Questions & answers
Here's how we're building this.
Straight answers about how Marquette Adaptive works, who decides what, how money is handled, and how we work alongside organizations that were here before us.
Why we exist
Why was Marquette Adaptive created?
Because it can be hard to find out what adaptive recreation is actually available in Marquette County, and because some real gaps remain. Marquette Adaptive was created to help people find opportunities, help good work grow, and help build what is genuinely missing.
Is Marquette Adaptive trying to take over adaptive recreation?
No. We did not invent adaptive recreation here. Good work was already happening before us and will keep happening alongside us. Our first choice is always to promote or support something that already exists.
Will Marquette Adaptive promote other organizations' programs?
Yes — that is a core part of the work. When we list something another organization provides, we name them, describe it accurately, and send you directly to them. Someone leaving our site to sign up with another organization is a success, not a loss.
Will Marquette Adaptive compete with existing organizations?
Our first choice is always to partner, not to build a parallel program. If a capable local organization already provides an activity — sailing, cycling, paddling, hockey, skiing — we start by asking how we could work together to make it more accessible. Marquette Adaptive might bring adaptive equipment, training, funding, transportation, or promotion, while the existing organization keeps running the program. Only if partnership isn't viable and a real need remains unmet would we explore building something separate. Even then, existing organizations don't get a veto over unmet community needs — but a parallel program is never our first choice when a partnership could work.
When Marquette Adaptive helps another organization add adaptive access, whose program is it?
Theirs. We don't rebrand another organization's program as ours, claim their participants, or make funding contingent on giving up their identity. When we've genuinely helped, we say "made possible together" or "in partnership with" — and we make clear who actually operates the program.
What does success look like?
More people doing more things outside. Some of that will be ours. Much of it will belong to other organizations that we helped in some way. Both count.
Who runs it
Who decides what Marquette Adaptive does?
Today, decisions are made by the founder with input from the community. As governance develops, an independent board will hold the major governance and financial decisions. No board exists yet, and we won't say one does before it's real.
Does Kirsten own Marquette Adaptive?
Marquette Adaptive is currently a locally owned, for-profit social enterprise, and Kirsten Alburg is its founder. It is being built to become an independent, community-centered nonprofit that does not depend on any one person. Her permanent public title is simply Founder.
Is Marquette Adaptive part of Odyssey Discovery?
No. Odyssey Discovery is Kirsten's separate for-profit business. The two are kept separate — finances, accounts, contracts, equipment, data and decision-making. Any dealings between them would be documented and independently reviewed.
What is Marquette Adaptive's current status?
It is not a nonprofit today. We are working toward establishing an independent, community-centered nonprofit. Payments made directly to Marquette Adaptive should not be assumed to be charitable or tax deductible.
What happens when someone involved has a conflict of interest?
In a community this size, overlapping relationships are normal. The answer is not to pretend they don't exist — it's to disclose them, write them down, and step back from a decision when that's the right thing to do.
How we decide
How does Marquette Adaptive identify community needs?
Mostly by listening. People tell us what they'd like to try and what's getting in the way, and organizations tell us what would help them do more. We record real responses only — we never invent demand.
How does Marquette Adaptive decide whether to start something new?
In this order: does it already exist? Then promote it. Is someone doing good work with a barrier in the way? Then ask what would help. Can the barrier be removed with equipment, money, training, expertise, volunteers or an introduction? Then help connect it. Only if an important need still remains do we help build something new — see Community Needs.
Why is Adaptive Alpine being developed?
Because adaptive alpine skiing is one of the clearest gaps people have raised locally. It is our first build — not our whole identity. Details and current readiness are on the Adaptive Alpine page.
Could Marquette Adaptive support another organization's program?
Yes, and often that's the better answer. Support doesn't have to mean a check — it can be equipment, paid training, an approved provider, transportation, volunteer recruitment, professional expertise or an introduction.
Money and fairness
How will donated money be used?
For the specific purposes it was given for. Money raised for our own initiatives and money intended to strengthen adaptive recreation more broadly are tracked separately, and restricted gifts are honored.
How would community support decisions be made?
Not by one person. If we ever distribute funds to other organizations, it will happen through a board-approved process with published eligibility, criteria set before applications are seen, and a review group rather than a founder's preference. That structure does not exist yet, and until it does we are not accepting applications or promising grants.
Can sponsors buy influence?
No. Support can fund the mission; it cannot buy governance votes, verification status, ranking in our directory, participant information or program decisions.
Does an organization need to partner with Marquette Adaptive to appear in the directory?
No. The directory is never pay-to-play. Listings exist because there is verified adaptive programming, adaptive equipment or a specific accessibility feature — not because of a relationship with us.
When we get it wrong
What if Marquette Adaptive gets something wrong?
Tell us and we'll fix it. Outdated listings, inaccurate descriptions, accessibility concerns, duplication worries or a misunderstanding about a relationship — all of it can come to us privately through this form. Nothing you send is published automatically.
How can another organization work with Marquette Adaptive?
Start by telling us what you already provide and what would help you do more. We'd rather strengthen what's working than build alongside it — reach out through Help Make It Possible or email marquetteadaptive@gmail.com.
Still wondering something?
Ask. We would rather answer a hard question early than have someone guess.