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Community Bike Works

EIN 23-2867945 · Allentown, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMMUNITY BIKE WORKS TEACHES LIFE LESSONS THROUGH BICYCLES TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY WHO COULD BENEFIT MOST.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
23
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$126,710, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 June 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 (3)
  1. $1.0 million spent. IN OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, EARN A BIKE, STUDENTS 9 AND OLDER TEAM UP WITH ADULT MENTORS FOR A COURSE ON BIKE MECHANICS AND SAFETY. STUDENTS PRACTICE COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK, PERSEVERANCE, AND OTHER LIFE SKILLS WHILE WORKING ON THEIR BIKES. JUNIOR EARN A BIKE TEACHES SIMILAR LESSONS TO YOUNGER STUDENTS, WITH A SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL FOUNDATION. UPON COMPLETING THEIR COURSES, STUDENTS EARN THEIR REFURBISHED BIKE AND A NEW HELMET! IN 2024-25, 617 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN OUR BIKE MENTORING PROGRAMS; 94% EARN THEIR BIKES. OF STUDENTS WHO COMPLETED EARN A BIKE, 92% SAID THAT EARN A BIKE HELPED THEM LEARN THEY COULD DO THINGS THEY DIDN'T THINK THEY COULD DO BEFORE.
  2. CYCLING AND DROP-IN: DROP-IN OFFERS TIME TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH MENTORS THROUGH PROJECTS, INCLUDING BIKE WORK AND STEAM ACTIVITIES. WE OFFER TRAIL, TRACK, ROAD, AND MOUNTAIN BIKE PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW STUDENTS TO BE ACTIVE AND SPEND TIME OUTDOORS WITH MENTORS. OUR MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM COMPETES ACROSS THE STATE. IN 2025, TEENS HELPED TO UPDATE THE CITY'S CYCLING ORDINANCE. THEY COMPARED THE CITY ORDINANCE TO THE STATE'S CYCLING LAW, USED THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS CYCLISTS IN THE CITY TO RECOMMEND UPDATES, AND THEN ROLLED TO CITY HALL AND PRESENTED THEIR FINDINGS TO COUNCIL. THE UPDATED ORDINANCE PASSED IN APRIL!
  3. YOUTH LEADERSHIP: STUDENTS 12 AND OLDER CAN PARTICIPATE IN YOUTH LEADERSHIP SEMINARS ON COLLEGE, CAREERS, AND COMMUNITY. ONCE THEY TURN 14, STUDENTS CAN APPLY TO BECOME PAID YOUTH APPRENTICES, MENTORING YOUNGER STUDENTS WHILE LEARNING WORK SKILLS. "I HAVE BEEN COMING TO BIKE WORKS FOR 3 YEARS AND HAVE HELPED VOLUNTEER IN EARN A BIKE AND JR EARN A BIKE 3 TIMES EACH," FAYROUZ TELLS US. "I LOVE IT HERE BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE HAVE HELPED ME BECOME A BETTER VERSION OF MYSELF. I'M NOW LESS SHY, MORE OUTGOING, KINDER, AND JUST OVERALL A BETTER PERSON."

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 June 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 October 1997.

    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.

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