Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Second Chances Garage

EIN 27-1336325 · Frederick, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MISSION: WE GIVE SECOND CHANCES TO VEHICLES AND THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS THAT HELP WAGE-EARNING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH LOW INCOMES OVERCOME BARRIERS TO MAINTAINING EMPLOYMENT, PURSUING BETTER-PAYING JOBS, ATTENDING SCHOOL, ACCESSING HEALTHCARE, AND MEETING FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
10
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$110,365, executive director after 1/25

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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 (2)
  1. $1.0 million spent. THE LOW-COST VEHICLE PROGRAM REFURBISHED AND PLACED 43 VEHICLES WITH NEIGHBORS IN NEED. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDED 235 FREE REPAIRS, OIL CHANGES, AND/OR LABOR SERVICES TO HELP RECIPIENTS KEEP THEIR VEHICLES SAFELY ON THE ROAD. AN ADDITIONAL 62 DONATED VEHICLES WERE REFURBISHED AND RETURNED TO THE ROAD THROUGH OUR LOT SALES PROGRAM AT BELOW-MARKET PRICES, PROVIDING AFFORDABLE VEHICLE OPTIONS TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
  2. $197,782 spent. THE REDUCED-COST VEHICLE REPAIR PROGRAM MADE ESSENTIAL VEHICLE REPAIRS AFFORDABLE FOR 619 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DELAY REPAIRS OR STOP DRIVING ALTOGETHER. BY PROVIDING LABOR AND PARTS AT APPROXIMATELY HALF THE TYPICAL MARKET COST, THE PROGRAM HELPED NEIGHBORS KEEP THEIR VEHICLES SAFE, RELIABLE, AND ON THE ROAD PROTECTING THEIR ABILITY TO GET TO WORK, ATTEND SCHOOL, ACCESS HEALTHCARE, CARE FOR THEIR FAMILIES, AND REMAIN CONNECTED TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2011.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.