Case Studies

Roaring Fork Cycling

Impact stories, grant messaging and sponsorship materials that help more kids get on bikes.

Slides from the Roaring Fork Cycling sponsorship deck: the Pedal Forward: Investing in Youth cover with a group of young riders, the 2026 sponsorship levels and benefits table, and a supporter quote.

Overview

Across three engagements, Forward Cadence helped Roaring Fork Cycling build a library of impact stories, then turned those stories into sponsorship materials and grant messaging. Board trainings gave their leaders the confidence to open doors with sponsors and corporate partners.

The Challenge

Roaring Fork Cycling runs skills-based cycling programs, clinics and camps for kids K–12 across the Roaring Fork Valley. Their programs reach kids throughout the valley, and the team was ready to grow the funding behind them.

Leadership saw an opportunity to:

  • Capture and share the stories of the kids and families in their programs
  • Build sponsorship materials and a clear plan for approaching local businesses
  • Develop grant messaging they can reuse across foundation and corporate applications
  • Prepare the board to open doors with sponsors and partners
Our Approach

01Telling their impact story

Assess

  • Reviewed summer program marketing and added quick wins
  • Ran a kickoff and success session to surface their strongest stories

Build

  • Created an Impact Story Toolkit so staff and volunteers collect stories the same way every time
  • Built an Impact Story Library with ready-to-use content for newsletters, social media, the website, grants and events

Equip

  • Gave staff and volunteers a simple way to keep the library growing

02Building sponsorships

Assess

  • Reviewed the sponsorship approach and identified new opportunities aligned with RFC's mission
  • Audited fundraising and communications

Build

  • Designed a sponsorship deck and 2027 sponsorship prospectus
  • Created a prioritized prospect list and outreach templates
  • Mapped a year-round development and communications calendar, including a Colorado Gives Day toolkit

Equip

  • Led the board training Building Stronger Sponsorships
  • Wrote talking points for staff and board

03Grant messaging and corporate partnerships

Assess

  • Met monthly with the Executive Director to set priorities
  • Built a foundation and corporate prospect list by funding type

Build

  • Developed a Grant Narrative Toolkit with program descriptions, outcomes, budget narratives and case for support
  • Created a reusable Application Materials Bank
  • Drafted and submitted grant applications and Letters of Inquiry

Equip

  • Led the board training Building Stronger Corporate Partnerships
  • Reviewed funder responses and refined the outreach
What We Made Possible

Roaring Fork Cycling now brings the same strong story to every sponsor, donor and grant funder. Staff pull from a shared story library, sponsors receive a clear prospectus, and grant applications start from tested messaging. The board knows how to open doors, and staff knows how to carry the conversation forward.

A growing story library
Ready-to-use stories for newsletters, social media, grants and events.
Sponsorship materials that show the value
A deck and prospectus that show local businesses what they gain from partnering with RFC.
Grant messaging ready to reuse
Program descriptions, outcomes and case for support language for every application.
A board ready to open doors
Trainings that clarify the board's role in sponsorships and corporate partnerships.

Inside the Board Training

A working session on how board relationships build RFC's sponsorship pipeline. Each board member left with three prospects and a next step within 30 days.

45%

of small-business owners say a personal connection to a nonprofit's leaders shaped which ones they support.

Zatepilina-Monacell, Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing, 2015

What makes a good sponsor

Connection
Do we have a way in?
Alignment
Is there a natural fit?
Opportunity
Is there value for them?

Every board member has a role

  • Identify
  • Connect
  • Introduce
  • Steward

Board members open the door. Staff carries the relationship forward.

Sponsorship as a cycle

  1. Win the sponsor
  2. Deliver value
  3. Stay connected
  4. Renew

Let’s Move Your Mission Forward—Together

Reach out today to explore how we can support your goals.

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