August 2024/Issue #2
Fiscal Sponsorship
A great way to explain fiscal sponsorship is to imagine that Mobility Mountain is a small child learning to ride a bicycle. Now, if we remember, either training wheels were attached to the bicycle and we learned the easy way, or our parents simply placed us on a bicycle without training wheels and most of us still bear the scars from those adventures.
Fiscal sponsorship can be likened to training wheels on a bicycle for a new startup like Mobility Mountain. This sponsorship allows the startup to utilize the sponsor's 501(c)(3) status to apply for grants and funding opportunities, which typically require three years of financial history. This helps the startup secure funding more quickly than waiting for IRS approval.
Additionally, a fiscal sponsor provides valuable connections, spreading awareness of the startup's brand, mission, and needs to their network of funders and donors. These connections are invaluable for growth and success. By partnering with an experienced nonprofit, Mobility Mountain aims to expedite its mission of "Making Nature Accessible."
We are actively seeking a fiscal sponsor!
All Persons Trail
One of the amenities that we are planning at Mobility Mountain is a publicly accessible all-persons trail on the property. An "all persons trail" is a trail designed to be accessible and enjoyable for people of all abilities, including those with disabilities. These trails typically feature gentle grades, smooth and stable surfaces, and accessible amenities such as tactile pathways, auditory cues, benches, braille signage, and tactile maps with terrain features. The goal is to provide an inclusive outdoor experience, allowing everyone to explore and appreciate nature without physical barriers.
There are only a handful of all persons trails in the United States, yet there are over 35 million persons with disabilities. It would be great to provide a space for disabled persons to experience nature at their leisure. This is one of our goals at Mobility Mountain where we work hard to ensure that we are “Making Nature Accessible.”
Pro Bono Grant Writer(s)
Pro bono grant writers can be a valuable resource for nonprofit organizations, especially those with a limited budget. Pro bono services can significantly reduce expenses, allowing more funds to be allocated directly to the organization's mission. Many pro bono grant writers have professional experience and can provide high-quality writing and strategic insights. Working with pro bono professionals can help build relationships and expand the organization's network within the nonprofit sector.
It is important to understand that pro bono grant writers are volunteering their time and their availability may be limited, and deadlines might need to be flexible. Mobility Mountain has to ensure that the grant writer is committed to the project and understands the organization's goals and needs. While many pro bono writers are experienced, it's essential to review their work to ensure it meets the required standards and aligns with the organization's voice and mission. Overall, pro bono grant writers can be an excellent asset, but it's important to manage expectations and maintain open communication to ensure a successful collaboration.
We are seeking Pro Bono Grant Writers!!! Please help us spread the word.
The Inception of Mobility Mountain (Part 2)
Jeffrey Pryor
I walked back to my travel trailer and sat outside, looking around at the campground. I realized that the handicap sites, two out of 65, were located directly across from the bathhouse. They were situated on black asphalt lots with no shade or privacy. There were streetlights placed directly over them. I understand the reason that someone decided this was required, but was it effective? Considering the handicapped bathroom and shower were locked and a guest who needed to utilize them had to go request the key from the manager, this was useless.
I then looked around at the campground itself. What was accessible? The answer was awful, not much at all. I tried to stow these thoughts in my gray matter rolodex. However, I began to pay more attention to how inaccessible places and attractions were. It was like a neon sign that I saw everywhere, and it kept flashing. I would see it at restaurants, breweries, parks, campgrounds, trails, water…yes, even water access was missing. I knew rules and regulations were coming from the federal government, but how well were they implemented? I could see the missing piece between rules and regs, and meeting the requirements. It was implementation.
I felt as though places had a checklist that they went through, to meet the requirements of being ADA-friendly. This checklist once completed, meant that the places could advertise as being ADA-compliant or ADA-friendly. Sadly, the implementation was where the failure was, in almost every instance. A great example would be ADA bathrooms. Those nice round, stainless steel push buttons that open the doors for guests in wheelchairs are a wonderful feature, provided they work. Most that I saw did not work. This is just one of many failures that I began to notice, everywhere. I realized that someone had to do something. This needed to be remedied, it needed to be better, and we needed to do better. But who?
Read more in next month’s issue.
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