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Bicycle Coalition of Maine

EIN 01-0483786 · Portland, ME

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 46% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO MAKE MAINE BETTER FOR BICYCLING AND WALKING THROUGH PROMOTION, EDUCATION, LEGISLATION, ADVOCACY AND ENCOURAGEMENT.

Income
$680,511
Spending
$638,041
Spent on programs
46%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
11
Volunteers
190
Highest pay
$82,376, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    46% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $294,034 spent. MAINTAIN A COALITION OF PEOPLE IN MAINE AND BEYOND, WHO AS MEMBERS, RECEIVE PRINT AND ON-LINE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL ASPECTS OF BICYCLING AND WALKING IN MAINE, INCLUDING OUR PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS, RELEVANT LEGISLATION AND POLICY, INFRASTRUCTURE OPTIONS AND ISSUES, AND OTHER BICYCLING NEWS. THE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE ACCOMPLISHED BY WORKING ON: INFRASTRUCTURE - INCREASE SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, AND INVITING BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT MAINE. THE BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE IS COMMITTED TO CREATING THE BEST POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENT TO SUPPORT WALKING AND BICYCLING. ADVOCACY - PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVEL TO INSPIRE ACTIVISM FOR EFFECTIVE POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND PROJECTS THAT HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON BICYCLING AND WALKING IN MAINE. EDUCATION - ENSURE THE MAINE BICYCLISTS, PEDESTRIANS, PEOPLE USING MOBILITY AIDS, AND MOTORISTS HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO SAFELY SHARE THE ROAD. THE BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE'S EDUCATION PROGRAM FIELDS A TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS TO COORDINATE STATEWIDE SAFETY, EDUCATION, AND ENCOURAGEMENT PROGRAMS. THIS TEAM PROVIDES A LOCAL PRESENCE IN EVERY COUNTY OF THE STATE, EDUCATION PROGRAMMING TO THOUSAND OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS ANNUALLY, AND BASIC TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND WALK/BIKE-TO- SCHOOL INITIATIVES. ENCOURAGEMENT - ENCOURAGE NEW BICYCLISTS AND SEASONED ENTHUSIASTS THROUGH OUR BIKEMAINE RIDES AND OTHER EVENTS. GROWING THE NUMBER OF MAINERS ON BICYCLES LIES AT THE HEART OF THE BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE'S MISSION. ACHIEVING THAT GOAL RESTS, IN NO SMALL PART, ON EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING THE JOY OF CYCLING TO THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO THE ACTIVITY, HELPING THOSE WHO'VE PUT IT ASIDE REDISCOVER WHAT IT IS THEY USED TO ENJOY, AND ENGAGING RIDERS WHO HAVEN'T YET BECOME MEMBERS. THE COALITION'S ENCOURAGEMENT ACTIVITIES REACH CYCLISTS OF EVERY AGE AND ABILITY, HELPING THEM TO MAKE CYCLING A PART OF THEIR DAILY LIVES. LEADERSHIP - ADVANCE THE COALITION'S ROLE AND GROWTH AS THE LEADING ORGANIZATION MAKING MAINE BETTER FOR BICYCLING AND WALKING. THE BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE IS MAKING MAINE A BETTER PLACE FOR BIKING AND WALKING WITH A CLEAR, STRATEGIC DIRECTION, A STRONG BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CAPABLE AND SUPPORTED STAFF, ENGAGED MEMBERS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES IN PLACE TO ENSURE FISCAL, GOVERNANCE AND BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, AND SUSTAINABILITY. STRONG LEADERSHIP IS THE FOUNDATION FROM WHICH ALL OUR WORK AND SUCCESS DEVELOPS. MAINTAIN A COALITION OF PEOPLE IN MAINE AND BEYOND, WHO AS MEMBERS, RECEIVE PRINT AND ON-LINE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL ASPECTS OF BICYCLING AND WALKING IN MAINE, INCLUDING OUR PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS, RELEVANT LEGISLATION AND POLICY, INFRASTRUCTURE OPTIONS AND ISSUES, AND OTHER BICYCLING NEWS. THE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE ACCOMPLISHED BY WORKING ON: INFRASTRUCTURE - INCREASE SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, AND INVITING BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT MAINE. THE BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE IS COMMITTED TO CREATING THE BEST POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENT TO SUPPORT WALKING AND BICYCLING. ADVOCACY - PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVEL TO INSPIRE ACTIVISM FOR EFFECTIVE POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND PROJECTS THAT HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON BICYCLING AND WALKING IN MAINE. EDUCATION - ENSURE THE MAINE BICYCLISTS, PEDESTRIANS, PEOPLE USING MOBILITY AIDS, AND MOTORISTS HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO SAFELY SHARE THE ROAD. THE BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE'S EDUCATION PROGRAM FIELDS A TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS TO COORDINATE STATEWIDE SAFETY, EDUCATION, AND ENCOURAGEMENT PROGRAMS. THIS TEAM PROVIDES A LOCAL PRESENCE IN EVERY COUNTY OF THE STATE, EDUCATION PROGRAMMING TO THOUSAND OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS ANNUALLY, AND BASIC TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND WALK/BIKE-TO- SCHOOL INITIATIVES. ENCOURAGEMENT - ENCOURAGE NEW BICYCLISTS AND SEASONED ENTHUSIASTS THROUGH OUR BIKEMAINE RIDES AND OTHER EVENTS. GROWING THE NUMBER OF MAINERS ON BICYCLES LIES AT THE HEART OF THE BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE'S MISSION. ACHIEVING THAT GOAL RESTS, IN NO SMALL PART, ON EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING THE JOY OF CYCLING TO THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO THE ACTIVITY, HELPING THOSE WHO'VE PUT IT ASIDE REDISCOVER WHAT IT IS THEY USED TO ENJOY, AND ENGAGING RIDERS WHO HAVEN'T YET BECOME MEMBERS. THE COALITION'S ENCOURAGEMENT ACTIVITIES REACH CYCLISTS OF EVERY AGE AND ABILITY, HELPING THEM TO MAKE CYCLING A PART OF THEIR DAILY LIVES. LEADERSHIP - ADVANCE THE COALITION'S ROLE AND GROWTH AS THE LEADING ORGANIZATION MAKING MAINE BETTER FOR BICYCLING AND WALKING. THE BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE IS MAKING MAINE A BETTER PLACE FOR BIKING AND WALKING WITH A CLEAR, STRATEGIC DIRECTION, A STRONG BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CAPABLE AND SUPPORTED STAFF, ENGAGED MEMBERS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES IN PLACE TO ENSURE FISCAL, GOVERNANCE AND BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, AND SUSTAINABILITY. STRONG LEADERSHIP IS THE FOUNDATION FROM WHICH ALL OUR WORK AND SUCCESS DEVELOPS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.