Experimental Station, operating under the name Blackstone Bicycle Works, is located in Chicago, IL. The organization was established in 2004. According to its NTEE Classification (S99) the organization is classified as: Community Improvement & Capacity Building N.E.C., under the broad grouping of Community Improvement & Capacity Building and related organizations. As of 12/2021, Blackstone Bicycle Works employed 31 individuals. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Blackstone Bicycle Works is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a "Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation" by the IRS.
For the year ending 12/2021, Blackstone Bicycle Works generated $2.9m in total revenue. This represents relatively stable growth, over the past 7 years the organization has increased revenue by an average of 9.6% each year. All expenses for the organization totaled $2.2m during the year ending 12/2021. While expenses have increased by 7.6% per year over the past 7 years. They've been increasing with an increasing level of total revenue. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Since 2014, Blackstone Bicycle Works has awarded 125 individual grants totaling $2,381,237. If you would like to learn more about the grant giving history of this organization, scroll down to the grant profile section of this page.
Form
990
Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing
TAX YEAR
2021
Describe the Organization's Mission:
Part 3 - Line 1
THE MISSION OF THE EXPERIMENTAL STATION IS TO BUILD INDEPENDENT CULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO. WE DO THIS BY FOSTERING A DYNAMIC ECOLOGY OF INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS, SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. SINCE 2006, WE HAVE BOTH BUILT OUR OWN PROGRAMMING TO ADDRESS A VARIETY OF IDENTIFIED LOCAL NEEDS AND HAVE FOSTERED, HOSTED, AND SPONSORED NUMEROUS OTHER INITIATIVES.
Describe the Organization's Program Activity:
Part 3 - Line 4a
LINK UP ILLINOIS PROVIDES FUNDING, TRAINING, AND TECHICAL SUPPORT TO FARMERS MARKETS, FOOD COOPERATIVES, MOBILE MARKETS, CORNER STORES, AND OTHER VENUES SELLING LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE TO IMPLEMENT LINK MATCH AT THEIR VENUES. LINK MATCH MATCHES THE VALUE OF SNAP/LINK PURCHASES, ALLOWING RECIPIENTS TO RECEIVE UP TO $25 OF FREE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES PER TRANSACTON AT FARMERS MARKETS AND $5 PER DAY IN GROCERY SETTINGS.
BLACKSTONE BICYCLE WORKS PROVIDES AN INNOVATIVE MODEL OF YOUTH EDUCATION THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE WORKING OF A SMALL COMMUNITY BIKE SHOP BUSINESS. IN 2021, BLACKSTONE BICYCLE WORKS OFFERED FREE BIKE MECHANIC TRAINING, FREE BICYCLES, INTERNSHIPS, COLLEGE AND CAREER ADVISING, AND COLLEGE/VOCATIONAL SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS.
THE 61ST STREET FARMERS MARKET WAS CREATED IN 2008 TO BRING HEALTHY FOOD AND FOOD EDUCATION TO THE WOODLAWN COMMUNITY. A LEADER IN ILLINOIS IN SERVING A LOW-INCOME POPULATION, THE MARKET ACCEPTS SNAP/LINK, DOUBLE THE VALUE OF SNAP/LINK PURCHASES WITH LINK MATCH, AND OFFERS YEAR-ROUND AT-MARKET, IN-SCHOOL, AFTER-SCHOOL, AND ADULT FOOD EDUCATION. IN 2021, THE 61ST STREET FARMERS MARKET OFFERED 25 OUTDOOR AND 10 INDOOR MARKET DAYS, PROVIDING ACCESS TO SOME OF THE HEALTHIEST FOODS IN THE REGION (GROWN AND PRODUCED BY MORE THAN 30 LOCAL GROWERS AND PRODUCERS) TO OVER 400 SNAP/LINK CLIENTS
Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
---|---|---|---|
Constance Spreen Executive Director | Officer | 40 | $90,109 |
Martin Friedman President | OfficerTrustee | 6 | $0 |
Emmitt House Vice-President | OfficerTrustee | 6 | $0 |
Mulubwa Munkanta Treasurer | OfficerTrustee | 2 | $0 |
Mea Konopasek Secretary | OfficerTrustee | 1 | $0 |
Corliss King Director | Trustee | 0.25 | $0 |
Statement of Revenue | |
---|---|
Federated campaigns | $0 |
Membership dues | $0 |
Fundraising events | $0 |
Related organizations | $0 |
Government grants | $1,729,331 |
All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $1,113,254 |
Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $0 |
Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $2,842,585 |
Total Program Service Revenue | $77,752 |
Investment income | $131 |
Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
Royalties | $0 |
Net Rental Income | $0 |
Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | $0 |
Net Income from Fundraising Events | $0 |
Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
Net Income from Sales of Inventory | $0 |
Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
Total Revenue | $2,920,468 |
Statement of Expenses | |
---|---|
Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $947,264 |
Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $0 |
Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $0 |
Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $90,109 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $10,331 |
Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
Other salaries and wages | $472,881 |
Pension plan accruals and contributions | $0 |
Other employee benefits | $26,534 |
Payroll taxes | $48,127 |
Fees for services: Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Legal | $37,158 |
Fees for services: Accounting | $26,232 |
Fees for services: Lobbying | $0 |
Fees for services: Fundraising | $0 |
Fees for services: Investment Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Other | $92,704 |
Advertising and promotion | $117,486 |
Office expenses | $47,751 |
Information technology | $0 |
Royalties | $0 |
Occupancy | $116,636 |
Travel | $288 |
Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $0 |
Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $0 |
Interest | $0 |
Payments to affiliates | $0 |
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $7,203 |
Insurance | $21,808 |
All other expenses | $6,559 |
Total functional expenses | $2,164,971 |
Balance Sheet | |
---|---|
Cash—non-interest-bearing | $858,308 |
Savings and temporary cash investments | $0 |
Pledges and grants receivable | $660,051 |
Accounts receivable, net | $0 |
Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
Notes and loans receivable | $0 |
Inventories for sale or use | $4,765 |
Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $32,174 |
Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $69,099 |
Investments—publicly traded securities | $0 |
Investments—other securities | $0 |
Investments—program-related | $0 |
Intangible assets | $0 |
Other assets | $0 |
Total assets | $1,624,397 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $91,761 |
Grants payable | $159,965 |
Deferred revenue | $0 |
Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $0 |
Escrow or custodial account liability | $0 |
Loans and other payables to any current Officer, Director, or Controlling Person | $0 |
Secured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Unsecured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Other liabilities | $0 |
Total liabilities | $251,726 |
Net assets without donor restrictions | $1,120,308 |
Net assets with donor restrictions | $252,363 |
Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds | $0 |
Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building, or equipment fund | $0 |
Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds | $0 |
Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances | $1,624,397 |
Over the last fiscal year, Experimental Station has awarded $720,213 in support to 30 organizations.
Grant Recipient | Amount |
---|---|
CERMAK PRODUCE NO 7 INC PURPOSE: SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FARMER'S MARKET | $100,000 |
SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY PURPOSE: SUPPORT FOR NONPROFIT NEWSPAPER | $90,000 |
Champaign, IL PURPOSE: SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FARMER'S MARKET | $73,842 |
SUGAR BEET FOOD CO-OP PURPOSE: SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FARMER'S MARKET | $47,500 |
Chicago, IL PURPOSE: SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FARMER'S MARKET | $37,000 |
Chicago, IL PURPOSE: SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FARMER'S MARKET | $23,000 |
Over the last fiscal year, we have identified 2 grants that Experimental Station has recieved totaling $26,000.
Awarding Organization | Amount |
---|---|
Clifford And Lavonne Graese Foundation Jacksonville, FL PURPOSE: CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
Lawrence And Sherian Washington Family Foundation Wilmington, DE PURPOSE: GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
Organization Name | Assets | Revenue |
---|---|---|
Milwaukee Electrical Industry Vacation - Holiday Plan Wauwatosa, WI | $15,465,835 | $13,612,321 |
Community Ventures Corporation Inc Lexington, KY | $84,057,573 | $14,249,179 |
Seton Property Corporation Of North Alabama St Louis, MO | $50,940,533 | $5,932,254 |
Horizon House Inc Indianapolis, IN | $11,235,353 | $7,114,001 |
Downtown Parking Management Inc Cedar Rapids, IA | $2,652,564 | $2,696,142 |
St Marys Building Corporation St Louis, MO | $40,020,947 | $3,125,452 |
Delaware Advancement Corporation Muncie, IN | $19,134,942 | $3,911,691 |
Providence Building Corporation Inc St Louis, MO | $6,600,443 | $3,711,993 |
Austin Peoples Action Center Chicago, IL | $1,169,247 | $2,618,671 |
Scott County Regional Authority Bettendorf, IA | $3,455,493 | $3,293,735 |
Choose Chicago Foundation Chicago, IL | $859,781 | $2,550,000 |
Delta Institute Chicago, IL | $8,129,187 | $1,847,841 |