Get Involved!
Help Us Build a World-Class Trail Network
Invest in Trails by Donating
How does my contribution benefit the trail network?
The Pumpkinvine Trails Coalition is working to create more walkable and bikeable communities in Elkhart County while connecting with our regional neighbors. Join us in building a world-class trail network and ensuring its sustainability for future generations.
Donor contributions directly fund the development and maintenance projects led by this organization. Trails are a priority initiative of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, which generously covers operational costs, including overhead and staffing, ensuring that your donations have a greater impact.
Endowment Gifts
Make a lasting impact with a gift to our Endowment fund at the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. By giving directly to the Foundation you are eligible for a 25% match.
Gifts can be made online here on the Community Foundation of Elkhart County's web portal, or a check can be mailed.
Make checks out to: Community Foundation of Elkhart County and mail to P.O. Box 2932 Elkhart, IN 46515. Please include "Pumpkinvine Endowment" in the memo line.
More ways to give
Kroger Shoppers Card: Your weekly shopping trip can help support this organization. Simply follow the instructions here to connect your card to the Kroger Community Rewards program. Just choose “Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail” as your benefiting organization!
Corporate Gifts & Sponsorships
Why Become a Corporate Donor?
Pumpkinvine Nature Trail is one of the many things that makes Elkhart and LaGrange counties special. It helps attract new talent to the region and retain our current workers. When our neighbors are excited about where they live, new investment follows. Your gift is a quality-of-place investment. Through the development and care of our trail systems, together, we can create positive economic change.
What Benefits Will My Organization Receive?
As a sponsor of one of our annual events, you are entitled to exclusive benefits and recognition! Please see our PDF for detailed information about your specific perks.
If you would like to speak to someone directly about a sponsorship opportunity before you give, please send a note to info@pumpkinvine.org, and staff will contact you!
Volunteer Opportunities
A robust volunteer base is needed to preserve, develop and activate Elkhart County’s trail network. Opportunities to get involved are listed below.
Let us know how you would like to engage!
Advocacy Groups
Local trail advocates and users meet regularly to discuss issues that impact their communities such as safety, accessibility, future trail connections and events.
Events
The Pumpkinvine Classic Ride needs up to 100 volunteers to help with registration, SAG stops, participant safety and marking the trail. The Coalition also helps local organizations and municipalities with trail related, seasonal events. Volunteers are needed both to assist with planning and to make the day of the event a success.
Fundraisers
Love building relationships and connecting with others? Join our Annual Fundraising Dinner Silent Auction and Sponsorship Committee. Some of our trail projects require additional community funding, and our fundraising volunteers play a crucial role in strengthening and nurturing relationships with funders to support these important initiatives.
Trail Stewardship & Maintenance: Like to get your hands dirty?
Volunteers are vital to both ongoing and project-based maintenance and stewardship activities. These items include, but are not limited to, monitoring activities on the trail, invasive species removal, brush trimming, asphalt crack sealing & patching, and occasional work such as cleaning up storm damage. Volunteering can be flexible and work with your schedule.
Community & Neighborhood Leadership: Just have a few hours per year to help?
We’re looking for passionate community members who are willing to staff tables at festivals, offer trail related education and do public outreach as needed for specific development projects, on an episodic basis.
Apply for a Grant
Together, we can build a world-class trail network in Elkhart County.
In 2022 stakeholders from across Elkhart County came together to develop a countywide mobility plan called Connect in Elkhart County. At the time, the county had 68 miles of low-stress streets and trails. The outcome was an actionable plan outlining a vision for a 130-mile network, world-class trail network.
As a community, we want to honor the decades of work it took to craft the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail and expand its reach beyond the original 17-mile corridor. We are excited about the future, but we need partners from across the community to join us to get there. We know that sustaining and maintaining the current trail network takes many resources.
The Community Foundation has pledged funding for this effort, and works in partnership with the Pumpkinvine Trails Coalition to administer a Trail Network Development grant program. Partners who are working to build out segments of the Connect plan are generally eligible. Specific eligibility requirements and FAQ's related to these grants can be found here.
For grants under $25,000 please email Brittany Short brittany@inspiringgood.org.
Ready to apply? Get started by contacting:
BRITTANY SHORT
Director, Pumpkinvine Trails Coalition
Brittany@InspiringGood.org
(574) 295-8761
Stay Informed
Sign up for our email newsletter to get the latest news and updates from Pumpkinvine Trails Coalition.
