TFN’s Advocacy Spotlight Series, spearheaded by the network’s Mobility and Access Collaborative, lifts up the work of nonprofit grantees making an impact in their communities and beyond. We asked funders to nominate a stellar grantee to be featured in this series. We’ll share these Advocacy Spotlights TFN’s Blog and social media platforms as part of our commitment to amplifying community-led sustainability solutions and building the field of philanthropy through shared learning.
Advocacy Spotlight: BikeWalkKC
Nominated by: Kathryn Conner, Program Coordinator, The Equitable Transportation Fund
Nina Whiteside McCord and Neighbors United for Action neighborhood association organized to simplify an intersection and install a raised crosswalk at 63rd and Meyer to benefit residents and Kauffman School students in the 5th District of KCMO.
About BikeWalk KC
“BikeWalkKC advocates for policies and infrastructure that make walking, biking and public transit safer and more accessible in the Kansas City region. Their work addresses critical issues of health, safety and community connectivity. Combining public education, coalition-building and direct policy engagement, their approach serves as a model for other communities.
The Equitable Transportation Fund has supported BikeWalkKC because their work aligns with our mission to fund initiatives that create more just and inclusive transportation systems. Their efforts help shape transportation systems that serve all residents equitably, not just those with access to personal vehicles.
BikeWalkKC advances equity by advocating for safe and accessible transportation options in historically underinvested neighborhoods, where residents often face the greatest mobility barriers. Their programs prioritize engagement with communities of color, low-income residents and people with disabilities to ensure their needs and perspectives are at the center of planning and investment decisions.”
40 volunteers observed Kansas City, MO’s Gillham Cycletrack in 2022, taking surveys from users on bikes, foot, and scooters and collecting data about driver behavior, safety, and more.
About Their Impact
“BikeWalkKC is a leader of the Transportation for All Coalition. A recent capacity-building grant from Ewnig Marion Kauffman Foundation enables BikeWalkKC to strengthen the coalition, deepen its research through a transportation case study of Kansas City with Urban Institute, and develop case statements on transportation and upward economic mobility. This grant is a significant milestone that builds on the foundation laid by previous support from ETF.
An in-person convening planned for fall 2025 of funders, policymakers and transportation advocates will elevate the conversation on transportation as a driver of economic mobility. The 2024 Transportation for All Coalition report captures the impact of this work and provides a roadmap for ongoing advocacy.”
Featured Image: In 2023, BikeWalkKC received a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant to collect local data to understand how structural racism has shaped Kansas City’s transportation system and infrastructure and made Black and Brown neighborhoods less safe for residents. This photo is from a neighborhood walk audit for that project.
About this series: TFN invited funders to nominate a stellar grantee to be featured in the Mobility and Access Collaborative’s Advocacy Spotlight series. The stories in this series were submitted by funders and shared with nominees in advance for fact-checking and further clarification when needed. If you have any questions about this series or TFN’s Mobility and Access Collaborative, please contact Martha Roskowski martha@fundersnetwork.org