Charitable Contributions
Financially strong. Lots of money. Too much money. Profitable. Secure. These are comments about our PBC financial situation. The fact is, we worked hard in 2023 and earned money from our Pioneer Century® in June and STP (Seattle to Portland) Finish Line in July. Additionally, we took in funds in the form of membership fees.
At this time of year, we, the club as a whole, determine what our next year’s budget might look like and what our revenue flow was, and determine if some of our money can be given away to non-profits to help others whose balance sheet may not look as good. Or we just want to support a good, successful cause.
We didn’t donate during Covid-19, as we had no income to speak of and kept our purse strings tight, being cautious. We did resume our charitable donations in 2022 (list follows*). And again this year, we will no doubt make some donations. Whom do you think your club should help? Don’t say, “ME!” 😉 Over the years we’ve developed Charitable Donations – Guidelines. ✎
Generally, your board will follow the guidelines and review members’ suggestions at the December board meeting (December 20, 2023). We are looking for non-profits: cycling-oriented, legitimate known entities, local to Portland metro. In other words, we have extra cash. How can we help others with it?
*Let’s look at 2022:
- Community Cycling Center: $1,500 for three scholarships for their summer camp(s)
- Bikes for Humanity PDX: $1,500 to help folks with low income and/or disabilities get a bike
- Bike Farm: $500, a DIY volunteer-run bike cooperative – an inclusive and safe space
- The Street Trust: $500 for advocacy for cyclists
- Friends of the Historic Columbia River Highway: $2,000 to continue the project of reconnecting and restoring existing sections of abandoned highway
- Bike Index: $400, which helps cyclists find stolen or lost bikes
- Columbia River Gorge Kiwanis Club: $100, which hosts an annual Fourth of July breakfast to which the club rides
- Faithful Savior Lutheran Church: $500, building on Skidmore where many weekday rides begin [Editor’s note: sold and now known as St. Matthew’s Anglican Church]
- Friends of Stub Stewart State Park and Banks-Vernonia Rails to Trails: $5,000
Do you like this list? Should another non-profit be on it? Should anything be removed?
I’m asking because, while the board will sit down with the budget and a list of possible recipients, our objective is to represent the desires of our members. We can rubber stamp the 2022 donations, and we do like to use the previous year’s list as a starting point, but is that truly what PBC wants us to do?
As a board member, I know how hard you all worked in 2023 to earn the money that we are contemplating giving away. I think most of you agree it’s a positive gesture to our community to share this “wealth” with others. But it didn’t come easy, and your board knows that and wants to disburse it wisely, prudently, and pursuant to membership opinion.
Please let us know your thoughts, especially if they deviate from what we have been doing.
Thank you. And thank you again for all your hard work in the past year to help us be in the position of giving away money to help others in the cycling community.
Ann Morrow, Vice President