Passes our checks

Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange

EIN 46-1608203 · Palo Alto, CA

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

What it says it does

THE SILICON VALLEY BICYCLE EXCHANGE IS DEDICATED TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY WHILE INSPIRING PEOPLE TO LEARN THE ART OF BICYCLE REPAIR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 42.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15
Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
18 of 25
4 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15
Has a 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.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$167,895 spent. RETAIL OPERATIONS - SILICON VALLEY BICYCLE EXCHANGE HAS A SMALL COMMUNITY BIKE SHOP THAT CIRCULATES INEXPENSIVE, HIGH-QUALITY, GENTLY-USED BICYCLES BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. THE BICYCLE EXCHANGE SOLD 675 REASONABLY PRICED BICYCLES IN 2024. A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THESE BICYCLES ARE REPAIRED BY VOLUNTEERS WHICH GIVES THE VOLUNTEERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN BICYCLE REPAIR TECHNIQUES. INCOME FROM THE COMMUNITY BIKE SHOP IS USED TO SUPPORT THE EXCHANGE'S OTHER PROGRAMS SUCH AS BICYCLE DONATIONS AND BICYCLE REPAIR EVENTS.
$75,269 spent. BIKE DONATION OPERATIONS - SILICON VALLEY BICYCLE EXCHANGE DONATED 817 BICYCLES TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING CHILDREN, MILITARY VETERANS, AND THE HOMELESS. ALONG WITH THESE DONATIONS SILICON VALLEY BICYCLE EXCHANGE DONATED 533 LOCKS, 308 HELMETS AND 266 LIGHTS SETS, ALL OF WHICH WERE NEW. ADDITIONALLY, 178 BICYCLES WERE REPAIRED AT 7 OFFSITE EVENTS THAT OFFERED BASIC BIKE REPAIR AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING TO THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO TRADITIONAL BIKE SHOPS.
$47,902 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS - SILICON VALLEY BICYCLE EXCHANGE PROMOTED BICYCLE REPAIR EDUCTION BY HOSTING OVER 165 SKILLS SHARING EVENTS THAT WERE SUPPORTED AND ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 500 VOLUNTEERS, WHO COLLECTIVELY VOLUNTEERED OVER 10,000 HOURS OF THEIR TIME.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.