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Bicentennial Volunteers

EIN 62-1204440 · Knoxville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 35% 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

BICENTENNIAL VOLUNTEERS (BVI) SUPPORTS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY (TVA) AND THE PEOPLE OF THE TVA SERVICE AREA BY PROVIDING FUNDING FOR CHARITABLE PROJECTS INCLUDING FUNDING FOR ROBOTICS EDUCATION AND COMPETITIONS, STEM EDUCATION AT SCHOOLS WITHIN THE TVA SERVICE AREA, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR CHARITABLE ENDEAVORS. BVI PROVIDES A VOLUNTEER STAFF TO SUPPORT THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY (TVA)-OWNED VISITOR CENTERS, EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAMS. IT ALSO PROVIDES MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO RELATED TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS HAVING SHARED INTEREST.

Income
$4.7 million
Spending
$5.1 million
Spent on programs
35%
Reserves
68.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
19
Volunteers
259
Highest pay
$328,540, project manager

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 68.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    35% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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 September 30, 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. $750,000 spent. SUPPORTING STEM EDUCATION THROUGHOUT GREATER TENNESSEE VALLEY. COLLABORATED WITH TVA AND STEM TO SUPPORT AREA SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS BY PROVIDING FUNDING FOR GRANTS REQUESTED TO PROMOTE STEM LEARNING.
  2. $300,000 spent. SUPPORTING SCHOOLS, THROUGH TENNESSEE VALLEY ROBOTICS, ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY THAT PARTICIPATE IN ROBOTICS COMPETITIONS. SUPPORTING THE ORGANIZATION TO CONTINUE PROVIDING EDUCATION THROUGH THE USE OF ROBOTICS, TEAM WORK AND COMPETITIONS.
  3. $265,275 spent. BVI SUPPORTED THE TVARA ORGANIZATION WHICH THEN SUPPORTED VARIOUS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECTS INCLUDING FOOD BANK DONATIONS, GARDEN PROJECTS, WHEELCHAIR RAMPS, AND SUPPORTED VARIOUS OTHER CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
  4. $474,049 spent. BVI PROVIDED FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM OF CHATTANOOGA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 January 1986.

    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.

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