Project Bike Tech
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 219 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Project Bike Tech is an innovative leader in providing accredited technical training to high schools, which empowers a diverse range of students to discover careers and educational opportunities within the bicycle industry and beyond. PBTs accredited curriculum provides unique experiential learning in problem solving, STEM and other key academic concepts.
- Income
- $488,260
- Spending
- $566,710
- Spent on programs
- 50%
- Reserves
- -0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 87%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $120,000, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 5 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 265% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1550% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 219 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (2)
- $285,579 spent. Bike Tech in School: (1) Project Bike Tech (PBT) has served more than 5000 students over the last 17 years. In 2024, PBT expanded and added new schools to reach over 1100 students each year. (2) The PBT in-schools program provides curriculum to better prepare students with career technical education, pathways, and content. PBT continually improves the course content to help students become job-ready in the bicycle industry and in other careers where an understanding of technology, engineering and mathematics is essential to career development. (3) PBT has successfully established and maintained bicycle education programs for students in 46 schools nationwide. The program offers students a CTE course of study to help prepare them for college and their future career while also introducing them to a positive bicycle culture and the ideas for community stewardship (for example, share the road knowledge and trail building skills). PBT advocates green careers.
- EXPANSION: Level 2 and eBike curriculum; apprenticeships, internships, and approved curriculum development. Expanding to middle schools, adult education and corrections/reform institutions - creating pathways all while expanding the bike tech classes to new schools nationwide.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 21, 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.