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Vehicle for Change Inc

EIN 83-0427086 · Galena, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceFair53 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

LEADERSHIP TRAINING, ADVENTURE EDUCATION, CHARACTER EDUCATION, AND STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH RELATED ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES K-12.

Income
$231,281
Spending
$281,317
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
-16.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
63
Highest pay
$31,875, program dire

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: 25 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 1028% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs.

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

Governance

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    2 of 2 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.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $279,587 spent. OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE CHARACTER, LEADERSHIP, AND STEM RELATED SUBJECTS. WE TEACH CHARACTER PRINCIPALS THROUGH ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES, MENTORSHIPS, AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. WE LEASE AND MAINTAIN EQUIPMENT SUCH AS ROPES COURSES, ROCK WALLS, AND VARIOUS TEAMBUILDING AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROPS. WE BRING THESE PROGRAMS TO SCHOOL CAMPUSES, CHILDREN'S HOMES, DOMESTIC ABUSE CENTERS, AND JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES TO EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE. WE STRIVE TO MAKE SEACH LEARNING EXPERIENCE RELEVANT, FUN, AND ENGAGING FOR EACH STUDENT, TO ENABLE THEM TO PROMOTE THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF THEMSELVES AS PROACTIVE EMPOWERED PROBLEM-SOLVERS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY AND INNOVATORS CAPABLE OF CHANGING THE WORLD. WE WORKED WITH APPROXIMATELY 15,400 CHILDREN FROM 44 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENTS IN 2023. WE EXPANDED OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO INCLUDE TITLE 1 SCHOOLS AND ALSO SCHOOLS THAT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR TITLE 1. ANY SCHOOL THAT OFFERS OUR FEE-BASED ADVENTURE PROGRAM IS ASSURED THAT NO CHILD WILL BE REFUSED PARTICIPATION BECAUSE A PARENT OR GUARDIAN CANNOT AFFORD THE FEE. OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE CHARACTER, LEADERSHIP, AND STEM RELATED SUBJECTS. WE TEACH CHARACTER PRINCIPALS THROUGH ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES, MENTORSHIPS, AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. WE LEASE AND MAINTAIN EQUIPMENT SUCH AS ROPES COURSES, ROCK WALLS, AND VARIOUS TEAMBUILDING AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROPS. WE BRING THESE PROGRAMS TO SCHOOL CAMPUSES, CHILDREN'S HOMES, DOMESTIC ABUSE CENTERS, AND JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES TO EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE. WE STRIVE TO MAKE SEACH LEARNING EXPERIENCE RELEVANT, FUN, AND ENGAGING FOR EACH STUDENT, TO ENABLE THEM TO PROMOTE THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF THEMSELVES AS PROACTIVE EMPOWERED PROBLEM-SOLVERS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY AND INNOVATORS CAPABLE OF CHANGING THE WORLD. WE WORKED WITH APPROXIMATELY 15,400 CHILDREN FROM 44 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENTS IN 2023. WE EXPANDED OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO INCLUDE TITLE 1 SCHOOLS AND ALSO SCHOOLS THAT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR TITLE 1. ANY SCHOOL THAT OFFERS OUR FEE-BASED ADVENTURE PROGRAM IS ASSURED THAT NO CHILD WILL BE REFUSED PARTICIPATION BECAUSE A PARENT OR GUARDIAN CANNOT AFFORD THE FEE.

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 April 2006.

    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.