What We Do
The Michigan Trails Fund is a 501 (c) 3 organization that is bringing the state of Michigan together by connecting non-motorized biking and hiking regional trails in the state of Michigan.
Our Mission
The mission of the Michigan Trails Fund is to secure and distribute private resources that will be used to assist in the expansion and connectivity of the statewide non-motorized trail system which promotes access for all, healthy communities, connects people to place through heritage, improves local economies, and maintains Michigan’s position as The Trail State.
Photo Credit Michigan DNR
Our History
The Michigan Trails Fund, formerly known as the Iron Belle Trail Fund (IBTF), had its origin in 2012 and had the purpose of providing private funds to help create a statewide ‘showcase trail’ called the Iron Belle Trail (IBT). The IBTF was originally created to raise private philanthropic funds that can be matched by public funds to complete the IBT with the goal to complete a 798-mile bicycling route and a 1,221-mile hiking route that together would offer 2,019 miles of outdoor recreation stretching from Belle Isle in Detroit all the way to Ironwood in the western Upper Peninsula.
The Expansion in 2019
After meeting with numerous, high-capacity and high-propensity individuals, corporations and foundations, it became clear that several prospective donors that could make significant gifts to the campaign were primarily interested in supporting certain projects that connect to and/or compliment the main spine of the IBT. Due to this shift in interest, the IBTF expanded our vision in 2019 to include providing private funds for those projects, state-wide, that would connect and/or compliment the Iron Belle Trail. We also strategically shifted our fundraising efforts to a regional approach to ultimately achieve overall success of the IBTF objective.
Photo credit: John Pottenger
Photo credit: Brandon Mulnix
Where We Are Today
Though our fundraising strategic shift in 2019 displayed success, it also presented opportunity and desire to expand even further today. We have evolved as an organization to see the importance of a state-wide focus on the trail system and its connectivity beyond the IBT. We strongly feel to properly achieve our mission to maintain Michigan’s position as The Trail State, we need to expand to reach ALL non-motorized, regional trails throughout the state, not just the IBT. Due to our new shift in focus as an organization, we felt it appropriate to change our name from Iron Belle Trail Fund to Michigan Trails Fund.
We are confident that, with these changes, we can have a significant impact on connecting and expanding Michigan’s non-motorized, regional trails, reach engaged communities, and influence economic development statewide. Though our vision has continued to evolve and expand over time, our mission to maintain Michigan’s position as The Trail State has stayed the same. We look forward to continuing our fundraising endeavors as we connect all of Michigan through the completion and expansion of regional, non-motorized trails.
