like you in local government all the way up to Washington, DC. Avid Cyclist, AvidCyclist.com, is proud to partner with The White Line Foundation and we are committed to giving 10% of all membership and advertising proceeds to this organization. Learn more about them at The White Line.
#5: Get into planned giving
“Planned giving” is a way to describe how people support the causes they value through structured contributions, like a will, charitable trust or via retirement accounts. Whether creating a will is one of those hazy “I should get around to that sometime” items on your to-do list or something very much top-of-mind, everyone should have a plan for retirement and beyond. If your year-end checklist includes working on your will or estate plan or checking in on your retirement accounts, check out many non profits that have a planned giving portal on their site.
At the end of the day, giving back for bikes is really about strengthening the whole web of people and organizations working to make biking better for everyone, in whatever way you can. Whether you’re donating gear, shopping local, volunteering your time, planning a future gift, or giving what you can right now, we’re grateful for each and every one of you who along with us, keeps the bike movement rolling forward!
