Our story
A conduit for good, built in, not bolted on. This is how a global bike expedition became a nonprofit funding movement.
The inspiration
A tandem bicycle with an empty rear seat.
It all began with a dream to ride a tandem bicycle around the world with an empty rear seat, inviting total strangers to join the journey to create intercultural friendships on an 81-country expedition called Peace Pedalers. The mission was to reduce unjust fears and prejudices to create more world peace.
To make the journey happen, PIE’s co-founder Jamie found 40 corporate sponsors to donate equipment and gear. However, not a single sponsor was able to donate cash. How do you run a global expedition with no cash? One potential sponsor, Aceva Technologies, was unable to donate cash or in-kind product, but offered something better: Peace Pedalers could become Aceva’s chosen technology reseller, and the recurring compensation from Verizon would fund the ride.
11 charity projects later…
One sponsor’s ordinary expense changed communities.
As Jamie pedaled around the world he used the recurring stream of financial support to ride with over 1,000 people on the tandem and realize the vision of the expedition. That support was only possible because the CEO of Aceva allowed Peace Pedalers to become their chosen reseller, at no additional cost to Aceva.
Beyond completing the expedition, Peace Pedalers used this consistent funding to create 11 grassroots impact projects, including two schools to educate underserved kids, malaria prevention to save lives, bike donations to give the gift of freedom, a scholarship program, and a freshwater system in Bolivia.
Creating a movement
Bend, Oregon, spring 2020.
Jamie met Cristina in Argentina during the Peace Pedalers ride. She joined on the tandem for 16 km and never left. A decade later they settled in Bend, Oregon with their three kids, Luca, Candela, and Sol. As Covid hit the Bend community hard in the spring of 2020, Cristina saw the need for a new kind of funding for the nonprofits holding the community together.
Purpose In Expenses was tested during the pandemic via a successful pilot case study from 2020 to 2022. During that time we built out provider partnerships with over 1,000 vendors and a vast expert support network in every discipline. We’re now scaling this simple yet powerful funding model to businesses and nonprofits everywhere.
“Join us on our next adventure of creating the global PIE Movement to liberate available capital from the multi-trillion dollar technology and banking industries to help fund important social and environmental impact projects worldwide.”
Let’s talk
Ready to write the next chapter with us?
Business leader, nonprofit, or partner, the first conversation is short, honest and free.