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Franklinton Cycleworks

EIN 27-4196075 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A COMMUNITY BICYCLE SHOP IS DIFFERENT FROM A REGULAR BICYCLE SHOP. AROUND HERE, BIKE REPAIR IS A COOPERATIVE EFFORT RATHER THAN A WAY TO MAKE MONEY. WHAT WERE DOING ISNT JUST ABOUT BUILDING BIKES. ITS ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND BRINGING A COMMUNITY TOGETHER. OUR SHOP SPACE, STANDS, AND TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF COST FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO WORK ON HIS OR HER BIKE. AND VOLUNTEER MECHANICS ARE ON HAND TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE. FCW IS A PLACE OF CO-WORKING AND CO-LEARNING. WE BELIEVE EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING TO LEARN AND SOMETHING TO OFFER WHICH MEANS NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, YOU HAVE A PLACE AT FCW. TOGETHER, WE'RE BUILDING MORE CONNECTED, MORE EMPOWERED INDIVIDUALS AND A MORE VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD. FCW IS ALSO A RECYCLING CENTER. WE ACCEPT ANY AND ALL BICYCLE RELATED DONATIONS REGARDLESS OF CONDITION. WE REFURBISH AND RE-PURPOSE WHAT WE CAN AND RECYCLE ANYTHING THATS NO LONGER USABLE. WE THROW AWAY AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE.

Income
$555,367
Spending
$532,478
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
12
Volunteers
34
Highest pay
$64,407, 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 51% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 56 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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. $124,558 spent. OPEN SHOP AND BIKE SCHOOL: FREE BICYCLE REPAIR, MAINTENANCE, AND EDUCATION FOR FRANKLINTON RESIDENTS.
  2. $27,049 spent. YOUTH AND ADULT BICYCLE PROGRAMS: INCLUDES PROVISION OF FREE AND LOW-COST BICYCLES AND ACCESSORIES, EDUCATION, AND EVENTS TO ENCOURAGE AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE.
  3. $257,725 spent. BIKE SALES: REFURBISHMENT AND SALE OF BICYCLES, PARTS, AND ACCESSORIES. PROCEEDS FROM SALES SUPPORT THE FUNDING OF OTHER PROGRAMS.

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

  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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 October 2012.

    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 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.