Wheels of Success

What Wheels of Success does

Wheels of Success is a Tampa, Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in June 2003 by Susan Jacobs after she encountered transportation barriers while running a staffing agency. The organization provides donated, repaired, and licensed vehicles — along with car repair services, licensing/down-payment assistance, and maintenance education through its Car Care Class — to low- and moderate-income working families (earning up to 250% of poverty level) in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties. Eligibility is gated to full-time workers (32+ hours/week) or those with a verifiable job offer, with referrals required from social service agencies, employers, or community partners; recipients pay approximately $40 per month over a one-year contract and receive the vehicle title upon completion, with a 'pay it forward' commitment of three service hours per month.

The portfolio is organized around a core Vehicle Replacement program and a Build-A-Car sponsorship mechanism (average rehabilitation cost $3,000 per vehicle), augmented by four specialized vertical programs: Vehicles for Veterans (launched with State Farm, supported by Rotary Club of Tampa grants), Road to Independence (domestic violence survivors, partnered with The Spring of Tampa Bay and Metropolitan Ministries), Wheels to the Future (foster youth aging out, backed by Eckerd Family Foundation), and Cars for Caregivers (direct care workers). A social enterprise arm, the Automotive Buying Center (ABC), purchases vehicles for resale with profits reverting to the mission, and seasonal initiatives include the annual 'Working Wheels Keep Families Working' Labor Day giveaway and the '12 Cars of Christmas' program. Distribution occurs primarily through direct-to-recipient vehicle presentations at sponsor locations and community events, with all-volunteer staffing (1–10 people) under a Board of Directors governance model.

Revenue is generated from four streams: vehicle donations (with donors receiving fair market value tax deductions and free pickup via AAA Auto Club South), recipient subscription payments ($40/month average), individual and corporate philanthropic donations (including foundation grants), and ABC vehicle sales. Earned media exposure is substantial — regular coverage by ABC Action News, FOX 13, Bay News 9, WTSP, and Tampa Bay Times, plus founder Susan Jacobs' 2009 CNN Hero of the Week recognition on Larry King Live — and the organization reports that 89.7% of every dollar raised goes directly to programs. Recognition includes GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Awards (2023–2025), Tampa Bay Business Journal Nonprofit of the Year (2010), and Candid/GuideStar Platinum Transparency.

Name

Wheels of Success

Legal name

Wheels of Success

Website

https://wheelsofsuccess.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wheels of Success is a Tampa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2003, that provides donated and repaired vehicles along with repair, licensing, and education services to working families in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties, supported by automotive partners, corporate sponsors, foundation grants, and recurring fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Transportation Assistance

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking (7500)

akta.pro primary industry

Inoperable / Non-Running Vehicle Transport (HSAKAFAI)

Keywords

• Vehicle donation programs
• Nonprofit transportation assistance
• Car repair services
• Veteran support services
• Family self-sufficiency programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vehicle Donations: Individuals and businesses donate vehicles to Wheels of Success. Donors receive tax deductions at fair market value. Donated vehicles are either rehabilitated and given to recipients or sold at auction, with proceeds supporting the program.
2. Recipient Payments: Vehicle recipients make small monthly payments based on their ability to pay over a one-year contract period. Payments are interest-free and help sustain the program while ensuring recipients have ownership stake.
3. Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization receives financial donations from individuals, businesses, foundations, and civic organizations. Events like Road Trip galas, wine dinners, and the Aquarian Birthday Bash generate fundraising revenue.
4. Automotive Buying Center (ABC) Program: Social entrepreneurship venture that purchases vehicles for resale at reasonable prices, with profits reverting to the nonprofit mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Wheels of Success is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accepts donated vehicles, repairs and rehabilitates them, and provides them to low- and moderate-income working families who lack reliable transportation. The organization also offers related services including vehicle licensing, car payment assistance, down payment assistance, and car care education classes. Services are delivered in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties in Florida.

Product overview

Wheels of Success is a nonprofit charitable organization offering a portfolio of transportation assistance programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include: the Build-A-Car program (repair/reconditioning sponsorship), a Vehicle Donation program (accepting car donations for tax deductions), Vehicle Replacement (donated cars to families), Car Repair Services, and a Car Care Class (maintenance education). Specialized programs target specific populations: Vehicles for Veterans (veteran workforce reintegration), Road to Independence (domestic violence survivors), Wheels to the Future (foster youth aging out), and Cars for Caregivers (direct care workers). The organization also operates a social enterprise called ABC (Automotive Buying Center) for automotive buying assistance. Seasonal initiatives include the 12 Cars of Christmas annual giveaway. The average cost to repair/recondition a donated car is $3,000. Services are available to low and moderate income working families in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties who are working full-time (32+ hours) and living above poverty level (up to 250%).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vehicles for Veterans: Program helping veterans re-enter the workforce after serving the country by providing reliable transportation.
• Road to Independence
• Wheels to the Future
• Cars for Caregivers
• Build a Car
• Car Care Class

Products and services

• Build-A-Car Program Allows donors or teams to 'adopt' a donated vehicle by funding its repair and reconditioning to make it road-ready. The average cost to repair and recondition a donated car is $3,000. Started with seed funding from the Lightning Foundation Community Hero Program.
• Vehicle Donation Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 89.7% of donations go directly to programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Zinzow LawminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2026Zinzow Law sponsored a vehicle presentation on Presidents Day at their Trinity office location.
• RNR Tire ExpressmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2026RNR Tire sponsored vehicle presentation for Brenda at their National Conference in Orlando, providing a 2023 Ford Escape.
• Tampa Bay BuccaneersmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026NFL team gifted new cars to three single mothers in February 2026, covered by News Channel 8.
• ATI (American Trade International)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Selected Wheels of Success as official charity for SuperConference 2026, providing major fundraising opportunity.
• AAA Auto Club SouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAA provides free vehicle pickup for all donations, free one-year memberships for vehicle recipients, and helps fill vehicles with gas. AAA's managing director serves on Wheels of Success Board of Directors.
• AutoWay DealershipscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner13 AutoWay dealerships partnered for '13 Cars of Christmas' giveaway, providing vehicles that are serviced, reconditioned and detailed before presentation to recipients.
• State Farm InsurancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Farm donated vehicles and helped launch the Vehicles for Veterans program with their initial partnership.
• GTE FinancialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGTE Financial donated vehicles including a 2015 Nissan Altima for veteran recipient Anthony through their A.B.C. Program.
• Metropolitan MinistriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization that refers clients in need and can direct donated vehicles to their clients.
• The Spring of Tampa BaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDomestic violence services organization that refers clients to Wheels of Success for transportation assistance.
• Family Justice CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWheels of Success rents space at Family Justice Center, which houses multiple social service agencies serving families in need.
• Centre ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSelected Wheels of Success as chosen charity for Helping Hands Happy Hour fundraising event in May 2026.
• Caspers Company (McDonald's)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcDonald's owner-operator Allison Casper Adams sponsors employees and has referred 12+ employees. Company offers discounted bus passes and covers cab fare in emergencies.
• Gettel Hyundai of LakewoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDealership presented Hyundai Kona to human trafficking survivor as final car of 12 Cars of Christmas 2024.
• CARFAXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing vehicle history reports and support for vehicle rehabilitation program.
• Pinellas County Sheriff's OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated five former police cruisers for single parent program through Police Athletic League partnership.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vehicles for Change: Maryland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accepts donated vehicles, repairs them, and awards them to low-income working families — the closest operational analog to Wheels of Success, with a near-identical donation-to-rehabilitation-to-placement model.
• Kars4Kids: National car donation charity operating since 1994 that channels vehicle sale proceeds into youth and education programs. Comparable intake and processing of donated vehicles, though it monetizes via sale rather than rehabilitation/giveaway.
• Working Cars for Working Families: National initiative and coalition supporting nonprofit car ownership programs serving low-income workers. Provides field-building resources directly relevant to Wheels of Success and is the closest peer in the vehicle-assistance-for-employment niche.
• Charity Cars: National 501(c)(3) (formerly 1-800-CharityCars) that accepts donated vehicles and awards them through a car giveaway program to families and individuals in need. Directly comparable donation-and-giveaway model at greater geographic scale.
• Good News Garage: Vermont-based social enterprise nonprofit that refurbishes donated cars and provides them to families transitioning from poverty to employment, including a paid-workforce mechanic training program. Highly comparable mission, vehicle handling process, and target population.

Others

• Habitat for Humanity International: Parallel nonprofit operating model: accepts donated materials, uses volunteer labor to rehabilitate a basic-need asset (housing), and provides it to working low-income families. Highly relevant as an operational template and brand-building case study, though the underlying asset is housing rather than transportation.
• AAA (American Automobile Association): Strategic operational partner of Wheels of Success (AAA Auto Club South provides free vehicle pickup and free memberships to recipients). Comparable end-customer audience (vehicle owners) and adjacent automotive services, though AAA is a membership services organization rather than a vehicle-placement nonprofit.

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army USA: Large national nonprofit with broad social services including emergency assistance that can include transportation help. Overlaps with Wheels of Success on the working-poor/mobility-assistance mission but operates at much greater scale and a wider service portfolio.
• Catholic Charities USA: Federated network of Catholic Charities agencies providing individual and family services including emergency assistance. Overlaps with Wheels of Success on the social-services-for-working-poor mission and partner-referral distribution model.
• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit with social services including housing, employment, and supportive services for vulnerable populations. Comparable mission framing around self-sufficiency, but with a much broader service portfolio than Wheels of Success.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WheelsofSuccess
• Facebookfacebook.com/WheelsofSuccess
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wheels-of-success-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/wheelsofsuccess

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Wheels of Success