Creating Connection in Cincinnati

Introduction | A Tale of Many Trails

The Cincinnati Riding or Walking Network (CROWN) is an ambitious civic initiative that was formed to unite existing trails in a paved loop near and through the urban core of Cincinnati. The project began as an evolution of the Cincinnati Connects Plan and in response to critical regional needs, including neighborhood connectivity, health of residents, sustainability, and transportation equity.

CROWN was organized through a public and private partnership between the city of Cincinnati and key non-profit organizations, including Tristate Trails (then an initiative of Green Umbrella and now an independent organization), Ohio River Way, and Wasson Way, all of which advocate for accessible public trail use.

Representatives from each of these organizations formed the CROWN Leadership Team, co-chaired by Jan and Wym Portman. In the summer of 2019, the CROWN Leadership Team enlisted Ignite Philanthropy to lead the planning process for a capital campaign, determining the best way to package and present the CROWN vision to secure the necessary funding to complete it.

The Challenge | Bridging the Funding Gap

The CROWN Leadership Team, consisting of Wade Johnston, the Executive Director of Tristate Trails; co-chairs Jan and Wym Portman; Rick Greiwe (Ohio River Way); and Sean McGrory (Wasson Way), approached Ignite Philanthropy after several early project successes. They had completed four of nine trail phases and had secured significant federal and state funds, which required a local match. To fill that funding gap, the Ignite and CROWN leadership team considered the pros and cons of various fundraising methods by which fundraising could be accomplished.

Failing to raise the necessary funds would result in major portions of the CROWN loop left incomplete, specifically two segments essential to fully connecting CROWN: Wasson Way (7.6-mile mixed use trail that touches 16 neighborhoods) and Ohio River Trail (4.75-mile segment that would connect the riverfront parks to the east side and Little Miami Bike Trail). Failing to realize CROWN’s broader vision for active transportation infrastructure would be a setback not only for Cincinnatians but for all Ohio residents cycling from Cincinnati to Cleveland.

The project needed a strategy to effectively package the CROWN trail’s vision, attracting private funders to bolster public support.

Co-Creating a Solution | The Path Forward

The CROWN Leadership Team and Ignite Philanthropy began co-creating the vision that would maximize the private dollars needed to complete two core trail segments and make the CROWN vision a reality. A core part of this process was the formation of an advisory committee, including community leaders such as former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley and Council Member Amy Murray as Honorary Co-Chairs, to recommend a fundraising strategy. Requesting critical feedback from community leaders and stakeholders to frame the project was a crucial step in maximizing private philanthropy.

Ignite Philanthropy led the core stakeholders through the campaign planning process, presenting two fundraising methods that combined public and private funding. Through a series of meetings, the CROWN leadership team, coupled with a final recommendation from Ignite, aligned on the strategic path that would complete the full vision rather than fundraising for each segment separately, referred to as the comprehensive fundraising strategy.

This comprehensive fundraising strategy pursued the full scope of private funding in a single campaign. Through leveraging a cohesive vision of CROWN, donors were inspired to support the complete vision of the project.

The Impact | Crowning the Queen City

Creating actionable steps is crucial for any campaign, especially when the Ignite team is involved only during a project's planning stage. Through close collaboration with CROWN leadership, Ignite ensured the comprehensive fundraising strategy was ready for seamless execution. Guided by Ignite’s campaign plan, the 23-person volunteer team, led by Wym and Jan, took the lead in driving the private fundraising effort.

The strategy proved successful, reaching [$xMM milestone] at month X of the campaign. Ignite congratulates all stakeholders and organizations involved in the success of the CROWN campaign, which is, at the time of publication of this article, xx% to completion of the fundraising goal to crown The Queen City.

Once complete, the CROWN loop will give more than 356,000 people access to a safe, environmentally friendly, equitable option to gather and be active outdoors, and transform Cincinnati into a leading destination to live, work, and play by connecting neighborhoods, landmarks, and parks. We are proud to have played a part in this extraordinary project to create lasting change.