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Transportation Riders United Inc

EIN 38-3588943 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TRU BELIEVES EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. WE EDUCATE, MOBILIZE, AND ADVOCATE FOR MORE AND BETTER PUBLIC TRANSIT AND OTHER AFFORDABLE MOBILITY OPTIONS THROUGHOUT METRO DETROIT.

Income
$331,276
Spending
$316,843
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
12
Highest pay
$71,269, executive di

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% 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 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    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

    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 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 (5)
  1. $53,468 spent. BUS IMPROVEMENT ADVOCACY - EDUCATING ABOUT, MOBILIZING AROUND, AND ADVOCATING FOR EXPANSION OF AND IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCAL BUS AND PARATRANSIT SERVICE AND FUNDING, ESPECIALLY FOR THE DETROIT AREA'S SMART AND DDOT BUS SERVICES.
  2. $112,162 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT - INFORMING AND ENGAGING TRANSIT STAKEHOLDERS AND THE BROADER PUBLIC ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RELATED NEWS, EVENTS, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR INVOLVEMENT.
  3. $44,436 spent. CLIMATE SOLUTIONS ADVOCACY - RESEARCHING AND COMMUNICATING THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AS WELL AS ORGANIZING, MOBILIZING, AND ADVOCATING FOR SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION POLICIES AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS TO MINIMIZE THE GLOBAL CLIMATE CRISIS.
  4. $27,565 spent. TRANSIT FUNDING ADVOCACY - EDUCATING ABOUT, MOBILIZING AROUND, AND ADVOCATING FOR GREATER TRANSIT FUNDING AND MORE BALANCED TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS AT THE REGIONAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS, INCLUDING FOR RAIL, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, AND HIGHWAY REPLACEMENTS.
  5. TRANSIT FUNDING ADVOCACY - EDUCATING ABOUT, MOBILIZING AROUND, AND ADVOCATING FOR GREATER TRANSIT FUNDING AND MORE BALANCED TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS AT THE REGIONAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS, INCLUDING FOR RAIL, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, AND HIGHWAY REPLACEMENTS.

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 February 2002.

    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.