BLOG: Ramblings about funding and the future of OTC

I open the mobile banking account for Open Trail Collective and I see the account balance is $3,977.63. I know that there are still some checks out there waiting to be deposited from Autumn Antics, an event we hosted to showcase the vibrant outdoor industry in Northeast Ohio and to advocate for more inclusive, accessible, and collaborative outdoor programming. Though we had several corporate sponsors, after expenses we only raised a few hundred dollars (and had about 130 leftover s’more packs).

Next, I (FINALLY) have a phone call with a broker willing to insure us; I have emailed nearly twenty companies and only two were willing to even speak to me because our "risk-level" is so unique. So far we have been operating without insurance, just crossing our fingers, tossing up a prayer, and adding a very unofficial waiver of liability to our registration page. All of our programming has been coordinated through partner organizations so none of the risk should fall on us (right?). Well, the proposed policy would cost the organization $1050 per year and that doesn’t include any indoor or outdoor rock climbing, archery, skiing, etc. (even if coordinated and operated through partners). While writing this I get another email from the insurance broker and she says that to include these, the minimum annual premium would be $2,625. I quickly say "no thank you" to the additional clause and hope that any of our partner organizations have strong enough policies to cover us.

So, once the $1050 insurance payment goes through and some of the remaining checks are deposited, we’ll be getting close to $2,000 in our account, which, if we drop below, we will start getting hit with the $15 monthly maintenance fee.

Open Trail Collective was established in March with a mission of creating inclusive and empowering events dedicated to connecting Every Body and the outdoors. I love what we’re doing and it seems like it is filling a gap in the Northeast Ohio outdoor scene by connecting the community to the outdoors and outdoor stakeholders to each other with the goal of inspiring inclusive, accessible, and collaborative programming. But we don't have a "product", we don't have a way of bringing in funding other than donations and grants.

And the funding we receive disappears quickly. We’re paying for Ubers to get people to boat launches and trail heads; and while we’re working with businesses and outfitters to provide programming at a discounted rate, we’re also covering costs for people who can’t afford it. We bring snacks to our family programming to ensure that no matter where kids are coming from, they can have a nutritious snack after our adventures. We’ve distributed over 150 Adventure Kits with essential outdoor supplies like bug spray, sun screen, poison ivy cream, patches to mend ripped gear, notepads, and snacks, all to help people launch their adventure lifestyle or to enhance their existing adventures. And while the product is all provided to us as in-kind donations from the businesses, we are paying for bags and other small aspects of the kits. We have also spent money on stickers and other marketing materials, the website and domain, etc etc etc.

Leadership at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Cleveland Metroparks are touting our work and saying that it is “so needed”. Other outdoor nonprofits and group leaders have called us a “visionary” and are thankful that we are taking some organizing, promoting, and programming off of their already busy plates. Our Autumn Antics event last weekend brought together 10 outdoor businesses and organizations with nearly 200 guests; 100% of vendors who completed their post-event impact survey have said that they met organizations they’d be interested in collaborating with in the future and 75% feel more inspired after our event to provide additional programming for communities underrepresented in the outdoors. Outdoor businesses and outfitters are eager to work with us - we’ve brought 135+ people outside this year by partnering with local businesses, outfitters, and organizations. Businesses have reached out to partner with us to collectively apply for grants and plan programming for 2025. I love it and I love the momentum we’re building. 

But I have one important question.

How will this small nonprofit survive? The need is clearly there but as planning for 2025 starts to ramp up, it feels like the work is building but the hours in a day and operational funding are staying the same. I am still working my day job as a remote adjunct professor and still raising my family. I put in 20ish hours a week for Open Trail Collective (sometimes many more hours than that; very rarely less than that), but what is going to happen if we actually get the grants we apply for? Grants don’t offer support for operational expenses, so while we will be able to support more people getting outside, I still won’t be getting paid, won’t be able to hire help, and I’ll be doing even more work along with my day job.

Some people may say, what’s the point of outdoor adventure? Why are you wasting your time? People don’t NEED outdoor adventure to SURVIVE. You’re not feeding the hungry or clothing the naked. 

We’re definitely not saving lives here, but by bringing people outside and out of their comfort zones, we’re improving physical health, strengthening mental health, increasing environmental awareness and stewardship, and promoting economic growth. We’re also building community which is important as last year the U.S. surgeon general warned that they are seeing an epidemic “of loneliness and isolation”, estimating that the lack of social connection impacts more people than diabetes. By spending time together outside and doing stress-relieving activities with other people, research shows that people are more likely to bond and develop a strong sense of community while also increasing a sense of belongingness and increasing self-esteem. And community can manifest itself in many ways - this year, in addition to all of the adventures we led, we also raised $550 for the daughter of an Open Trail Community member, whose son died in a house fire where she also lost all of her belongings and their family dog. 

I’m saying all of this because I see the need for this organization and local and national organizations see the need for what we’re doing as well. But I don’t know how to make it work. I’ve hassled businesses for corporate sponsorship and rarely receive a reply. Grants won’t pay for operational expenses. Events, like the one we had last weekend, involve a lot of planning time and don’t seem to bring in big bucks either.  I won’t raise the prices of adventures to bring in a little extra cash, because by keeping the prices consistently lower we are able to make the programming more accessible. I don’t want to raise prices and just drop it for people who need it because I don’t want people to feel different, like an exception, if they get a discounted rate because of their situation. I think that consistent pricing is important for everyone to feel like they belong in the community and are equal members.

We’re also competing for funding with heartbreaking climate disasters like the mass-destruction caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and the military industrial complex causing humanitarian catastrophes all around the world where people are literally fighting for their lives. These people NEED your money more than OTC but how does OTC also survive?

So where are we at? As I dream up what this organization can be and plan meetings to scheme for 2025 and beyond, I’m ecstatic to see how much we’ve grown in just six months but I’m also worried that this growing flame may fizzle out under the pressure and lack of oxygen (i.e. funding).

While I don’t plan to get rich off this organization, I can't keep putting in huge hours while not getting paid, not being able to hire help, or not getting paid back for expenses out of my pocket. AND fearing that we’re going to drop below our minimum threshold of savings leading to even less money and fewer adventures. 

So I’m writing this to ask if anyone has any funding sources, corporate sponsorship connections, business planning strategies, nonprofit management skills, or other helpful suggestions, ideas, etc.?, Please reach out. I’m hoping this small community we’ve grown over the past 6 months has some connections that can keep us running for the next year and continue to grow our work and spread our reach. I promise OTC isn’t going anywhere but into the woods and onto the rivers and lakes, but, dang, funding is imperative and I don’t know where to get it.