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Passes our checks

Upcycle Creative Reuse Center

EIN 45-4229796 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 22% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

UPCYCLE CREATIVE REUSE CENTER PROMOTES AND SUPPORTS ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THE COLLECTION AND REDISTRIBUTION OF REUSABLE MATERIALS.

Income
$202,639
Spending
$212,012
Spent on programs
22%
Reserves
9.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 46%
Employees
9
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$41,590, 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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    22% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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 (1)
  1. $46,361 spent. IN 2025, UPCYCLE IMPACTED THE COMMUNITY'S AWARENESS OF WASTE AND SOLUTIONS FOR THE REDUCTION OR REPURPOSING OF UNWANTED MATERIALS IN CREATIVE WAYS THROUGH PROGRAMS, OUTREACH, AND BY MAINTAINING A MATERIALS RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE PUBLIC. UPCYCLE PROVIDED DIRECT PROGRAMMING FOR ALEXANDRIA RESIDENTS AND BEYOND AND ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY IN CREATIVE ARTS PROGRAMMING, SUCH AS WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS AND ADULTS, SUMMER CAMPS, AND AFTER-SCHOOL CLASSES. IN THE PAST YEAR, UPCYCLE DIVERTED MORE THAN 45,000 LBS OF MATERIAL FROM THE WASTE STREAM.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.