Grantees Receive Planning, Design, or Education Support
BOULDER, Colo. (January 12, 2026) — The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) announces 2026 Trail Accelerator Grant (TAG) opportunities. The first application period, for planning and design services, runs January 15 to March 15, 2026. The second application period, for education programs, will open from April 1 to April 30, 2026.
Entities that may apply include local, municipal, state, or federal government agencies, 501(c)(3) nonprofits that actively manage parks and trails, mountain bike/trail clubs, and IMBA Local Membership Organizations. Each grant is an award of IMBA planning, design, or educational programming, and awardees will supply matching funds.
Awardees of this year’s first TAG round may choose from: conceptual plans for trail networks, detailed design and field flagging of trail alignments, assessment of existing trail networks, community wide feasibility studies, or planning/design of urban bike parks.
The second TAG round of the year will focus on education services for MTB and trail organizations. Awardees may choose from IMBA Trail Care Workshops for volunteers and land management staff, Fundraising Education Services to coach and give direction on fundraising and capital campaigns, or Strategic Planning for leaders of grassroots mountain bike / trail organizations.
Planning and design grant awards typically range from $10,000-$30,000, while education awards typically range from $3,000-$10,800 depending on the specific grant and project.
“IMBA Trail Accelerator Grants (TAG) have traditionally funded professional planning and design of trail systems, because professional plans unlock funding and accelerate progress," said David Wiens, IMBA Executive Director.
“Last year’s TAG program added a range of education options to help organizations professionalize and increase their fundraising capabilities. These expanded offerings were well-received, so IMBA’s 2026 TAG program will continue to include assistance with planning, design, and education opportunities to amplify the work of trail champions.”
Who Can Apply?
- Local, municipal, state, or federal government agencies, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits that manage parks. Land managers, chambers of commerce, economic development departments, community health organizations, land trusts, conservancies, etc.
- Mountain bike clubs and IMBA Local Member Organizations are also eligible.
- Projects based on private land must be fully open to the public and free of charge.
A professional plan is the foundation to a successful project leading to smart design and ultimately, quality construction. This plan is also critical for support, both politically and financially. Once decision makers and funders see a quality trail plan, they are more inclined to get behind a project. Plan documents are also more likely to impress grantors, leading to the necessary funding.
Education
- IMBA Trail Care Workshops equip volunteers and land management staff to maintain modern mountain bike trails through a blend of classroom instruction and field work.
- Fundraising Education Services consulting empowers applicants with key strategies and best practices for fundraising and capital campaigns.
- Strategic Planning for grassroots mountain bike / trail organizations ensures the organization's work is intentional, coordinated, and measurable.
Complete guidelines, eligibility, and applicant toolkit can be found here: imba.com/trail-accelerator-grants
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ABOUT IMBA
The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) is a 501c3 nonprofit that creates, enhances, and protects great places to ride mountain bikes. IMBA is focused on Leading With Trails, growing the quantity and quality of mountain bike trail communities, so everyone has access to close-to-home riding and recreation as well as iconic backcountry experiences. Since 1988, IMBA has been partnering with communities and land managers worldwide to encourage low-impact riding, grassroots advocacy and education, sustainable trail solutions and stewardship, innovative land management practices, and cooperation among trail user groups.
IMBA’s international network of hundreds of thousands of supporters includes hundreds of Local Member organizations across the U.S., led by community trail champions, passionate riders and dedicated volunteers working together for the benefit of the entire community.
