Policy Plan
2025 - 2027

Shift Cycling Culture is committed to the public benefit, starting with the planet as our primary stakeholder.

Our Policy Plan outlines the Foundation’s objectives, core activities, organisational structure, and our financial and governance policies.

We invite you to read the full Policy Plan here >>

Here is a summary:

Introduction

The world of cycling is a fast-growing global community, a tight-knit ecosystem of passionate cyclists, businesses, network organisations, media, professional teams, and event organisers. We all share one common thread: our love for the bicycle, and where it takes us.

The last few decades have seen a lot of changes to our shared playground. Extreme weather conditions, changing landscapes, diminishing biodiversity – climate change is no longer a future threat, it has become a reality.

As cycling consumers in a billion-dollar economy, we are also playing a role in this. We extract, produce, consume and discard tons of resources every year in pursuit of our shared passion. While the numbers are substantial, they are matched by our strength. We are a large, global community.

By mobilising organisations and enthusiasts alike, we can have a real impact in addressing these environmental challenges, becoming the solution, not the cause.

As Shift Cycling Culture, we strive to be the catalyst for this change, by bringing the cycling community together and driving the shift towards a systemic change resulting in a positive impact.

Core Values

Planet First

We treat the planet as our primary stakeholder and make decisions based on protecting and regenerating the natural world we all rely on.

Impact-driven

We build global networks, bring people together, and turn ideas into meaningful impact.

Lead with Positivity

We focus on opportunities, celebrate progress, and inspire action.

Accessible

We ensure what we do is accessible to all, and share learnings in an open-source spirit.

Lean and independent

We align all our actions with our mission, stay independent, remain agile and efficient.

Shift Cycling Culture was co-founded by three passionate cyclists as a global movement and registered as a non-profit Foundation in 2021.

Objectives

Enhance Knowledge
We equip people and organisations with the knowledge they need to act more responsibly. From understanding the environmental impact of their products to showcasing solutions, we share insights and tell stories that motivate change, making the path toward a cycling world that thrives within planetary boundaries visible and actionable.

Develop Capability

We design and deliver learning formats that help individuals and organisations build the skills and confidence needed to shift how products are designed, made, used, and reused. Through workshops, learning formats, and providing a platform for sharing experiences, we strengthen the ability of the cycling community to turn ideas into responsible, practical solutions.

Catalyse Change

We turn ideas into collective, impactful action. We enable collaboration across the cycling world, bringing people and companies together to develop solutions and create better products and experiences for everyone. We develop and share open resources and practical tools that help the industry move faster and accelerate the transition toward a cycling culture that thrives within planetary boundaries.

Key Activities 2025–2027

Industry Meetups & Events
Shift will continue running online and in-person meetups to help companies reduce environmental impact and strengthen cross-industry collaboration. The goal is to broaden participation and grow a more diverse and active community.

Forums
Participant-led forums such as the Campfire will keep bringing together sustainability professionals and other key stakeholders for open, peer-to-peer knowledge exchange across the cycling world.

Leadership Engagement
Shift will convene industry leaders to co-create actionable strategies for a more resilient and sustainable sector. Building on the 2025 C-suite Barcamp, the Shift CEO Forum will be expanded to engage more senior leaders in driving change.

Knowledge Development
Insights generated through events and research will be developed into practical publications and white papers that help guide the sector’s direction on shared sustainability challenges.

Training & Workshops
Existing programmes - such as Climate Action Training and the Circular Design Course - will continue, with the aim to train more people, create new training formats and to establish the Shift Academy as the umbrella for scaling skills.

Transparency & Benchmarking
Shift will maintain its annual Climate Action Pulse Check to benchmark progress, share inspiring case studies, and amplify cyclists’ perspectives. The aim is to increase participation and reach.

Collaborative Projects
New cross-industry projects will be initiated to accelerate shared progress, with a target of launching at least two major collaborations in 2026-2027.

Organisational Development
The organisation will strengthen its foundations by achieving the recognised status of a public benefit organisation (in Dutch: Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling - ANBI), diversifying funding, and expanding the operational team to support continued growth and impact.

Governance

The Foundation is overseen by a Management Board responsible for strategy, policy, and financial supervision, while day-to-day operations are led by an Executive Director. The Board includes at least three members - a Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer - chosen for their expertise and commitment, and meets regularly to review progress, approve policies, and monitor finances. The Executive Director manages programmes, partnerships, communications, and financial administration, reporting to the Board and receiving sector-aligned remuneration. Board members remain independent of operational or financial interests, and follow clear conflict-of-interest rules. All decisions are made collectively, with the Chair casting the decisive vote when needed.

Assets

The Foundation applies all incoming funds directly to its mission and does not maintain long-term reserves or investments. Its financial resources come from patron support within the cycling sector, income from workshops and educational or R&D activities, philanthropic donations, grants, and other lawful mission-aligned sources. The Foundation keeps only the assets needed for continuity and sustainable operations, with all resources remaining the sole property of the organisation. It is working toward ANBI status and already follows the associated standards. Expected expenses include fair personnel costs, project and operational expenditures, travel and logistics, external expertise, and the administrative requirements needed for sound governance and compliance.

Remuneration and Expense Policy

The Foundation operates on a not-for-profit basis, using all resources to advance its mission and the public good. Management Board members are unpaid for their regular duties, though reasonable, documented expenses may be reimbursed, and only clearly defined extra operational work may be compensated in line with ANBI rules. Staff and contractors may receive market-appropriate compensation that fits the Foundation’s size and needs, while volunteers may be reimbursed only for actual costs within Dutch tax guidelines. All engagements follow Dutch financial, labour, and tax regulations. The Management Board reviews the remuneration policy annually to ensure compliance, transparency, and alignment with the Foundation’s objectives, with any changes formally approved and reported in the annual report.