RAGBRAI Gives
RAGBRAI is possible because of the people and towns in Iowa that welcome riders from across the world into their communities and homes. Our impact is multifaceted, from a boost to local economies of all sizes, to providing ride infrastructure and operational support to towns and agencies, to direct donations to towns and their designated charities. When you participate in RAGBRAI as a rider, support driver, volunteer, or host, you are a part of this massive impact in the state of Iowa.
Community Impact
RAGBRAI is pleased to announce that Iowa’s Community Bicycle Shops will be our Community Fund beneficiary for RAGBRAI LIII. Funds raised will be directed to 6 Community Bicycle Shops in Iowa: The Iowa City Bike Library, the Street Collective in Des Moines, Chain Reaction Bike Hub in Cedar Rapids, Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective in Waterloo, We-Cycle in Ames, and the Dubuque Bike Co-Op. They may focus on free bicycles to unhoused folks (We-Cycle), infrastructure advocacy (Street Collective), or youth programming (Bike Library) – but all advance the common goal of making bicycles accessible to all.
RAGBRAI riders are united by the simple joy of riding a bicycle. For many, it’s not just a ride — it’s a personal tradition, a source of pride, and a celebration of community. This emotional connection fuels a strong desire to give back so that others may experience the same.
In 2026, RAGBRAI Gives channels that spirit by introducing riders to Iowa’s Community Bike Shops (CBS), which make bicycles (vis-a-vis RAGBRAI) accessible to all.
CBS (sometimes called bike cooperatives or co-ops) recycle donated bicycles within their community. They promote learning and self-sufficiency by providing tools, workspace, and mechanical mentorship for folks to service their bicycle. CBS’ operations are sustained through the sale and/or rental of refurbished bicycles.
Throughout this partnership, RAGBRAI riders are empowered to give back in many different ways. Please, donate funds or the dusty frame in their garage that you never got around to building! Perhaps you will feel called to put your mechanical skills to good use by volunteering at a CBS. We also hope that some riders feel inspired to start one within their community.
RAGBRAI’s Bikes Create Community partnership forefronts access, diversity, mechanical learning, and community building. Let’s get more people on bikes!
2025 Charitable Recipient
Last year’s charitable recipient was the Honor Flight Network. Shown above were members of the local chapters accepting a check for $42,650.63 made possible by your great donations through RAGBRAI’s Community Fund.
Economic Impact
The program was created to help the communities and state agencies that host the ride off-set some of the expense they incur each year hosting the ride. RAGBRAI provides starter funds to the towns on route each year and off-sets expense for overnight towns and state agencies that support the ride. Since 2021, RAGBRAI has provided over $3MM in direct funds to the communities and agencies that host the ride each year.
RAGBRAI provides a shot in the arm to communities across the state the host or serve as a destination for the annual ride. RAGBRAI generates a reported $25MM in economic impact annually for the communities that hosted.
Joan Kranovich
When a community thinks of economic impact, traditional impacts of tourism are hotel room nights, sales tax receipts, and entertainment spending. RAGBRAI’s impact on our destination goes beyond all of these factors and is much more than the one week in July. This event exposed our Quad Cities’ destination to 50 states and 20 countries. The value of the word-of-mouth and media exposure is much higher than the amount of money and labor put into hosting it.
Joan Kranovich
Vice President, Business Growth & Director, Sports QC, Davenport
When a community thinks of economic impact, traditional impacts of tourism are hotel room nights, sales tax receipts, and entertainment spending. RAGBRAI’s impact on our destination goes beyond all of these factors and is much more than the one week in July.
This event exposed our Quad Cities’ destination to 50 states and 20 countries. The value of the word-of-mouth and media exposure is much higher than the amount of money and labor put into hosting it.