Ca4 Innovation Charities
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
INNOVATION FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD THROUGH TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND COOPERATIVE PURCHASING.
- Income
- $11,919
- Spending
- $19,103
- Reserves
- 15.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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)
- $17,193 spent. IN 2024, THE CAROLINA RIDES+ TEAM WORKED TO DEVELOP NARRATIVES AND BUDGETS FOR TWO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) COMMUNITY CHANGE GRANT (CCG) TO UTILIZE VALUABLE LESSONS LEARNED IN A LATE 2022 MOBILITY FOR ALL (M4A) PILOT AND INITIATED WITH ANOTHER NONPROFIT SUSTAINING WAY IN GREENVILLE'S NICHOLTOWN COMMUNITY 2023. THUS, RIDES+ PLANNED AND CONFIRMED THAT A VIABLE BUSINESS MODEL CAN SUPPORT DOOR-TO-DOOR, DEMAND-RESPONSE TRIPS FROM HOMES TO VITAL ACTIVITIES FOR RESIDENTS IN LOW-INCOME AREAS. ALSO, THE 2024 EPA-CCG GRANT PROCESS SUPPORTED CAROLINA RIDES+ IN APPLYING FOR A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT (NO FUNDING, JUST TA). THAT PROCESS ALSO HELPED US IDENTIFY MOBILITY NEEDS FROM LOCAL EXPERTS TRYING TO SOLVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS. BRANDON BAUGHN, DIRECTOR OF WORLD RELIEF UPSTATE, HELPS REFUGEES SEEKING A NEW START IN THE AREA. HE TOLD US HIS CLIENTS HAVE THREE KEY NEEDS: AFFORDABLE HOUSING, STABLE JOBS, AND RELIABLE RIDES. PRESENTLY THE BUS SYSTEM DOES NOT PICK UP WHERE HIS CLIENTS LIVE, OR DELIVER THEM TO THEIR WORKPLACES.THE CAROLINA RIDES+ DEMAND-RESPONSE PROGRAM IS A "GREAT ASSET TO THEIR BECOMING POSITIVE PRODUCTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS," HE SAID.THIS STATEMENT FITS MANY PEOPLE IN TRANSITION: DISCHARGED VETERANS, RETURNING CITIZENS, JUVENILES COMPLETING SC DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE REQUIREMENTS, GRADUATES OF HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGES, AND OTHERS. THE RIDES+ PILOT HAD IMPRESSIVE RESULTS THAT GUIDE OUR ACTIVITIES. IN 4.5 INITIAL OPERATIONAL MONTHS (MID-JULY THROUGH DEC, 3), RIDES+ PROVIDED 1,275 TRIPS TOTALING 9,305 MILES TRAVELED, AND AVERAGE MILES/TRIP ROSE FROM 2.57 TO 8.38 MILES/TRIP. TOTAL RIDES COST $16,499. THE ESTIMATED PRE-PILOT COST PER TRIP OF 3 MILES OR LESS WAS $10 EACH. BUT AS LONGER TRIP DISTANCES WERE APPROVED, MILES INCREASED TO 8.38 ON AVERAGE, AND COSTS ROSE TO $12.90 AVERAGE/TRIP. SIGNIFICANTLY, MORE THAN 90% OF ALL RIDES WERE TO JOBS.SEVERAL LESSONS LEARNED FROM RIDES+ PILOT AND THE EPA CCG RELATE TO ISSUES/ CHALLENGES.HUMAN BEHAVIOR: GROWTH OF RIDER USAGE VALIDATES HIGH NEEDS FOR DEMAND-RESPONSE RIDES. TRANSPORT PROVIDERS ADAPT CARS AND DRIVERS AND SCALE QUICKLY TO MEET RIDER DEMANDS. ALSO, THE MOST IMPORTANT NEED WAS THAT MORE THAN 90% OF ALL RIDES+ PILOT TRIPS WERE FROM HOUSING TO WORK. THE RIDES PROVIDED REDUCED ABSENTEEISM AND TURNOVERS FOR EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS. WE ALSO LEARNED THAT COMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT; WE NEED A BETTER INFORMATION EXCHANGE WITH HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES ABOUT THEIR CLIENTS/ RIDERS.REGULATORY/ LEGISLATIVE/PLANNED PROJECT LIMITS: INITIAL PROJECT LIMITS OF 3 MILES PER TRIP WERE INCREASED TO HELP MORE RIDERS, BUT STILL WERE BELOW 10 MILES. TARGETED FUNDING CREATES 'SILOS'/BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF M4A RIDES. REGIONAL COORDINATION AND CONSORTIA PROMOTING ACCESS AND MOBILITY ARE NEEDED. HUMAN SERVICE AND EMPLOYMENT SPONSORS COULD HELP TO IDENTIFY/AGGREGATE RIDERS. WE ALSO NOTED THAT NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL RIDERS ALSO NEED RIDES TO VITAL ACTIVITIES LIKE SHOPPING.TECHNOLOGIES: APPROPRIATE MOBILITY SOFTWARE HELPS TO INCREASE RIDESHARING AND REDUCES TRIP COSTS. WE PROJECT THAT INNOVATIVE ELECTRIC AND AUTOMATED TECHNOLOGIES WILL IMPROVE MOBILITY OVER TIME.FUNDING: RIDES+ FUNDING SUPPORT MUST BE SUSTAINABLE, FINANCIALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY. FUNDING SHOULD INCLUDE BOTH RIDERS AND SPONSORS (EMPLOYERS, AGENCIES, AND CHARITIES). "FREE" RIDES IS NOT A PROPER BUSINESS MODEL; SO PROGRAMS MUST RAISE FUNDS FOR RIDES. THE CAROLINA RIDES+ TEAM WORKS HARD TO COORDINATE, MANAGE, FUND AND IMPROVE TRANSPORT OPTIONS FOR ALL, ESPECIALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. RIDES+ TEAM SUPPORT HAS INCLUDED: VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING BOARD MEMBERS, INTERNS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCY OFFICIALS. ALSO, RIDES+ PROVIDER SOUTHEAST TRANSPORTATION SUPPLIES EXCELLENT VEHICLES AND DRIVERS. SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY INCLUDES SET DATA ANALYSIS/ROUTING SOFTWARE FROM CTS/ TRIPMASTER, AND FUNDRAISING SOFTWARE FROM MIGHTY CAUSE. VALIDATION OF CLIENT RIDER NEEDS MUST BE PROVIDED BY EITHER CORPORATE AND HR AGENCIES OR HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES (SUCH AS UNITED WAY AND WORLD RELIEF).RIDES+ ALSO WANTS TO "PIVOT" TO IMPROVE FUTURE "MOBILITY FOR ALL" BY WORKING TO DEPLOY SOLAR-POWERED AUTOMATED PODCARS THAT OPERATE ON ELEVATED RIBBON WAYS ON PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. WE SEE BOTH NEED AND INTEREST TO SCALE OUR OPERATIONS TO ENGAGE EMPLOYERS. LONG-TERM SUCCESS REQUIRES IMPROVED COLLABORATION AND SIGNIFICANT INCREASED FUNDRAISING.BE ALERT FOR NEXT STEPS TO IMPROVE INDIVIDUAL MOBILITY. WE BELIEVE THERE IS AN INNOVATIVE SHARED MOBILITY SOLUTION THAT WILL ADDRESS WORKFORCE CHALLENGES AND TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITIES. WE WILL DEVELOP THOSE IDEAS IN 2025.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2021.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 October 21, 2026.
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