New resources and expert guidance help riders maximize impact and make participation more accessible
LOS ANGELES – April 3, 2026 - This tax season, staff and volunteers at the Arthritis Foundation Cycling Experience (AFCE) are helping registered and prospective riders approach their fundraising with a range of flexible, tax-smart giving options designed to make participation in their premier, multi-day bike tours more accessible.
“Fundraising can feel intimidating to a lot of people,” said Erin Starck, national director of the Arthritis Foundation Cycling Experience, “but there are many pathways to achieving one’s goals. By educating riders about their options and providing structured support, we can help more people participate in these life-changing bike tours while accelerating the mission of the Arthritis Foundation.”
Nearly 60 million adults and children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with arthritis. AFCE produces two flagship fundraisers that fuel the Arthritis Foundation’s advocacy, scientific research, and life-changing programs: the four-day Carolina Hills Classic Bike Tour in May, and the eight-day California Coast Classic Bike Tour in late September.
Upon registering for either tour, riders commit to fundraise or self-fund between $3,300 and $4,000.
“Many people don’t realize there are lots of tax-smart ways to support their fundraising goals, including donor-advised funds and other structured giving tools,” said Kyle Berg, a Certified Public Accountant and the volunteer co-chair of the California Coast Classic Bike Tour. Berg also hosts the Arthritis Foundation Cycling podcast, “What Are We Riding For?”.
In the most recent episode of the podcast, “Tax Advantaged Ways to Donate and Fundraising Psychology”, Berg and Starck discussed the benefits and nuances of self-funding and fundraising, including the use of donor-advised funds (DAFs), donations of appreciated stock and other qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), employer matching gifts, installment planning, personal contributions, and donor incentives such as customized perks.
Berg emphasized the importance of transparency and compliance in all charitable giving guidance, encouraging participants to consult their financial or tax advisors regarding individual circumstances.
“That having been said, my number one piece of advice is to let your supporters surprise you,” Berg concluded. “It’s been my experience that asking acquaintances, friends, and family for support has a way of strengthening relationships.”
AFCE welcomes cyclists of all levels and provides extensive rider resources that empower participants to succeed in their fundraising and training. Their fully supported tours include commemorative apparel, hotel accommodations (for the Carolina Hills Classic) or camping fees (for the California Coast Classic), luggage transfers, catered breakfasts and dinners, plentiful rest stops, mechanical support and SAG vehicles, digital route maps, cue sheets, route marking, nightly entertainment and social hour, Opening Ceremonies and Finish Line Celebrations.
For more information about Arthritis Foundation Cycling Experience, to register for a premier multi-day bike tour, or to learn more, visit arthritis.org/cycling.
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About the Arthritis Foundation Cycling Experience
The Arthritis Foundation Cycling Experience (AFCE) believes that movement is medicine, bringing together passionate cyclists to make a difference for the 1 in 4 people in the U.S. who have arthritis. AFCE produces two premier destination fundraising bike tours that fuel the Arthritis Foundation’s advocacy, scientific research and life-changing programs: the Carolina Hills Classic Bike Tour and the California Coast Classic Bike Tour.
It also engages cyclists through Ride Your Way, a virtual option that helps people support the Foundation by enjoying any type of riding, in any location, at any time of year.
Its in-person tours are e-bike friendly and offer fully supported routes designed for cyclists of all experience levels, providing unforgettable riding experiences while making a lasting impact. The Carolina Hills Classic, held May 14–17, 2026, is a four-day road biking adventure across the Blue Ridge and Upstate regions of North and South Carolina that includes hotel lodging for all participants. The California Coast Classic, held Sept. 26–Oct. 3, 2026, is an award-winning 8-day, 525-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles along the iconic Highway 1. For more information and to register, please visit: arthritis.org/cycling.
