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Nonprofit · EIN 56-2196676

WHEELS4HOPE

Tax-exempt · CARY, NC 27511

Financials

$1.7M$1.7M2023$1.8M$1.8M2024$2M$1.9M2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of WHEELS4HOPE by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$1,958,444$1,855,956$102,488$1,338,694$738,285$600,409
December 31, 2024990$1,846,961$1,797,843$49,118$1,272,284$774,363$497,921
December 31, 2023990$1,718,642$1,737,461-$18,819$1,272,820$836,016$436,804
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$1,212,073
Program service revenue
$743,045
Investment income
$3,326
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$85,300
Other salaries and wages
$238,707
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$352,859
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$354
Occupancy
$72,734
Travel
$2,805
Depreciation
$13,262
Program services (functional)
$1,680,459
Management and general (functional)
$109,981
Fundraising (functional)
$65,516

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$1,272,284
Total assets, end of year
$1,338,694
Total liabilities, end of year
$738,285
Net assets, end of year
$600,409
Land, buildings and equipment
$1,148,860
Net assets without donor restrictions
$600,409
Gross receipts
$1,958,444
Employees
7
Volunteers
62
Year formed
2000
State of legal domicile
NC

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
LISA BRUSCA-SYKESEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$85,300
MARTIN SAFFERPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
8$0
JOHN LITSASTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
TOMMY WATKINSSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
0.1$0
JOHN HILLBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
0.1$0
ROB WRIGHTBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
0.1$0
ALEXIS GIANNATTASIOBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
0.1$0
SEAN MEHAFFEYBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
0.1$0
HOLLY MITCHELLBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
0.1$0
KRISTIN SUTTONBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
0.1$0
CHELSEA POOLEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
0.1$0
ZINNIA HAMMBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
0.1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 13 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
LISA BRUSCA-SYKESEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$83,300
MARTIN SAFFERPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0
ELTON PARKERPAST PRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
JOHN LITSASTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
TOMMY WATKINSSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
CHRIS WOODYBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
JOHN HILLBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
CHELSEA POOLEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
ROB WRIGHTBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
ALEXIS GIANNATTASIOBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
ZINNIA HAMMBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
HOLLY MITCHELLBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
KRISTIN SUTTONBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 12 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Lisa Brusca-SykesExecutive manager
Officer
40$83,300
Todd RobinsonDirector
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
Chris WoodyDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Martin SafferDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Elton C Parker JrTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
Thomas C WatkinsDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Alexis GiannattasioDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
John HillDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Robert WrightDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Jeff WalkerDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Kristin SuttonPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
Chelsea PooleDirector
Trustee or director
1$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
411 E DURHAM RD, CARY, NC 27511-6932
In care of
% JOHN WEISTART
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
LISA BRUSCA-SYKES, 411 E DURHAM ROAD, CARY, NC 27511
Signed the 990
MARTIN SAFFER, PRESIDENT
Phone
(919) 832-1941
Return prepared by
SHARPE PATEL CPA

Mission

PROVIDING ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • WHEELS4HOPE RECEIVES DONATED VEHICLES, REPAIRS THEM TO ENSURE GOOD OPERATING CONDITION, AND SELLS THEM TO ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE FAMILIES AT SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN MARKET VALUE. THESE FAMILIES ARE REFERRED BY LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES WITH WHOM THEY HAVE A CASE MANAGEMENT RELATIONSHIP. VEHICLES THAT DO NOT MEET OUR GUIDELINES FOR PROGRAM PLACEMENT ARE SOLD AT FAIR MARKET VALUE, AND THE PROCEEDS HELP FUND THE PROGRAM.
    Expenses $1,680,459 · revenue $743,045

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
56-2196676
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2000
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Human services (P80)
Assets (IRS master file)
$1,338,694
Income (IRS master file)
$1,958,444

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$1,958,444$1,855,956$1,338,694XML
990December 2024$1,846,961$1,797,843$1,272,284XML
990December 2023$1,718,642$1,737,461$1,272,820XML
990December 2022$1,697,621$1,756,375$1,323,459IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 56-2196676).

Questions about WHEELS4HOPE

What is the EIN of WHEELS4HOPE?
The employer identification number (EIN) of WHEELS4HOPE is 56-2196676.
Is WHEELS4HOPE tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2000.
Are donations to WHEELS4HOPE tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does WHEELS4HOPE file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of WHEELS4HOPE due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did WHEELS4HOPE last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of WHEELS4HOPE?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names LISA BRUSCA-SYKES.
Who are the officers and directors of WHEELS4HOPE?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 12 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $85,300 (LISA BRUSCA-SYKES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
How much revenue does WHEELS4HOPE have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,958,444, expenses of $1,855,956 and total assets of $1,338,694 at year end.

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