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Bikepacking Roots

EIN 81-2622394 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Bikepacking Roots supports and advances bikepacking the growth of a diverse bikepacking community and access to and the conservation of the landscapes and public lands through which we ride. We lower the barriers to bikepacking through intentional route design educational programming inclusive events a grant program and more.

Income
$229,303
Spending
$227,731
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
8.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
2
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$69,037, 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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $47,594 spent. Through our Routes Pillar we develop and maintain bikepacking routes and publish resources to help riders enjoy those routes. This includes maintenance of our route information for all Bikepacking Roots signature routes. In 2023 we launched a new project called the Community Routes project where we work with route stewards around the country to showcase routes that they have created and have committed to ongoing stewardship of. In 2024 we published 16 new routes through this project. We also published a new Signature Route from the Mexico to Canada called the Great Plains Gravel Route. We served as fiscal sponsors of the Orogenesis Collective a project to build the longest mountain bike trail in the world but in 2025 they became their own 501c3 so that project was transitioned out from our Routes Pillar.
  2. $96,620 spent. Through our Community Pillar we support the bikepacking community through education in-person events and grantmaking. We created free virtual workshops on a variety of bikepacking topics. We also expanded our Regional Community Stewards program recruiting new volunteer stewards from around the country to collaborate on community building activities and beginner-friendly campouts starting in 2024. Our BIPOC Bike Adventure Grant program awarded grants to 1 organizations in 2025 a carry-over from our 2024 grant round and we launched the next round of applications in late 2025 with grants to be awarded in 2026.
  3. $10,854 spent. Through our Advocacy Pillar we connect bikepackers with landscapes inspiring riders to become public lands and conservation advocates who follow a positive impact ethos. We foster positive long-term relationships with public land managers private landowners and the small communities through which we ride in order to promote visibility and access for the bikepacking community. We also work to lower barriers to bikepacking by improving and expanding camping options for cyclists and supporting efforts to make travel to reach bikepacking destinations easier through participating in efforts such as the national Amtrak Bike Task Force.

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 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 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 May 2016.

    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.