Bikes for the World donates bicycles, bicycle parts and accessories (including bike tools and books/manuals), and portable sewing machines to qualifying non-profit groups in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Africa, to empower individuals and communities to better their lives.

To qualify for a BfW donation, receiving groups should:

• Provide information evidencing a track record of social service delivery or economic empowerment benefiting the poor;
• Financial statement for the most recent year;
• Reference—contact information for an individual familiar with the proponent agency (the individual should preferably speak and write in English or Spanish, and work with a known international organization); and
• Provide a work plan clearly describing what types of bicycles would be useful, how they would be used, and how the project would be managed.

Please bear in mind that while Bikes for the World will DONATE all materials, it will generally NOT donate the shipping expenses. Only in exceptional circumstances—where the requesting agency demonstrates outstanding promise and capacity to make an impact—will BfW cover/donate the initial shipping costs.

For most initial donations/shipments—and all subsequent donations/shipments—BfW expects the requesting agency to pay direct shipping expenses (plus a nominal administrative fee of approximately US$500).

Should it be necessary, BfW will work with prospective partners to identify means of financing initial shipments and, in effect, capitalizing a new project.

Please direct all inquiries and a request for proposal guidelines to Mr. Keith Oberg, Director, Bikes for the World, at info at bikesfortheworld dot org. Print materials may be mailed to:

Bikes for the World
3108 17th Street North
Arlington VA 22201