Frequently Asked Questions

The RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND is a charitable, community benefit organization created in 2011 to support off-highway vehicle enthusiasts directly, by supplementing the work of the Motorcycle Industry Council, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, and in other ways. RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND’s charitable mission is to promote the safe and responsible use of off-highway vehicles and to preserve their access to appropriate lands.

Off-highway vehicle enthusiasts need and deserve more help to ensure they can safely and responsibly operate their OHVs and access riding areas. By combining the existing support of the powersports industry associations with contributions from businesses and individuals, the financial resources available to support OHV enthusiasts increase exponentially. With industry expertise available to manage the work of the RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND on a charitable basis, 100% of contributions support riders. The breadth of the funding sources, the depth of expertise and the absence of overhead make the RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND a one-of-a-kind resource for OHV enthusiasts.

The RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND supports riders through two programs:

• The Safety, Education and Training Support Program will provide funding or other resources for safety, education and training initiatives.
• The OHV Organization Support Program will provide funding or other resources to national, state and local OHV rider organizations for projects designed to promote OHV recreation and expand OHV riding opportunities.

The RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND is supported primarily by the Motorcycle Industry Council, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, which also provide free staff and administrative resources for the organization. The RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND also relies on generous contributions from individuals and businesses.

There are many ways to contribute. Businesses could do what the powersports industry associations already have done: establish a payroll deduction program so employees may make small donations every pay period. Businesses also could consider matching employee donations to double the impact. Click here to visit the RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND donation portal. Donors may establish a recurring donation, or make a one time donation, through their credit card. And the RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND gladly accepts donations via personal or business check.

The RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND is a non-profit organization pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Your donation may qualify for an income tax deduction in accordance with Federal and/or State income tax laws. Please consult with your tax advisor to determine whether your donation is tax deductible in whole or in part. Nothing in this communication is intended to constitute legal or tax advice.

Although non-directed contributions provide flexibility to commit financial resources to address the highest priorities, donors may direct their contributions for use in general or specific safety, education and training initiatives or OHV organization initiatives.

The RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of Board members from the Motorcycle Industry Council, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association. The industry associations’ professional staff execute the RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND’s mission.

The RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND will seek to invest resources in the best opportunities to advance OHV safety and will identify those opportunities both through grant requests and independently. An example could be training volunteer instructors to provide free ATV RiderCourses to youth riders.

The RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND will seek to invest resources in national, state and local OHV rider organizations to assist them in executing the best projects to promote OHV recreation and expand OHV riding opportunities. An example is the major support provided to the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC).

Yes, our grant application cycle is as follows:

1. November 15 - January 15: Grant applications received
2. January 15 - February 15: Staff review of applications
3. February 15 - March 15: Board review and meeting
4. March 15 - March 30: Grant notifications and fulfillment

Most of the funding dedicated to OHV organization support by the Motorcycle Industry Council, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association will be contributed to the RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND and administered under the RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND’s OHV Organization Support Program. The powersports industry associations will continue to maintain a small grant program for select OHV support initiatives outside the scope of the RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND.

No, the RIGHT RIDER ACCESS FUND will not engage in lobbying of any kind, and grant funding received through the Fund will not be used to engage in lobbying.