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Transportation Alternatives Inc

EIN 51-0186015 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO RECLAIM NEW YORK CITY FROM CARS, TRANSFORMING OUR STREETS INTO SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, AND EQUITABLE PLACES TO WALK, BIKE, TAKE TRANSIT, GATHER, AND THRIVE.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$5.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
6.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
56
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$212,941, interim co-executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 73 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 March 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. $2.6 million spent. ADVOCACY - THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF TA'S ADVOCACY PROGRAM IS TO ENGAGE AND EMPOWER NEW YORKERS TO INCREASE BIKING, WALKING, AND PUBLIC TRANSIT OPTIONS AND ACHIEVE VISION ZERO - THE REVOLUTIONARY GOAL OF ZERO DEATHS OR SERIOUS INJURIES CAUSED BY TRAFFIC. TA TURNED OUT ACTIVISTS TO HUNDREDS OF SEPARATE PUBLIC-FACING EVENTS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY BOARD MEETINGS, RALLIES, COMMUNITY VISIONING SESSIONS, AND PETITION DRIVES, AND HELD SCORES OF MEETINGS AND ENGAGEMENTS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS. AS A RESULT OF THESE ACTIVITIES, TA ACHIEVED NUMEROUS CAMPAIGN MILESTONES THIS YEAR, INCLUDING POSITIVE COMMUNITY BOARD VOTES, THE ENDORSEMENT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF MANY PROJECTS.
  2. $907,830 spent. RESEARCH AND REPORTING - TA EMPLOYS ORIGINAL RESEARCH AND REPORTING TO PUSH ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS AND POLICY AREAS FORWARD. THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF ITS DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND SENIOR EDITOR, TA RESEARCHES AND RELEASES SIGNATURE POLICY REPORTS. IN ADDITION TO THESE REPORTS, TA HAS RELEASED MORE THAN A DOZEN ORIGINAL ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET WEBSITE, WWW.MEDIUM.COM, COMBINING PERSONAL STORYTELLING WITH STATISTICAL EVIDENCE TO EXPLORE POLICIES FROM RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IN TRAFFIC VIOLENCE CASES TO TACTICAL URBANISM AS A RESPONSE TO FISCAL CRISIS.
  3. $624,949 spent. OUTREACH TOURS AND EVENTS - TA'S ANNUAL BIKE TOURS PROVIDE AN ENTRY-LEVEL PATH TO ON-STREET BICYCLING, INCLUDING THE BOROUGH TOUR IN STATEN ISLAND, WHICH OFFERS A CHOICE OF EITHER 35-MILE OR 50-MILE FAMILY-ORIENTED BICYCLE PARADES THAT LOOP THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE NEW YORK CITY'S BICYCLING POPULATION HAS EXPLODED. TA ALSO CEMENTED THEIR REPUTATION AS AN INTERNATIONAL LEADER ON VISION ZERO BY HOSTING THEIR ANNUAL VISION ZERO CITIES CONFERENCE IN OCTOBER 2024. THE CONFERENCE BROUGHT TOGETHER TRAFFIC SAFETY EXPERTS AND POLICYMAKERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD TO SHARE COMMON CHALLENGES, PRACTICAL GUIDANCE, AND CUTTING-EDGE SOLUTIONS.
  4. $218,989 spent. MEMBERSHIP - TA HAS APPROXIMATELY 2,500 DUES-PAYING MEMBERS, WHICH FORM THE CORE OF THEIR SUPPORTER BASE. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, MEMBERS ARE KEPT UP TO DATE ON TA'S WORK AND HOW MEMBERS CAN GET INVOLVED. TA HOSTS MEMBERSHIP EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO THANK SUPPORTERS AND GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT TA'S PRIORITY PROGRAMS AND CAMPAIGNS. TA ORGANIZES A CITYWIDE BIKE TO WORK DAY ANNUALLY, AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BICYCLISTS DEMONSTRATE HOW SIMPLE USING BICYCLES FOR TRANSPORTATION CAN BE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 March 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 April 1976.

    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 November 4, 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.