Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Scrap Exchange Inc

EIN 56-1728718 · Durham, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE CREATIVITY, ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS, AND COMMUNITY THROUGH REUSE.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-20.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 93%
Employees
76
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$93,600, executive director

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

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 117% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 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

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 (3)
  1. $1.3 million spent. RETAIL OPERATIONS AND CREATIVE REUSE CENTER:SCRAP EXCHANGE OPERATES TWO RETAIL STORES IN DURHAM, NC - THE REUSE ARTS SHOP AND THE SCRAP THRIFT STORE - WHICH SELL DONATED INDUSTRIAL DISCARDS AND OTHER PRE- AND POST-CONSUMER MATERIALS. THESE STORES PROVIDE AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO ART SUPPLIES, HARDWARE, TEXTILES, VINTAGE ITEMS, AND MORE, SUPPORTING CREATIVE REUSE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. IN CALENDAR YEAR 2024, RETAIL OPERATIONS HELPED DIVERT HUNDREDS OF TONS OF USABLE MATERIALS FROM THE WASTE STREAM.
  2. $128,466 spent. EVENTS, PARTIES, & CLASSES:EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMMING:THE ORGANIZATION DELIVERS HANDS-ON CREATIVE ARTS PROGRAMMING THROUGH WORKSHOPS, SCHOOL VISITS, FESTIVALS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. THESE PROGRAMS UTILIZE RECLAIMED MATERIALS TO TEACH ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND FOSTER CREATIVITY AMONG CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ADULTS. IN 2024, SCRAP EXCHANGE PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVED INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUTREACH EVENTS, TRAININGS, AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.MAKE N' TAKE ROOM AND ON-SITE PROGRAMMING:THE MAKE N' TAKE ROOM PROVIDES DROP-IN CRAFTING OPPORTUNITIES, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, FIELD TRIPS, AND TEAM-BUILDING EVENTS USING REUSABLE MATERIALS. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN OPEN-ENDED CREATIVE EXPLORATION WITH ACCESS TO A WIDE VARIETY OF SUPPLIES. IN 2024, THE PROGRAM WELCOMED MORE THAN 80 FIELD TRIP GROUPS AND PRIVATE RENTALS, FOSTERING IMAGINATIVE PLAY AND PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.
  3. $923,292 spent. REUSE ARTS DISTRICT AND PROPERTY STEWARDSHIP:SCRAP EXCHANGE MANAGES APPROXIMATELY 10 ACRES AND 80,000 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE IN DURHAM'S LAKEWOOD SHOPPING CENTER AS PART OF ITS REUSE ARTS DISTRICT INITIATIVE. THIS SPACE SUPPORTS ARTISTS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ALIGNED WITH THE MISSION OF PROMOTING CREATIVITY AND REUSE. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES AFFORDABLE RENT, MAINTAINS FACILITIES, AND CONTINUES TO DEVELOP THE DISTRICT AS A HUB FOR CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION.

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 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 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 July 1991.

    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.