What Bike & Build does

Bike & Build was a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 by Marc Bush, inspired by the sunset of the Habitat Bicycle Challenge. For 20 years, the organization engaged primarily college-aged young adults in service-oriented cross-country and regional cycling trips (Central U.S., Southern U.S., Northern U.S., Drift West) that combined multi-week bicycle expeditions with volunteer construction labor at affordable housing build sites. Riders were required to fundraise at least $1,000 and complete 15 or more hours of "sweat equity" volunteer work with a local affiliate before departure, and they progressed through an Affordable Housing Curriculum covering town-level housing facts, foundation resources, interviews, and small group discussions. Between 2003 and 2019, the organization granted more than $6.7 million to approximately 1,450 affordable housing organizations across 49 U.S. states and two foreign countries, with average grants enabling the construction or renovation of 16.3 homes and benefitting 135.4 residents.

The core product was the integrated cycling-and-service program, supported by a comprehensive safety curriculum developed with the League of American Bicyclists, GM-sponsored support vehicles, Bontrager lighting equipment, and Chamois Butt'r product sponsorship. Ancillary offerings included a sliding-scale scholarship program (7 scholarships awarded in 2019), National Build Day events, alumni rides such as Drift Cal, and Trek and WSFS Bank operational sponsorship. Technology infrastructure was minimal: a WordPress website (bikeandbuild.org) with social channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, PayPal for nonprofits for donation and merchandise processing, and a "Track My Rider" cookie-based feature. The organization employed 11-50 staff and operated from a single Philadelphia headquarters at 1901 S 9th St #410 in the BOK Building.

Bike & Build was funded entirely through donations and grants, with revenue derived from rider-raised funds (minimum $1,000 per participant), individual donor contributions, and corporate sponsorships. Approximately 3,800 riders cumulatively and 122 riders in 2019 generated the bulk of program revenue. Following the cancellation of 2020 cross-country rides due to COVID-19 and subsequent operational headwinds, the Board sunset the organization in 2023 after 20 years, endowing its remaining programmatic content and assets to The Field Academy, a traveling school focused on social justice, to carry the mission forward.

Name

Bike & Build

Legal name

Bike & Build, Inc

Website

https://bikeandbuild.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bike & Build was a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that engaged young adults in cross-country cycling trips paired with affordable housing build days, granting over $6.7M to 1,450 housing organizations before sunsetting in 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Bike & Build was a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funded its operations through donations from individuals, sponsors, and grants to affordable housing organizations. Riders were required to fundraise a minimum of $1,000 as part of their participation, with additional scholarship programs to reduce financial barriers.
2. Competitive Grants to Affordable Housing Organizations: Between 2003-2019, Bike & Build granted more than $6.7 million to approximately 1,450 affordable housing organizations. These competitive grants were the primary mechanism through which the organization funneled fundraising proceeds to the affordable housing cause.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bike & Build engaged young adults (primarily ages 18-30) in service-oriented cross-country and regional cycling trips of 500+ miles that combined long-distance bicycle riding with stops at affordable housing build sites. Riders were required to fundraise at least $1,000 before receiving their bike and to complete 15+ hours of sweat equity volunteer work with a local affordable housing affiliate prior to the trip. Proceeds were granted to affordable housing organizations through a competitive grant program.

Product overview

Bike & Build was a nonprofit organization that offered a single integrated program combining service-oriented cycling trips with affordable housing advocacy. The core offering consisted of multi-week cross-country and regional cycling routes (Central U.S., Southern U.S., Northern U.S., Drift West) where young adults rode bicycles while raising funds for affordable housing. Supporting products included an Affordable Housing Curriculum with educational components, a Grants Program that distributed over $6.7M to housing organizations, comprehensive Safety Programming, a Scholarship Program for participants, and alumni engagement initiatives including National Build Days and regional alumni rides. The organization sunset in 2023 after 20 years of operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Service-Oriented Cycling Trips Cross-country and regional cycling expeditions of 500+ miles that engage young adults in service while riding, with stops approximately every fifth day at affordable housing build sites operated by local affiliates such as Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together, YouthBuild, GRID Alternatives, Sawhorse Revolution, and others. Riders fundraise at least $1,000 before receiving a bike and complete 15+ hours of pre-trip sweat equity volunteer work with a local affordable housing affiliate. The program targets primarily college-aged young adults and recent graduates.
• Affordable Housing Grants Program Competitive grant program that distributes funds raised by Bike & Build riders to affordable housing organizations. Between 2003 and 2019, the program granted more than $6.7 million to approximately 1,450 affordable housing organizations across 49 states and 2 foreign countries; on average, each grant enabled 16.3 homes or apartments to be built or renovated and 135.4 residents to benefit. Recipients included Habitat for Humanity affiliates, Rebuilding Together, YouthBuild, GRID Alternatives, Sawhorse Revolution, Makah Housing Authority, San Juan Community Home Trust, and other affordable housing nonprofits.
• Affordable Housing Curriculum Educational curriculum delivered to riders during and around each cycling trip, comprising Town Facts, foundation resources, interviews with housing affiliates, small group discussions, and a sweat equity volunteer component requiring at least 15 hours of pre-trip work on local affordable housing build sites. Designed for young adult participants to develop leadership skills, cross-country cycling experience, and deep knowledge of the affordable housing crisis. The curriculum was endowed to The Field Academy when Bike & Build sunset in 2023.
• Scholarship Program Financial assistance program for Bike & Build riders, including sliding-scale scholarships designed to remove financial barriers for participants who would otherwise be unable to meet the fundraising and participation requirements. In 2019, seven scholarships were awarded.

Quantifiable outcome

• $6.7M granted to 1,450 affordable housing organizations (2003-2019)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Field AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Following Bike & Build's 2023 sunset decision, The Field Academy was selected as the primary successor organization. Field Academy is a traveling school committed to examining the nation through social justice and connecting, engaging, empowering, and educating young people. Bike & Build endowed its remaining assets—including a wealth of programmatic content—to Field Academy to carry on its mission. Field Academy's Executive Director Anna Graves initiated the partnership. The relationship is mutual: both organizations share values of adventure, complexity, young adults, diversity, access, understanding power, challenge, risk, and passion.
• GM (General Motors)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGM sponsored Bike & Build's safety programming, wrapping all support vans in bright anti-distracted driving messaging and covering costs for all other aspects of safety protocols and cycling advocacy.
• BontragercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBontrager provided continued support of Bike & Build's safety programming with the Bontrager Flare R and Ion 200 RT bike lights, which are daylight-visible lights that can be seen from up to 2 kilometers away.
• Chamois Butt'rminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChamois Butt'r provided product support to Bike & Build teams throughout the summer, keeping cyclists comfortable. They were described as 'huge cheerleaders for our teams.'
• TrekminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrek was listed as a sponsor in the 2019 Annual Report, supporting Bike & Build's operations.
• WSFS BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWSFS Bank was listed as a sponsor in the 2019 Annual Report, supporting Bike & Build's operations.
• League of American BicyclistscoreTechnology or IntegrationBike & Build maintained active dialogue with the League of American Bicyclists and utilized their Smart Cycling course materials and safety curriculum. The League's public materials were used as the basis for Bike & Build's safety training at Leader Retreat and Rider Orientation.
• Affordable Housing Organizations (1,450 grant recipients)coreOthersBetween 2003-2019, Bike & Build granted more than $6.7 million to 1,450 affordable housing organizations across 49 states and 2 foreign countries. Rider teams stopped approximately every fifth day to volunteer on affordable housing build sites with local affiliates. Organizations included Habitat for Humanity affiliates, Rebuilding Together, YouthBuild, GRID Alternatives, Sawhorse Revolution, Makah Housing Authority, San Juan Community Home Trust, and others.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bikebuild
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVmvOTU5tIhKTZYRdIoTFzA
• Facebookfacebook.com/bikeandbuild
• Instagraminstagram.com/bikeandbuild

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bike & Build