TAMBA raised almost $40K over three days to support local trails

The Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association (TAMBA) held its 14th annual mountain bike festival at the end of June, and by all accounts the event was a big success. How big? About $40,000 big.

That’s enough to buy a mini excavator. Or to hire a part-time executive director. Or to buy a shed full of tools, with enough money left over to buy a year’s worth of pizza to feed your volunteer trail builders.

A child wearing a helmet smiles as they learn to ride a bicycle, with an adult assisting by adjusting the bike. In the background, a crowd of kids and adults watch, surrounded by trees and grass in a sunny outdoor setting. — Photo: Jazmine Kohl

How to raise $40,000 in 3 days

Sam Goldin, Marketing & Events Coordinator for TAMBA, told me “registration and sponsorship revenue made up the bulk of the funds raised” at this year’s event. The festival pre-sold tickets for $40 mountain bike shuttle rides and $95 skills clinics presented by A Singletrack Mind. There were plenty of free activities as well, including live music and clinics covering skills, bike maintenance, and trail building. More than 2,000 attended the festival weekend.

On the sponsorship side, TAMBA partnered with dozens of local businesses and bike brands, including the title sponsors, South Lake Brewing Company, Visit Lake Tahoe, and The Divided Sky, a bar and restaurant located in South Lake Tahoe.

TAMBA notes that all the funds raised from the Tahoe Mountain Bike Festival will directly support “work to build and maintain more than 100 miles of multi-use trails throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin.”

Goldin says TAMBA is aiming for the third weekend in June for the 2027 Tahoe Mountain Bike Festival.

Events can bring trail organizations significant funding

Of course, every trail organization is different, but looking at how a group like TAMBA raises funds — and spends them — can be instructive. According to a recent annual report, TAMBA brought in about $126,000 from events between November 2024 and October 2025. That’s roughly 15% of the group’s annual haul, and represents a bigger chunk than individual memberships. For TAMBA, unrestricted donations and restricted grants are the only categories that contribute more funds.

Like most well-run non-profits dedicated to trails, TAMBA spends the vast majority of its money on trail building and advocacy (75%). With the cost of trail building continuing to rise, groups like TAMBA can use every dollar they can get.

Does your mountain bike trail organization put on fundraising events? Tell us what’s working for your group in the comments below!