The Rapha Foundation invests US$1.5 million a year in grassroots activities and has announced five new groups that have been added to its list of recipients. Starting this month, the foundation will support the Berlin Cycling Club, Ride for Charlie, SportsAid and The National Cycling Institute Milton.
This latest round of funding also includes World Bicycle Relief (WBR), whom in 2021 the Rapha Foundation granted US$150,000 per year for the following three years to support the Mobilised Communities programme in Kasungu, Malawi.
Founded in 2019 with a mission of building a better future for cycling and cyclists, the Rapha Foundation now funds more than 20 organisations around the world… ‘committed to inspiring, empowering and supporting the next generation of riders and racers from under-represented communities in the sport.’
Simon Mottram, founder of Rapha, said “Riding a bike has transformed my life and I believe that cycling can make the world a much better place for all of us. This passion for the sport has driven us at Rapha from day one and our mission is to get millions more people to make cycling part of their lives.
“The Rapha Foundation is a powerful vehicle to help make this a reality, by increasing cycling participation and creating pathways into the sport for people who have often been excluded. I’m very excited and proud that the Rapha Foundation is investing millions of pounds to build a better future for cycling across the world.”
Organizations in the EU, US, UK, and Asia-Pacific are all eligible for grants. Potential grantees are invited to apply for funding on a biannual basis. Applicants must be registered charities, including 501c3 organizations for US-based institutions, and equivalent institutions outside the US. Members of the public may nominate a grantee online.
The Rapha Foundation has been made possible by Steuart Walton and Tom Walton, Rapha shareholders, along with Simon Mottram, the founder and CEO of Rapha. Steuart and Tom Walton provided seed funding for the Rapha Foundation, distributing US$1.5m in 2019.
