Donations

We refurbish donated bikes to ride like new and then provide them to those in need of transportation and independence.

We are happy to accept your donation of complete bicycles, bicycle parts, or bicycle accessories. The Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange is a Section 501c(3) non-profit organization, so your donation is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Please email us a photo of what you'd like to donate and we'll give you details of drop-off times and procedures.

Debating on whether you should fix up that old bike? Often your tax-deductible bike donation makes more financial sense than spending hundreds on repair work and parts. When you drop off your donation, you could also consider buying one of our nice, ready-to-ride refurbished bikes! 

Most bikes get refurbished and are then donated to our partner charities. Some bikes are sold to fund our repair parts and operations. 

Donation Guidelines

We accept bikes of all types and sizes, from tricycles up to full-sized bicycles for adults. Flat tires and broken or missing parts are no problem, as we have an extensive parts inventory. Our volunteer mechanics can fix almost anything; however, we don't restore paint and we can't reverse corrosion. We accept department store kids' bikes, but most budget adult bikes from department stores are problematic because replacement parts are hard to find.  

Before donating your bike, ask yourself:

• Could an experienced mechanic make this bike functional and safe in two hours or less?

• Is the bike substantially free of rust and corrosion?

If the answers are all "yes" then we'll gladly receive the bike. Please clean up your bike before donating it so we can focus on repairs. We also accept monetary donations.

Each bicycle takes about $40 and several volunteer hours to repair and distribute. A monetary donation to cover these costs is appreciated and will keep the cycle going. You're also welcome to stay and volunteer when donating a bike. You'll learn mechanic skills while having fun and giving back.

While the vast majority of our bikes are donated to those in need of transportation, racing bikes, vintage bikes or mountain bikes are gladly accepted and could help us fund our refurbishing of many additional bikes for our partner nonprofits. 

We do not accept used helmets or cycling shorts. 

For valuable, high-end donations, contact info@the-bike-project.org for information