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Pedals for Progress a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation

EIN 22-3122003 · High Bridge, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY RECYCLING BICYCLES AND SEWING MACHINES FROM THE US AND SHIPPING THEM TO MOTIVATED PEOPLE IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1991 AND FROM THE SEED OF AN IDEA BY ITS FOUNDER(A FORMER PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER), THE ORGANIZATION HAS GROWN INTO AN ENTERPRISE THAT HAS CUMULATIVELY COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 162,000 BICYCLES AND OVER 5,200 SEWING MACHINES TO THE WORKING POOR IN CENTRAL AMERICA, AFRICA, EASTERN EUROPE, ASIA AND THE ISLANDS OF THE CARIBBEAN AND THE PACIFIC BASIN. THROUGH VOLUNTEER LABOR AND TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS OF MONEY AND MATERIALS, PEDALS FOR PROGRESS/SEWING PEACE COLLECTS, WAREHOUSES, AND SHIPS NEW AND USED BIKES, PARTS AND ACCESSORIES TO RECIPIENT COUNTRIES WHERE THEY ARE REPAIRED BY NON-PROFIT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS (PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT, BUILDING MANAGEMENT AND REPAIR SKILLS TO THEIR STAFF)AND SUBSEQUENTLY BUILDING MANAGEMENT AND REPAIR SKILLS TO THEIR STAFF)AND SUBSEQUENTLY, SOLD AT COST TO HELP LOW-INCOME

Income
$388,344
Spending
$332,533
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
5
Highest pay
$51,500, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 97% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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, 2024, 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. $299,851 spent. PEDALS FOR PROGRESS/SEWING PIECE'S PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO SUPPLY, VIA CHARITY PARTNERS OVERSEAS, RECONDITIONED AND USED BICYCLES TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN NEED OF AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR PRODUCTIVE PURPOSES. ALSO TO PROVIDE REFURBISHED SEWING MACHINES, VIA CHARITY PARTNERS OVERSEAS, WHICH HOLD SEWING CLASSES AND DISTRIBUTE THE MACHINES TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT.
  2. PEDALS FOR PROGRESS/SEWING PIECE'S PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO SUPPLY, VIA CHARITY PARTNERS OVERSEAS, RECONDITIONED AND USED BICYCLES TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN NEED OF AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR PRODUCTIVE PURPOSES. ALSO TO PROVIDE REFURBISHED SEWING MACHINES, VIA CHARITY PARTNERS OVERSEAS, WHICH HOLD SEWING CLASSES AND DISTRIBUTE THE MACHINES TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT.
  3. PEDALS FOR PROGRESS/SEWING PIECE'S PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO SUPPLY, VIA CHARITY PARTNERS OVERSEAS, RECONDITIONED AND USED BICYCLES TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN NEED OF AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR PRODUCTIVE PURPOSES. ALSO TO PROVIDE REFURBISHED SEWING MACHINES, VIA CHARITY PARTNERS OVERSEAS, WHICH HOLD SEWING CLASSES AND DISTRIBUTE THE MACHINES TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 February 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.