3. PEDALING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING bikeandbuild.org
Our riders and alumni always have been, and
will continue to be, the backbone of our
organization. It is their passion to serve
others that unites their purpose and drives
the very core of Bike & Build.
With each mile they pedal and nail they hammer,
ourparticipantsandalumniseektocreate real and
positive change in the world around them.
Most importantly, the money and awareness
they raise further the missions of our affordable
housing partners across the United States. In
turn, thousands of homeowners and program
recipients benefit from our grants and advocacy.
Bike & Build continues to pursue every possible
means to protect the safety of our riders. We
have said goodbye to two of our own when
they were involved in fatal traffic accidents. In
both cases our riders were wearing helmets
and following the rules of the road. Our ongoing
dialogue with touring companies, cycling ad-
vocacy groups, and the League of American
Bicyclists has helped us continually refine our
safety training and policies. We constantly
look for additional proactive measures to
minimize risks to our riders, and invite you to
visit our website to learn more about the 2012
safety initiatives we are implementing.
Looking ahead, we are tremendously excited
for 2012 as we celebrate Bike & Build’s 10th
summer of operation. We are committed to
broadening the impact we have on our riders
and affordable housing partners for many
years to come!
We are thankful for your support in 2011, and
we look forward to riding and building with
you in 2012!
KRISTIAN SEKSE
Chairman
Board of Directors
JUSTIN VILLERE
Dir. of Operations
and Outreach
BRENDAN NEWMAN
Program Director
NATALIE SERLE
Program Director
A Word From Our
Chair & Staff
4
PHOTO COURTESY OF TIMUR ENDER
4. PEDALING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING bikeandbuild.org
Our Vision
We envision future generations that are
committed to a lifetime of civic engagement
and inspire individuals and communities to
create fair, decent housing for all Americans.
Who We Are
Bike & Build engages young adults who exhibit
an extraordinary desire to make an impact
through uncommon means. Each summer,
our participants ride their bicycles across the
United States to raise money and awareness
for affordable housing, stopping in countless
communities along the way to either build
with a local housing affiliate or share the goal
of creating affordable, decent housing for all
Americans.
Why We Ride
There is a serious affordable housing crisis in the
United States. In 2010, 19.4 million American
renters and 25 million homeowners paid
more than 30% of their income on housing.
14.3 million low- and middle-income families
spent over 50%. This figure nearly doubled
from 2001 (4.8 million). There is not a single
county in the U.S. where an individual can
work 40 hours per week at minimum wage
and afford even a one-bedroom apartment at
the local fair market rent rate.
How We Inspire
Bike & Build unlocks the potential of young
adults to do incredible things. We are
developing some of the next generation’s
finest young leaders.
• In 2011, each of our riders raised an average
of $4,284 and volunteered roughly 80 hours
at build sites.
• All riders complete a curriculum on the
affordable housing crisis in the United States,
with every lesson researched and taught by
their fellow riders.
• Riders cycle nearly 4,500 miles throughout
their training and on the trip.
All We Require is Enthusiasm
Over 90% of Bike & Build riders have never
completed a long-distance cycling tour before
our trip.
What We Accomplish
Bike & Build has granted over $3.38 million to affordable housing organizations since our
founding as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2002. This includes competitive grants,
rider-designated beneficiaries, on-the-road donations, and pre-arranged contributions to our
most active housing partners.
Where We Reach
Bike & Build promotes the affordable housing cause in each of the towns and cities we pass
through. Our national footprint reaches 46 states, one Canadian province, and hundreds of
communities nationwide. Many of our riders, who come from all over the U.S., receive local
media in their hometown. Combined with daily press releases, daily community presentations
in each of our host towns, and an active social media presence, our message spans the country.
CENTRAL US – Virginia Beach, VA to
Cannon Beach, OR
ME2SB – Portland, ME to Santa Barbara, CA
NC2SD – Nags Head, NC to San Diego, CA
NORTHERN US – Portsmouth, NH to
Vancouver, BC
P2C – Providence, RI to Half Moon Bay, CA
P2S – Providence, RI to Seattle, WA
SC2SC – Charleston, SC to Santa Cruz, CA
SOUTHERN US – Jacksonville, FL to
Monterey, CA
BIKE & BUILD ALSO OPERATES TWO
REGIONAL RIDES…
CAPITAL RIDE – July
Richmond, VA to Philadelphia, PA
Proceeds go to Rebuilding Together Philadelphia.
CHRIS WEBBER MEMORIAL RIDE – December
Orlando, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL
Proceeds go to the Chris Webber Memorial
Fund, a fellowship grant for Bike & Build alums
who develop their own AH projects.
6 7
What Did You Do
Last Summer?
Our Mission
Through service-oriented cycling trips,
Bike & Build benefits affordable housing
and empowers young adults for a lifetime
of service and civic engagement.
Affordable Housing
If a family spends more than 30% of its
gross income on housing, they are considered
to live in an unaffordable unit.
Our Cross-Country Trips
5. PEDALING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING bikeandbuild.org
In 2011, 322 RIDERS participated in Bike & Build. We pedaled 1.05 MILLION MILES and
volunteered nearly 20,000 HOURS ON 103 BUILD SITES across the country.
We contributed $608,023 to affordable housing organizations in 2011, the 2nd HIGHEST
contribution total in Bike & Build history. 335 ORGANIZATIONS received our grants in
48 STATES.
Bike & Build awarded Chris Webber Memorial Fellowship grants to Gabe Ofiesh (CUS08,
NC2SD09, P2S10) and Frannie Noble (P2S08) to continue their involvement in affordable
housing projects.
Top Bike & Build Fundraisers, 2011
Elizabeth Niehaus, Northern U.S. $8,140
Johanna Lovecchio, ME2SB $7,680
Christina Genco, SC2SC $6,585
Will Paradis, Southern U.S. $6,235
William Gallmeyer, P2C $6,091
ME2SB raised $148,934, the most money of any trip ($4,380/rider).
Pedaling for Affordable
Housing in 2011
8
PHOTO COURTESY OF KYLE SMITH
YEAR
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
# OF ROUTES
2
3
4
5
6
8
10
10
10
# OF RIDERS
47
79
114
148
180
236
304
305
322
6. PEDALING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING bikeandbuild.org
Our riders are the faces (and legs) powering our cause. Their stories are highly distinctive
among America’s young adults. Yet, these two are representative of the personal stories of
many of Bike & Build’s 1,600-plus alumni.
Bike & Build Alumni Council
Seven former riders created Bike & Build’s inaugural Alumni Council in 2011. Their efforts support our
goal of engaging riders to the affordable housing cause post-Bike & Build. The 2012 Council,
led by Sarah Royal and Zach Menchini (P2SF10, CWM11), has expanded to ten members and
will be the voice of our 1600+ member network. Alums, join their Facebook group!
https://www.facebook.com/bikeandbuildalumni
10
The Young Adults
Powering Bike & Build
PHOTO COURTESY OF CECELIA QUILLIN
Johnny Foster
Central US 2011
Five years ago, Johnny started seeing a
group of young cyclists staying at his church
inKansasCityonceperyear.Hewasintrigued
by their energy and their cause. In 2010, as
the Central US route once again stoked his
desire for adventure, Johnny asked himself:
“Why shouldn’t I do this?”
Johnny values the experiences he had on
the build sites, especially the opportunity
to work side-by-side with the homeowners
to be living in the houses that Bike & Build
helped construct.
“The adventure was what sparked my interest,
but I had no idea just how much I would get
out of it,” Johnny says. Like so many Bike &
Builders, Johnny’s experience throughout
the spring and summer convinced him to
choose a career where he could a positive
impact. He is currently serving in AmeriCorps
with a food pantry in Kansas City, and after
possibly doing Bike & Build again in 2013, he
is considering the Peace Corps. Either way,
he aims to pursue a career in the nonprofit
field. “No matter what else is going in your
life, Bike & Build makes you realize that we all
need to take opportunities to experience the
world and make it better.”
Sarah Royal
Boston to Santa Barbara 2009
CWM 2011
Bike & Build appealed to Sarah’s commit-
ment to service as an AmeriCorps*VISTA
member in 2009. “The summer with Bike
& Build,” she says, “took that to another
level.” After finishing, “[M]y only urge
was to have more Bike & Build in my life.”
She returned to Portland, OR, where she
started volunteering with area housing
agencies and local cycling safety and
advocacy programs. Not satisfied, she
served on the inaugural Bike & Build
Alumni Council in 2011, which she now
co-Chairs (see opposite page).
Her drive to continue living Bike & Build’s
mission comes from the friendships she
developed on her trip. “I’ve talked to
many people who have done long cycling
trips,” she says. “but nobody has ever
understood the value of the relationships
we developed. When you spend all
day and night together doing some so
challenging but so important, you be-
came family.”
11
7. PEDALING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING bikeandbuild.org
Bike & Build granted funds to 335 organizations in 2011. Here is a sampling of our impact.
Community Rebuilds - Moab, UT
Community Rebuilds has hosted Bike
& Build since 2009. Additionally, our
2010 Chris Webber Memorial Fund
grant recipient developed two
sustainable housing plans through
a CR fellowship. We proudly support
their efforts to engage young adults
in affordable and sustainable housing.
P2C11 with members of Community Rebuilds
during a build day in Moab in 2011.
Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake - Baltimore, MD
Bike & Build granted $11,000 to Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake in 2011 through a
competitive award and two rider-designated grants. We support their “Build-A-Block” campaign,
where high school students fundraise and volunteer to build multiple homes on a single block.
Students study community development and advocacy strategies throughout the process.
1,000 students from 16 schools will participate.
Interested in Applying for a Bike & Build Grant?
We fund projects that engage young adults in addressing a demonstrated need in affordable
housing. 2012 applications will be available in April and due June 8. We accept requests from
501(c)(3) organizations between $500 and $10,000.
Visit www.bikeandbuild.org/grants for application materials.
As Bike & Build’s reach grows, so does our financial impact. Because of record rider recruitment,
our total income in 2011 was the highest in Bike & Build history. 88% of our expenses went to
either contributions to our affordable housing partners or programming for our young adults.
Rising costs continue to provide challenges, but Bike & Build has expanded our partnerships to
lessen gear, food, and travel expenses. Moving forward, we will strive to diversify our funding and
partnership base, increase our annual AH contributions, and minimize administrative costs.
Our Grant Impact
12 13
PROGRAM EXPENSES
Contributions 608,023
Trip Gear, Activities 280,798
Salaries, Benefits, Stipends 165,262
Auto 54,629
Insurance 49,372
Director Travel 8,772
Occupancy 4,962
Postage and Delivery 2,149
Supplies 3,640
Other 14,916
Total Expenses 1,192,523
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES 2011 2010
UNRESTRICTED NET ASSETS
Donations Income 1,215,381 1,175,855
Application Fees 68,900 62,900
Apparel Sales 35,006 36,650
Other Income 14,326 18,975
1,333,613 1,294,380
Assets Released from Restriction 13,307 64,788
Total Support and Revnue 1,346,920 1,359,168
EXPENSES
Program Services 1,192,523 1,128,829
Management and General 141,124 154,601
Fundraising 28,070 29,411
1,361,717 1,312,841
Increase, Unrestricted Net Assets -14,797 46,327
TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS
Contributions 39,758 43,129
Net Assets Released from Restrict. -13,307 -64,788
26,451 -21,659
CHANGE, TOTAL NET ASSETS 11,654 24,668
NET ASSETS, BEGINNING 116,274 91,606
NET ASSETS, ENDING 127,928 116,274
AFFORDABLE HOUSING GRANTS
Competitive Grant Program 246,468
Rider Donations 86,000
On the Road Donations 27,300
CWM Contributions 9,700
Pre-Arranged Contributions 238,555
Total Expenses 608,023
PHOTO COURTESY OF MORGAN SACHS.
YEARLY AH GRANTS
$800,000
$700,000
$600,000
$500,000
$400,000
$300,000
$200,000
$100,000
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
$377 $395
$495
$740
$563 $608
8. PEDALING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING bikeandbuild.org
Bike & Build exists because of the energy and passion our donors and partners have for service,
cycling, and our cause. There are multiple ways you or your organization can join us to alleviate
this country’s affordable housing crisis and connect young adults to a lifetime of service.
Donate
Visit www.bikeandbuild.org. Click on “Donate” on the left toolbar. Donors can support a chosen
rider through the drop down menu on the page or can provide a general donation. The majority
of Bike & Build donations are made online, but you may also mail a check to:
Bike & Build
6109 Ridge Ave, Bldg 2
Philadelphia, PA 19128
Not including contributions to our grantees, it costs Bike & Build about $0.71 per mile to support
each rider across the country. Support can be valued in many ways:
$25 Campground reservations for 8 riders
$50 Reflective safety triangles for 12 riders
$75 One rider’s meals for the entire trip
$100 A grant made to a local affordable housing organization
in the name of a Bike & Build host site
$250 Fuel for a Bike & Build support van and trailer for a week
$500 Jerseys for 12 riders
$1,000 Two rider-designated contributions to affordable housing
organizations of their choice
Partnership
Bike & Build has multiple sponsors that provide valuable support. Their contributions towards
bikes, gear, food, and other essentials enable us to grant more money to affordable housing
organizations. Thank you to our 2011 partners! We look forward to working with you again!
Host a Trip
We are always open to new partnerships with organizations that are looking to host Bike &
Build for a build day or as an overnight destination. We partner with a range of affordable
housing affiliates for our build days. We rely on the generosity of churches, community centers,
recreation facilities, schools, and campgrounds daily shelter and food. Please email staff@
bikeandbuild.org or call (267) 331-8488 if you would like to host Bike & Build in your community.
Follow Riders Across the Country
Our website, www.bikeandbuild.org, has multiple opportunities to get to know and keep track
of riders as they cross the country. All riders have a self-written biography describing their
motivation to undertake an adventure like Bike & Build. Many riders choose to write blogs
throughout the journey as well; these are accessible through the Bike & Build website. Finally,
each trip is tracked through “Route Tracker,” which identifies daily mileage, host sites, and the
day’s official journal entry from each team.
Support Affordable Housing in Your Community
Bike & Build exists to inspire both riders and non-riders to seriously invest in improving this
country’s affordable housing in our own communities. Do you know of an AH organization in
your community that would benefit from a Bike & Build grant? Send them to our website and
encourage them to apply this summer. You can also take action; the most direct way to support
Bike & Build is to simply call up your local affiliate and start volunteering!
Spread the Word!
Much of Bike & Build’s recruitment comes from word-of-mouth. Our alumni are our best
recruiters for future riders. We also maintain a strong presence on social media. Like us
on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@bikebuild), where we provide news for our riders,
partners, and alumni. Visit www.bikeandbuild.org for information on rider applications, grant
applications, or general questions.
How Can You Support
Bike & Build?
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID MABE PHOTO COURTESY OF PAT ZUZA
14 15
9. PEDALING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING bikeandbuild.org
Kristian Sekse
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Cool Kids Campaign,
Director of Development
Bike & Build, Northern U.S.
Trip Leader (2007)
Baltimore, MD
Jeanine Lee
TREASURER
MandMarblestone Group, LLC,
Financial Controller
Philadelphia, PA
John Leonti
Troutman Sanders LLP, Attorney
New York, NY
Stephanie Mazer
L-3 Communications, FCPA
Compliance Manager
New York, NY
Bill West
The Atlantic Partners, Managing Partner
Greenville, SC
Program Directors
BRENDAN NEWMAN brendan.newman@bikeandbuild.org
NATALIE SERLE natalie.serle@bikeandbuild.org
Director of Operations and Outreach
JUSTIN VILLERE justin.villere@bikeandbuild.org
Office Coordinator
MOLLY JACOBS molly.jacobs@bikeandbuild.org
Contact Us!
6109 Ridge Ave, Bldg 2
Philadelphia, PA 19128
Phone: 267-331-8488
Fax: 661-752-9806
For applications & general rider questions: applications@bikeandbuild.org* Bike & Build is actively seeking board members. If you are interested, please contact us!
17
Board of Directors
Bike & Build Office Staff
16
PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA CARMAN
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB RICHARDSON
BACK COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF MARSHALL MOORE
10. PEDALING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your
balance, you must keep moving.
- Albert Einstein
