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Bike Newport

EIN 45-3804746 · Newport, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BIKE NEWPORT'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT BICYCLING IS A VIABLE, SAFE, AND COMFORTABLE PRIMARY CHOICE FOR TRANSPORTATION AND RECREATION.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
18
Volunteers
280
Highest pay
$109,050, executive director

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 (4)
  1. $281,074 spent. COMMUNITY BUILDING: WE WORK TO NURTURE A CULTURE WHICH EFFECTIVELY SUPPORTS INDIVIDUALS IN RIDING BIKES MORE OFTEN AND GROWING COMMUNITY-WIDE ENTHUSIASM AND INSPIRATION AROUND BIKES. EXAMPLES OF THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE "CAR-FREE" RIDES WHERE ROADS ARE CLOSED TO CARS AND OPEN TO PEOPLE BIKING AND WALKING IN BEAUTIFUL AND ICONIC COASTAL AND FARMING AREAS. THE ANNUAL 10-SPOT RIDE COMBINES CITYWIDE RIDING WITH LOCAL MUSIC, FOOD, AND LUSH LANDSCAPES. WE PRACTICE CULTURAL COMPETENCY AROUND BIKING FOR SPECIFIC AFFINITY GROUPS, INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, SPANISH-LANGUAGE FOCUS GROUPS, BRAVE SPACES FOR LGBTQ+ PARTICIPANTS, AND SPECIALIZED GROUP RIDING WITH BLACK GIRLS DO BIKE. YEAR-ROUND, WE HAVE COMMUNITY OPEN GARAGE SESSIONS 5X/WEEK FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE, ENTHUSIASM, AND BIKE PARTS TO KEEP BIKES IN GOOD REPAIR. OPEN GARAGE PARTICIPANTS AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS ALSO JOIN STAFF IN RESTORING DONATED BICYCLES FOR COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTION.
  2. $337,095 spent. EDUCATION: SAFE AND MUTUALLY RESPECTFUL HABITS AND PRACTICES BY ALL ROAD USERS IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR BIKING AND LEAD TO MORE PEOPLE BIKING MORE OFTEN. BIKE NEWPORT WORKS WITH LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ESTABLISH AND GROW BICYCLE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAMS. ALL BIKE NEWPORT EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, PROGRAMS AND CLASSES ARE PROVIDED IN DUAL LANGUAGES OF ENGLISH AND SPANISH. BIKE NEWPORT ALSO WORKS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WITH COGNITIVE AND PHYSICAL CHALLENGES HAVE ACCESS TO ADAPTIVE BICYCLES THAT MEET THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS SO EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE.
  3. $248,123 spent. INFRASTRUCTURE ADVOCACY: BIKE NEWPORT BUILT THE BIG BLUE BIKE BARN CAMPUS AND TRAILS TO PROVIDE A LOCATION AWAY FROM TRAFFIC FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES TO LEARN AND PRACTICE SAFE CYCLING SKILLS AND BASIC BICYCLE MAINTENANCE WHILE HAVING FUN. THE CAMPUS AND TRAILS ARE ON OTHERWISE VACANT LAND OWNED BY THE NEWPORT HOUSING AUTHORITY AND INCLUDE A 1/2 -ACRE RECREATIONAL PUMP TRACK, TRAILS CONNECTING INTO MIANTONOMI PARK, AND A 900 SQ FT SHELTER DESIGNED BY STUDENTS OF THE ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE. ADDITIONALLY, WE COORDINATE "RIDE ISLAND" - THE BICYCLE NETWORK PLANNING PROJECT FOR AQUIDNECK ISLAND - A MULTI-MUNICIPAL ENDEAVOR INCLUDING THE COMMUNITIES AND MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATIONS OF NEWPORT, MIDDLETOWN AND PORTSMOUTH.
  4. ADVOCACY: GREATLY EXPANDED BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE IS ESSENTIAL TO EXPANDED BIKE USE. SEPARATED BICYCLE LANES ARE CRITICAL TO BICYCLE SAFETY AND THEREFORE TO BICYCLE USE. WELL-DESIGNED BIKE ROUTES ALSO MITIGATE UNSAFE BICYCLE USE. NATIONAL STUDIES CONFIRM THE KEY ROLE OF GOOD BIKE ROUTES AND OTHER SUPPORTS, SUCH AS BICYCLE PARKING, IN INCREASING OVERALL USE. BIKE NEWPORT WORKS COLLABORATIVELY IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF REGIONAL PLANS SUCH AS THE RI BICYCLE MOBILITY PLAN, NEWPORT TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN, AQUIDNECK ISLAND'S "RIDE ISLAND" BICYCLE PLAN, AND EFFORTS TO SECURE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR BRIDGES, PATHS, AND OTHER CONNECTED INFRASTRUCTURE

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2014 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2014.

    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 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 August 2017.

    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.