Motorcycle Riders Foundation

What Motorcycle Riders Foundation does

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1985 in St. Louis, Missouri, and headquartered in Peoria, Illinois with operational presence in Washington, D.C. It is the first motorcyclists' rights organization with a full-time legislative and political presence in Washington, D.C., and operates exclusively as a national advocate for American street motorcyclists. MRF coordinates a 50-state network of State Motorcyclists' Rights Organizations (SMROs) and works with allies in Europe and Asia to influence vehicle globalization and harmonization discussions at the United Nations and World Health Organization. In 2009, MRF created the MRF Awareness and Education (MRF A&E) subsidiary as a separate 501(c)(3) for rider safety education, and it operates the MRF PAC, a federally registered Political Action Committee (FEC registration C00298356), for federal political engagement.

MRF's core products are advocacy services rather than technology products. Its portfolio includes federal and state legislative representation, the annual Meeting of the Minds conference (motorcycling's premier political leadership summit held since 1985), the MRF Legislative Agenda, the American Bikers Journal publication, and the Young Activist Scholarship program. Supporting offerings include the Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket (IMA) membership for dealers and custom bike builders, the State Representative Program with volunteer representatives in all 50 states, and the MRF Motorcycle Club Committee and MRF Industry Council forums. The organization uses Wild Apricot as its membership management platform.

MRF's revenue model is membership-based and nonprofit-funded. Revenue streams include individual membership dues, sustaining member contributions from 500+ motorcycle clubs and organizations, IMA membership dues from independent motorcycle dealers and lifestyle businesses, MRF PAC contributions from members, and tax-deductible donations to MRF A&E. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on grassroots mobilization through SMROs, the state representative network, and events like Bikers Inside the Beltway. Primary customer segments are individual American street motorcyclists, SMROs (state-level advocacy organizations), the Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket, and motorcycle clubs and confederations.

Name

Motorcycle Riders Foundation

Legal name

Motorcycle Riders Foundation

Website

https://mrf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Motorcycle Riders Foundation is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1985 that lobbies federal and state governments on behalf of American street motorcyclists. It operates a 50-state network of State Motorcyclists' Rights Organizations and supports legislative advocacy through membership dues, PAC contributions, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Motorcyclist Advocacy Services

NAICS

Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (813930)

akta.pro primary industry

Motorsports Sanctioning Bodies & Governing Organizations (MPAKAGAD)

Keywords

• Motorcyclist rights advocacy
• Legislative advocacy services
• Rider safety education
• Nonprofit membership organization
• Political action committee

Headquarters

HQ city

Peoria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The MRF generates revenue through membership fees from individual motorcyclists, sustaining members (motorcycle clubs and organizations), and Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket (IMA) memberships for dealers and businesses.
2. MRF PAC Contributions: The MRF PAC collects contributions from MRF members to support candidates running for federal office who align with motorcycling issues.
3. Donations: The organization accepts donations through its website, including tax-deductible donations to MRF A&E (Awareness and Education), a 501(c)(3) corporation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation provides national and international legislative advocacy, political representation, and rider safety education for American street motorcyclists. It works with the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, the Office of the President, the United Nations, and the World Health Organization to defend motorcyclist freedom and safety. Supporting offerings include the MRF PAC political action committee, the MRF A&E 501(c)(3) awareness and education subsidiary, and the annual Meeting of the Minds leadership summit.

Product overview

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation is primarily a nonprofit advocacy organization rather than a technology product company. Its portfolio consists of core advocacy services (national legislative representation for motorcyclists' rights), MRF PAC (political action committee), and MRF A&E (a separate 501(c)(3) awareness and education subsidiary). Supporting offerings include the Young Activist Scholarship, Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket membership, general membership program, annual Meeting of the Minds conference, the American Bikers Journal publication, and the MRF Legislative Agenda resource documents. The organization uses Wild Apricot for membership management software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MRF National Advocacy Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Revocation of waivers for California Air Resource Board (CARB) following 2025 Bikers Inside the Beltway lobby event
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• State Motorcyclists' Rights Organizations (SMROs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MRF works together with SMROs in all 50 states, assisting them with state and local agendas while coordinating efforts to influence federal policy. SMRO leaders gather annually at the Meeting of the Minds conference to set legislative priorities.
• American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric partnership between MRF and AMA on a host of issues affecting motorcyclists. AMA is the primary American motorcycling organization representing rider interests.
• International Allies (Europe and Asia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRF works with allies in Europe and Asia to influence talks on vehicle globalization and harmonization proceeding under the United Nations and World Health Organization.
• MRF A&E (Awareness and Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRF A&E is a 501(c)(3) corporation promoting awareness and education in the motorcycle community to improve rider safety. Conceived and implemented by MRF in 2009. All donations are tax-deductible.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Motorcyclist Association (AMA): The largest U.S. motorcyclist membership organization, AMA advocates for rider rights at federal and state levels and operates in a directly overlapping space with MRF, including on anti-profiling, safety funding, and motorcycle-specific regulations. MRF acknowledges AMA as the "primary American motorcycling organization," making it MRF's closest direct peer.
• Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC): The MIC is the U.S. motorcycle industry trade association representing manufacturers, dealers, and aftermarket businesses. It is directly comparable to MRF's IMA membership function, addressing OEM regulation, trade policy, and industry-wide advocacy, though with a commercial rather than rider-rights focus.
• ABATE (A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education): State-level motorcyclists' rights organizations (ABATE chapters in 20+ states, including ABATE of Illinois) are sustaining members of MRF and operate parallel advocacy missions at the state level. They are directly comparable as grassroots motorcyclist advocacy organizations, though with a more state-focused remit.
• Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA): CMA is a national motorcyclist membership organization with a faith-based mission, organizing rides, chapters, and events nationwide. It is comparable as a peer organization that recruits members through motorcycle clubs and chapters, with a parallel — though non-advocacy — mission.

Broad incumbents

• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD): MADD is a nationally recognized single-cause advocacy nonprofit that has used state-level organizing, federal legislative lobbying, and public campaigns to drive measurable policy outcomes (DUI laws, ignition interlocks). It is structurally comparable to MRF as a cause-driven advocacy nonprofit with demonstrated legislative impact.
• National Rifle Association (NRA): The NRA is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization that has built a 50-state grassroots network, member-funded PAC, and a long-running DC lobbying operation around a single-issue cultural cause. It is comparable as a structural peer — single-issue membership advocacy nonprofit — though in a different cultural domain.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): HSUS is a large 501(c)(3) advocacy nonprofit that pairs legislative work with state-level mobilization, donor membership, and educational programming. It is comparable as a structural peer — large cause-driven advocacy nonprofit combining federal lobbying with grassroots chapters — though operating in animal welfare rather than motorcycling.
• Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM): FIM is the global governing body for motorcycle sport and the recognized federation at the UN for motorcycling issues. It overlaps with MRF on international policy advocacy (UN/WHO, vehicle harmonization) but operates at a much larger scale with a sport-governance rather than rider-rights mandate.

Regional players

• Confederation of European Motorcycle Industry (ACEM): ACEM is the European motorcycle industry and riders' association representing manufacturers and riders in EU policy. It is comparable to MRF in advocating for motorcycle access and harmonization but operates primarily in Europe rather than the U.S.

Emerging players

• Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA): GWRRA is a long-running national motorcyclist membership organization for Honda Gold Wing owners, with chapter-based grassroots structure analogous to MRF's SMRO network. It is comparable in member-driven structure but is recreational rather than advocacy focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MRFlegislative
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@motorcycleridersfoundation6390
• Facebookfacebook.com/bikers.rights
• Instagraminstagram.com/mrflegislative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/motorcycle-riders-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Motorcycle Riders Foundation