Cycles of Change

What Cycles of Change does

Cycles of Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 11-3821114) founded in 1998 in Oakland, California, that operates a portfolio of bicycle education, distribution, and access programs targeting East Bay communities. Its service portfolio includes Bike Club (after-school earn-a-bike programs at four Oakland schools), The Bikery (a community bike shop at 1246 23rd Avenue offering sliding-scale and pro-bono bikes and repairs), Bike Safety Programs (Safe Routes to Schools reaching 6,700+ students annually across approximately 30 school sites), Oakland Upcycle (free bicycles and equipment for low-income adults), Drive Your Bike (in-school safety programming), and Mariposx (shop hours and rides for women, queer, trans, and femme community members). The Bikery also serves as a hub for high school internships and youth bike mechanics education.

The organization is built on physical infrastructure rather than proprietary technology: a bicycle fleet, helmets, and a community bike shop with repair tools. There is no disclosed platform, software product, or AI/ML capability. Distribution is direct and community-led, relying on school partnerships, partner community organizations (International Rescue Committee, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, EBAYC at Roosevelt Middle School), and physical retail/service touchpoints. The organization is collectively governed through a democratic decision-making structure.

The revenue model is donations-based, centered on a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible giving model and the Cycles Sustainers Circle monthly giving program. Programs and bikes are provided free or at sliding-scale to beneficiaries. Marketing is conducted through organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), an email newsletter, and direct community engagement. The organization reports cumulative program outcomes including 50,000+ youth taught bike safety, 500 bikes/year distributed through The Bikery, and 200+ free bikes/year distributed through Oakland Upcycle.

Name

Cycles of Change

Legal name

Cycles of Change

Website

https://cyclesofchange.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cycles of Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 in Oakland, California that provides bicycle education, safety, and free or low-cost bikes to East Bay youth, low-income adults, and underserved communities through schools, a community bike shop, and partner organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 11-3821114), Cycles of Change relies on tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. The Cycles Sustainers Circle monthly giving program supports over ten thousand East Bay residents annually.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cycles of Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers bicycle education, distribution, and community organizing programs in East Oakland and Alameda County. Its core offerings include Bike Clubs (after-school earn-a-bike at schools), The Bikery (community bike shop), Safe Routes to Schools (K-12 commuter education), Oakland Upcycle (free bicycles for low-income adults), Drive Your Bike (in-school safety), and Mariposx (inclusive cycling programming for women, queer, trans, and femme participants). Programs are offered free or at sliding-scale pricing.

Product overview

Cycles of Change offers a portfolio of five bicycle education and distribution programs designed to increase bike access in East Oakland communities. The core programs include Bike Club (after-school earn-a-bike at four schools), The Bikery (sliding-scale community bike shop), Bike Safety Programs/Safe Routes to Schools (K-12 commuter education reaching 6,700+ students annually), Oakland Upcycle (free bicycles for low-income adults), Drive Your Bike (in-school safety programming), and Mariposx (women/queer/trans/femme-focused shop hours and rides). These programs work together to remove barriers to cycling through education, affordable bike access, and community support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bike Club After-school bicycle adventure and earn-a-bike program operating in four Oakland middle and high schools. Students participate in group rides, learn bike mechanics, and receive bicycles to keep at the end of the program.
• The Bikery Community bike shop providing sliding-scale and pro-bono bicycles and repairs, facilitating high school internships, and serving as a hub for youth to socialize and learn bike mechanics. Distributes an average of 500 bikes per year.
• Bike Safety Programs (Safe Routes to Schools)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50,000 Alameda County youth taught bike safety classes to date
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• International Rescue Committee (IRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOakland Upcycle partners with the International Rescue Committee to provide free bicycles and transportation support to low-income refugees and immigrants served by the IRC.
• Society of St. Vincent de PaulcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSociety of St. Vincent de Paul works with Oakland Upcycle to connect low-income community members with free bicycles as transportation solutions.
• EBAYC at Roosevelt Middle SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEBAYC (East Bay Asian Youth Center) at Roosevelt Middle School manages and hosts the Bike Club program. Cycles of Change began in the basement of this school in 1998 in partnership with community groups dedicated to reversing root causes of youth violence in East Oakland.
• Alameda County Schools (Safe Routes to Schools)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafe Routes to Schools programs equip K-12 students across Alameda County with bike safety skills. Educators travel to approximately 30 school sites annually.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Bike East Bay: Alameda and Contra Costa County bicycle advocacy nonprofit that promotes cycling through policy and community programs. Overlaps with Cycles of Change geographically and thematically, but focuses more on advocacy and policy than direct service.

Direct peers

• Bikes for the World: Nonprofit that refurbishes and ships donated bicycles to developing communities. Comparable in its bicycle distribution mission and reliance on donated bikes, though Cycles of Change retains bikes locally rather than shipping internationally.
• Free Cycles: Michigan-based nonprofit bike shop providing low-cost and free bikes, repairs, and education. Comparable community bike shop and earn-a-bike model serving a similar transportation-access mission.
• Yellow Bike Project: Austin, Texas nonprofit operating a community bike shop with free and low-cost bike repairs, refurbishment, and education. Highly comparable operating model to The Bikery.
• Community Cycling Center: Portland, Oregon nonprofit that provides bike safety education, earn-a-bike programs, and community bike shop services. Directly comparable mission and program mix to Cycles of Change, with similar youth education and adult bike access focus.
• Working Bikes: Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that refurbishes donated bicycles and distributes them through local programs and international partners. Closely comparable to Cycles of Change's Oakland Upcycle model and community bike shop operations.
• The Recyclery Collective: Chicago-based nonprofit community bike shop offering sliding-scale repairs, refurbished bike sales, and youth earn-a-bike programs. Closely comparable retail/service model to The Bikery and Cycles of Change's broader program suite.
• Bike Newport: Rhode Island-based community cycling nonprofit offering bike education, group rides, and advocacy. Comparable in combining Safe Routes-style education, group rides, and community engagement around cycling access.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cyclesofchange618
• Facebookfacebook.com/CyclesofChange
• Instagraminstagram.com/cyclesofchange_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cycles-of-change

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 Cycles of Change