How to get Funding?
Many, if not most, of our potential customers lack the resources necessary to purchase the Duet Wheelchair Bicycle Tandem or the Orion Twin Tandem. In a large percentage of states there is a Medicaid Waiver program to purchase equipment that is usually not covered under Medicaid guidelines. Equipment such as bicycles and exercise equipment are products that improve the quality of your life but are not medically necessary.​Where should you start in order to find the funds necessary to purchase the Duet Wheelchair Bicycle Tandem or the Orion Twin Tandem Cycle and enjoy the outdoors like never before?
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Check organizations right in your own neighborhood. There are numerous civic organizations such as: churches, Kiwanis Clubs, Jaycees and Lodges that raise money for people with disabilities to purchase equipment you need.
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There are also a few Federal and numerous State agencies that will pay for all or most of the cost of equipment. But in most of States, recreational products are not covered by Medicaid guidelines.​
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Use social media! Create your own online fundraising campaign by using online funding sites. Here are some example sites: GoFundMe, YouCaring, Indegogo, Crowdraise, GiveForward.
Finally, there are many grants available for people in need. We have listed some here for your reference. Don't be afraid to ask or be too proud because people truly are more blessed to give than to receive. Most importantly don’t give up hope!
When asking financial assistance to purchase the Duet, Orion or Jogging Strollers, try to include answers to the following questions:
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Why it is important for you and/or your family to be able to get this piece of equipment?
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What are the benefits to you and/or your family to be able to receive this equipment?
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Why do you need financial help?
​*Please note the intent of this information is to provide tips and ideas on how to effectively approach potential funding sources as a guide that may assist you in your pursuit of additional funding partners.
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FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE of Michigan is a non-profit organization that offers a number of online special needs resources including a blog about special needs parenting, products, therapy and more.
GREAT BIKE GIVEAWAY is a program which provides adaptive bikes to children and teens with special needs since 2012. The contest and donations occur every year between January and April. We've been participating over the years and many people were able to have a Duet/Orion or jogging strollers through the contest.
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The mission of The Rainbow Connection is to grant wishes to Michigan children with life threatening or terminal illnesses. A child must be between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 years old and be diagnosed with a life threatening illness. A licensed physician will verify the illness and refer the child for a wish. The child must not have received a wish previously from any wish-granting organization. The child must lives in the state of Michigan. http://www.rainbowconnection.org
Variety Club has been helping children in need since 1927, and it all begins with people like you. Variety’s FREEDOM Program delivers vital LIFE-CHANGING equipment and services for mobility, independence and social inclusion to individual children and children’s organizations.
Covering a wide scope, Freedom grants may cover:
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Manual and powered wheelchairs
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Adaptive bicycles and trikes
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Assistance animals
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Hoists and lifts
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Modified vehicle access
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Standing and walking assistance like gait trainers, walkers, standing frames and positioning systems
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Specialized car seating, shower and toilet chairs, and many more. Find a Variety next to you on the website: https://usvariety.org/
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® has enriched the lives of children diagnosed with a critical illness, i.e., a progressive, degenerative or malignant condition. The child needs to be older than 2½ years and younger than 18 and has not received a wish from another wish-granting organization.
The Make-A-Wish accepts referrals from: children being treated for a critical illness;medical professionals (typically a doctor, nurse, social worker or child-life specialist); parents or legal guardians and family members with detailed knowledge of the child's current medical condition.https://wish.org/
This project, coordinated by Complex Child Magazine, is intended to simplify the waivers process as much as possible. Our first goal was to create a full list of current Medicaid waivers for children. We then created individual state pages that provide additional information and links for each program.
We hope to provide a comprehensive resource of all Medicaid waivers for children, including 1915(c) HCBS waivers, 1115 demonstration waivers, TEFRA/Katie Beckett programs, and state-based programs. www.kidswaivers.org
Ride to Give is a 501c3 (tax ID 46-2952297) non-profit charity that turns athletic ability into fundraising power for families with children who are disabled, injured, or ill. RTG was founded in Nyack NY, just outside of NYC, by stay-at-home mom Kaete Nazaroff and her husband, fifteen-time Ironman Dave Nazaroff.
Since March of 2013 Ride to Give has raised nearly $2,000,000 for 95 families in states throughout the U.S. We raise funds for medical equipment, travel expenses, and other out of pocket costs related to having a medically fragile child. http://www.ridetogive.com/
The Dream Factory is the largest all-volunteer driven children’s wish-granting organization that does not limit its mission to children who have life-threatening illness. The organization believes children with chronic illnesses and disorders also suffer from substantial emotional and physical pain.We grant dreams to critically and chronically ill children from the ages of three through eighteen. http://www.dreamfactoryinc.org
The mission of Fund It Forward is to ease the burdens of families with children with special needs by raising money for adaptive equipment not covered by health insurance. Families who have received help will in return raise funds for another family in need — FUNDING IT FORWARD. http://www.funditfwd.org
Sunshine Foundation’s sole purpose is to answer the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children ages three to eighteen, whose families cannot fulfill their requests due to financial strain that the child’s illness may cause. https://www.sunshinefoundation.org/
Kids Wish Network has been making dreams come true for hundreds of thousands of children all over the world since 1997. We are dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children who are experiencing life-altering situations. http://kidswishnetwork.org
The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides medical grants to help children gain access to health-related services not covered, or not fully covered, by their family’s commercial health insurance plan. Families can receive up to $5,000 annually per child ($10,000 lifetime maximum per child), and do not need to have insurance through UnitedHealthcare to be eligible. UHCCF was founded in 1999. Since 2007, UHCCF has awarded more than 12,000 grants valued at over $34M to children and their families across the United States. UHCCF’s funding is provided by contributions from individuals, corporations and UnitedHealth Group employees. http://www.uhccf.org
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The Marty Lyons Foundation grants wishes to children, ages 3-17, diagnosed with a terminal or life-threatening illness. Operates 10 Chapters granting wishes in 13 states: Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. http://www.martylyonsfoundation.org
A Washington, DC-based organization that purchases needed but often expensive assistive technology and equipment to help children and adults with disabilities live on their own terms in the community. Through 2019, the organization has funded more than $230,000 in grants.
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The Rebecca Melvin Foundation is a non-profit organization established in memory of Rebecca Theresa Melvin. The goal of the Foundation is to provide relief from the emotional, physical, and financial impact to children and their families that result from fighting chronic illnesses. The Foundation will accomplish this by providing an item of the child's or family's choosing. In the spirit of perpetuating Rebecca's selfless and loving nature, the Foundation will continue to seek out ways to better the lives of children with special needs in the community. The Foundation will hold a minimum of two events each year to raise the funds necessary to achieve its goals. https://rebeccamelvinfoundation.org/
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The Suzy Foundation specializes in providing support for the different aspects of special needs children to help them achieve their D.R.E.A.M.S.We are dedicated to helping individuals with the cost of assistive equipment not covered by insurance. Suzy Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, your donations are 100% tax deductible. https://suzyfoundation.org/
Lori's Voice is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which was founded and established to help young people with disabilities. The purpose of Lori's Voice is to provide funding for equipment , educational resources, or expenses related to medical treatment of individuals up to the age of eighteen (18) who have neurological, muscular or other degenerative conditions resulting in permanent impairment or mobility issues. http://www.lorisvoice.org/
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The Molly Johnson Foundation was founded by Robin and Jojo Johnson in honor of their daughter Molly who passed away November 2nd 2007. Molly was born with a rare genetic disorder named Wiedeman – Rautenstrauch Syndrome, a neurological condition diagnosed in less than 100 children worldwide. Children born with this condition are affected by many different characteristics such as small in stature, poor growth and development, depressed respiratory system, all stemming from the lack of neurological development. The Molly Johnson Foundation was created to assist families of special needs children in a variety of ways. These families often have needs from financial needs to lack of medical equipment and many other challenges to overcome. https://www.themollyjohnsonfoundation.org/
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New Hope for Kids mission is to support children and families grieving the death of a loved one and to grant wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses in Central Florida. New Hope achieves its mission through two programs – The Center for Grieving Children and Wish for Kids – which provide assistance to children and their families during some of life’s most difficult challenges. New Hope for Kids also provides support services such as family events, resource information, and referral to other agencies for assistance when necessary. Our programs are available to children ages 3-19 who live in the Central Florida area. https://newhopeforkids.org/
Megan was diagnosed at the age of four with Mucopolysaccharidosis Sanfilippo A (MPS IIIA). MPS IIIA is an enzyme deficiency meaning Megan didn't have the enzymes to break down the sugar cells her body produced. After some procedures, on May 25, 2012, with her family surrounding her, she earned her angel wings! The mission for the Megan Weisenbach Foundation is to provide financial assistance to families that have children with special needs to assist with quality of life. https://www.themwfoundation.org/
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Surfgimp Foundation's mission is to support, through financial grants, individuals with disabilities who require assistance to participate in desired physical activities. Sometimes a disabled individual needs assistance from other people to experience their greatest adventures. Our vision is to help facilitate these adventures by providing support for some of the extra expenses that can be incurred such as equipment modifications, team gear, accessible rental vans, and more. https://surfgimpfoundation.org/
Since 1983, we have helped thousands of people raise millions of dollars for Help Hope Live to pay a wide range of expenses, including out-of-pocket costs for: medications, durable medical equipment, home health care, wheelchair-accessibility modifications, physical therapy, innovative treatments, medical travel and temporary relocation, even emergency living assistance. Our program has also helped thousands pay it forward and assist others with their medical expenses.
International Grant
Children’s Wish Foundation International is a non-profit wish granting organization founded on the premise that seriously ill children regardless of race, color creed, religion, or economic status, are not able to experience a normal, carefree childhood. Children’s Wish Foundation International offers a unique approach to wish fulfillment – we provide quality, creative and carefully researched wishes to children under the age of 18 who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition
*53 COUNTRIES: Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, British West Indies, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto, Rico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, and United States of America. http://childrenswish.org
First Hand Foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps children with health-related needs when insurance and other financial resources have been exhausted. First Hand accepts case grant applications for medical needs from the United States and through select international providers since 1995. https://www.firsthandfoundation.org