Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation
Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation
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About this organization
Mission
Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation (MIST) was organizedexclusively for charitable and educational purposes. Specifically, MISTengages in research, design and collaboration for sustainabletransportation systems, with a focus on Missoula, Montana. MIST definessustainable transportation systems as movement that is safe, equitable andenvironmentally sound.MIST researches how other communities build streets for people walking, bicycling,riding transit and driving motor vehicles. This takes the form of calling othercommunity leaders, utilizing the web, visiting other places and recording datawith picture cameras, video cameras and note taking. MIST uses this informationto formulate designs for streets in Missoula. This translates to designs onsidewalks, bike lanes, trails, roundabouts, stop lights, and travel lanes for carsand trucks.MIST's advocacy to implement designs has taken place with individuals,neighborhoodcouncils, businesses, and in city council meetings. More specif
About
FREE CYCLES: Provides bicycles, parts, tools, work space, and help for a healthy community. These services lead to increased mobility, exercise, and joy for the people who participate. Our programs are donation-based and available to people of all ages, identities, ethnicities, abilities, and income levels. As the largest non-profit community bike shop in Montana, serving an average of 60 people a day, Free Cycles addresses the need for sustainable and accessible transportation to combat climate change and social inequities. Free Cycles' consists of several programs: Open Shop, Build-A-Bike, BikeWell, Youth Cycles, C.I.V.I.C. Cycles and the Artist in Residency program. Our community shop space is open to the public during all hours of operation, Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-6pm. This is a free service, yet donations are appreciated. We provide the tools, parts, and knowledge to help you work on your bicycle. OPEN SHOP: is all about teaching people repair skills so they can one day do it themselves or teach others. A mixture of staff and volunteers are available to assist you in diagnosing and fixing whatever may be ailing your two wheeled friend. Flat tires, wobbly wheels, squeaky brakes or loose headsets, we've got you covered. Stands and work space are available on a first come first serve basis. Open Shop is also a time when anyone can come volunteer and participate in Free Cycles fun.BUILD-A-BIKE: program is a grassroots, citizen-led approach to increase bicycle commuters, reduce carbon emissions, and ultimately decrease Western Montanas reliance on motor vehicles. Build-A-Bike enables people from all backgrounds to access a bicycle. The program focuses on re-purposing unused bicycles to reduce pollution and increase freedom, empowerment and social change.The first step of the program requires participants to complete a one hour BikeWell class which is offered three times a week. Classes are free, open to the public, and do not require advanced scheduling. The course reviews traffic and trail laws, urban design concepts, commuter safety and etiquette, basic bicycle maintenance skills, and our community space policies.After one has taken the BikeWell class, they are eligible to begin their volunteer hours in order to earn their bicycle. Volunteer tasks vary based on peoples' skill sets but primarily focus on shop organization, upkeep, and projects. Examples include cleaning, organizing, salvaging recycled bike parts, and creating art. Adults must complete four hours of service, while youth ages 11 to 14 must volunteer two hours. Children 10 and under can build a bike without volunteering or taking the class.The next portion of Build-A-Bike is exactly what it sounds like. After choosing from our massive amount of donated used parts and frames, one starts to build themselves a bicycle. Depending on the complexity of the project, this takes anywhere from three to six hours. A combination of Free Cycles staff and trained volunteers walk participants through the process to teach bicycle repair skills and to ensure the bicycle is safe and enjoyable to ride. YOUTH CYCLES: Program, through education and engagement, encourages children in Missoula and Montana to ride bikes safely, courteously, legally, and more frequently. Years of research shows that riding bikes for transportation gives many advantages to school aged children including higher test scores, better attendance, increased attention, increased cardio-respiratory fitness, and reduced behavior problems. The program also instills a reuse and recycle ethic in younger generations. Through repurposing unused bicycles, the program teaches youth how to be resourceful and limit waste not only at Free Cycles but in their own daily lives. Learning about the impacts humans have on the environment is important at a young age.Youth Cycles inherently inspires civic engagement and community involvement. Merely by coming into our shop, kids are exposed to diverse populations helping one another. The volunteering aspect of Youth Cycles not only gets kids involved in projects, but highlights the value of giving back to the community.Most importantly, Youth Cycles increases bicycle usage and access among disadvantaged youth. Annually the program serves approximately 500 youth each year. Of this number, approximately 75% of these kids are low income. Currently kids ten and under can receive a free bicycle anytime our community shop is open, Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Kids ages 11-14 can earn a bicycle by taking a one hour class and volunteering two service hours at our shop. Anyone 15 and over is required to complete the class and contribute four service hours. By providing an opportunity for youth to either have or earn a free bicycle, we are breaking down financial barriers and providing bicycles to kids who would not be able to otherwise afford one.CITIZENS IN VESTING IN COMMUNITY (CIVIC) CYCLES: Provides ready-to-go, affordable, refurbished bicycles for the community. Suggested donations for the bicycles given through CIVIC Cycles typically range from $50 to $300 dollars depending on the bicycle brand, components, and the amount of time spent by Free Cycles repairing the bicycle.DOORSTEP DEMOCRACY: This program is about growing relationships with people, organizations and communities, to create sustainable transportation. For 2018, the main effort was a partnership with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to educate youth in bicycle repair.ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE: This program is about teaching community members how to reuse and recycle old bicycle parts into art pieces. Several workshops occurred in 2018.
Interesting data from their 2020 990 filing
The filing sets forth the mission of the non-profit as “Missoula institute for sustainable transportation (mist) was organizedexclusively for charitable and educational purposes. specifically, mistengages in research, design and collaboration for sustainabletransportation systems, with a focus on missoula, montana. mist definessustainable transportation systems as movement that is safe, equitable andenvironmentally sound.mist researches how other communities build streets for people walking, bicycling,riding transit and driving motor vehicles. this takes the form of calling othercommunity leaders, utilizing the web, visiting other places and recording datawith picture cameras, video cameras and note taking. mist uses this informationto formulate designs for streets in missoula. this translates to designs onsidewalks, bike lanes, trails, roundabouts, stop lights, and travel lanes for carsand trucks.mist's advocacy to implement designs has taken place with individuals,neighborhoodcouncils, businesses, and in city council meetings. more specif”.
When detailing its responsibilities, they were listed as: “Missoula institute for sustainable transportation (mist) was organizedexclusively for charitable and educational purposes. specifically, mistengages in research, design and collaboration for sustainabletransportation systems, with a focus on missoula, montana. mist definessustainable transportation systems as movement that is safe, equitable andenvironmentally sound.mist researches how other communities build streets for people walking, bicycling,riding transit and driving motor vehicles. this takes the form of calling othercommunity leaders, utilizing the web, visiting other places and recording datawith picture cameras, video cameras and note taking. mist uses this informationto formulate designs for streets in missoula. this translates to designs onsidewalks, bike lanes, trails, roundabouts, stop lights, and travel lanes for carsand trucks.mist's advocacy to implement designs has taken place with individuals,neighborhoodcouncils, businesses, and in city council meetings. more specif”.
- The state in which the non-profit is legally permitted to operate is MT.
- The number of employees reported by the non-profit on their form as of 2020 is 4.
- The non-profit has loans as of 2020.
- Does not operate a hospital.
- Does not operate a school.
- Does not collect art.
- Does not provide credit counseling.
- Does not have foreign activities.
- Is not a donor-advised fund.
- Is not a private foundation.
- Expenses are between $100,000 and $250,000.
- Revenue is between $100,000 and $250,000.
- Revenue less expenses is -$18,732.
- The CEO compensation structure within the organization is based on a review and approval from a neutral party.
- The organization has 3 independent voting members.
- The organization was formed in 2007.
- The organization is required to file Schedule O.
- The organization pays $69,502 in salary, compensation, and benefits to its employees.
- The organization pays $3,406 in fundraising expenses.
- The organization provides Form 990 to its governing body.
- The organization has minutes of its meetings.