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Bikes Not Bombs Inc

EIN 04-3138753 · Roxbury, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BIKES NOT BOMBS USES THE BICYCLE AS A VEHICLE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. THE ORGANIZATION RECLAIMS THOUSANDS OF BICYCLES EACH YEAR, AND CREATES LOCAL AND GLOBAL PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE SKILL DEVELOPMENT, JOBS, AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
73
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$145,020, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • 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

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (3)
  1. $1.8 million spent. VOCATIONAL TRAINING/BIKE SHOP: THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING/BIKE SHOP PROGRAM RECONDITIONS AND SELLS THE BIKES THAT THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVES, EMPLOYING MANY GRADUATES OF ITS PROGRAMS. THE SHOP'S PROFIT FROM THE BICYCLE SALES, PARTS SALES, AND REPAIRS GOES TOWARDS FUNDING THE ORGANIZATION'S YOUTH AND INTERNATIONAL WORK PROVIDING A RELIABLE ANDSUSTAINABLE SOURCE OF EARNED INCOME. THE BIKE SHOP OFFERS FREE AND LOW-COST WORKSHOPS ON BICYCLE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR, AND AN VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG APPRENTICES.
  2. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: BIKE NOT BOMBS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM COORDINATES ALL OF THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNICATIONS WITH SUPPORTERS AND VOLUNTEERS (MONTHLY E-NEWS, SOCIAL MEDIA, ETC.) AND ORGANIZES A NUMBER OF EVENTS AND PROGRAMS (INCLUDING THE ANNUAL BIKE-A-THON) THAT ENGAGE PEOPLE IN Their PROGRAMS.
  3. YOUTH PROGRAMS: MORE THAN 3,500 YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN BIKES NOT BOMBS' YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND CYCLING PROGRAMS, WHICH TEACH MECHANICS AND SAFE URBAN RIDING, JOB SKILLS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. BY PROVIDING QUALITY AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING TO YOUTH, BIKES NOT BOMBS ENGAGES DIRECTLY WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF JAMAICA PLAIN, DORCHESTER, ROXBURY AND MATTAPAN. IN EARN-A-BIKE AND GIRLS IN ACTION, BIKES NOT BOMBS' FLAGSHIP OUT-OF-SCHOOL LEARNING AND EARNING PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 April 1993.

    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.