About

“We have the know-how in the world to house everyone.
We have the resources in the world to house everyone.
All that’s missing is the will to do it”
- Millard Fuller

Bike and Build is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for affordable housing organizations.

Every year since 2002, Bike and Build organizes several cross country cycling trips to benefit affordable housing organizations.  Specifically, they fund projects planned and executed by young adults. They have donated $1,643,145 in the past 6 seasons, and have pedaled over 3.1MM miles, spreading the word about the affordable housing crisis in America.  Each route across the country consists of about thirty riders, two of which are route leaders.  Riders range from 18-25 years in age and come from all over the country.

Before arriving at orientation at the beginning of the trip, each rider must raise at least $4000 for the cause and are required to volunteer at least eight hours working on the construction of an affordable home with a local housing organization.  Riders are also required to log at least 500 miles of road riding before departing for the trip. During the trip, riders will be working at various build sites through out the country and educating their hosts on the issues surrounding affordable housing.

In 2009, Bike and Build will distribute its fundraising proceeds from its trips in four different ways:

Application-based competitive grants: Funds will be distributed to applicants from all kinds of organizations that request funds for housing projects chiefly planned and executed by students and young adults, ages 18-25. The riders on each of the eight trips will review, evaluate, and discuss the different applications and at the end of the summer will ultimately decide as group which applicants receive grants.

Rider-based beneficiaries: If I chose to do so, I have the opportunity to chose where $500 of the money I fundraised is donated.

On the road donations: As a small thank you for hosting trips, hosts are invited to name an affordable housing organization to which Bike and Build will make a $100 donation in their name.

Pre-arranged contributions: Several affordable housing organizations help Bike and Build run its events each summer. In return for their generosity, these organizations receive a sizable pre-arranged contribution at the conclusion of the summer.