Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars
Established in 1996, Charity Cars, Inc. (DBA 1-800-Charity Cars, Free Charity Cars) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the first charity of its kind in the nation, operating the largest free non-profit car-donation and distribution program in the country. The organization provides free donated vehicles to struggling families nationwide through its website FreeCharityCars.org, helping recipients transition to self-sufficiency. The award-winning program has received national recognition and has been featured on major television shows and publications. The organization also operates an affiliate non-profit program providing vehicles and funding to other qualified non-profit organizations for their clients.
Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars at a glance
In short: Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars gave $100K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), top state North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $100,054
- -71.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -63.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,014
- -20.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $23,888
- Total assets
- $283,324
- -50.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (45% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
Who Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Special Liberty Project ($45K). Together the top 4 received $100K.
Grant Size Distribution
126 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 114 grants of 126 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars gives
- Giving fell 93% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2025) to $1.4M (2022). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $100K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Special Liberty Project Franklin, NC | Transportation | $45,300 |
| Society of St Vincent De Paul St Petersburg, FL | Transportation | $37,600 |
| Family Promise of the Mid Williamette Valley Salem, OR | Transportation | $10,175 |
| Family Promise of Greater Washington County Beaverton, OR | Transportation | $6,979 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $283,324 | $3,674,642 | $3,949,786 | $100,054 | 4 | $11,058 |
| 2024 | $571,638 | $4,179,537 | $5,264,428 | $345,875 | 11 | — |
| 2023 | $1,594,351 | $9,337,121 | $11,544,557 | $1,295,710 | 39 | — |
| 2022 | $3,833,882 | $11,908,657 | $11,413,058 | $1,360,904 | 49 | — |
| 2021 | $3,352,820 | $10,968,322 | $10,511,327 | $494,450 | 23 | $-150,000 |
| 2020 | $2,881,780 | $9,538,044 | $11,090,722 | $996,435 | 46 | — |
About Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars
Based on IRS filings
Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Altamonte Springs, FL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $283K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $100K. Net investment income was $11K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars is led by Brian Menzies, President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brian Menzies
President
On filings since 2020
80 hrs/week
$329K (2020) → $281K (2025)
Barbara Desaro
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Drew Farmer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George Desaro
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Georgene Francis
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phillip Roe
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Willoughby
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rosemary Hill
Controller
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$128K (2020) → $104K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $281K, to Brian Menzies (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars
How much does Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars give each year?
Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars gave $100K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $346K across 11 grants.
What is Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars's typical grant size?
Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars's median grant in 2025 was $23,888, and its average grant was $25,014, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars give grants?
Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars's top state is North Carolina, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Florida (38%) and Oregon (17%).
Does Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Transportation" (4 grants).
How large is Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars?
Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars reported $283K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.7M.
What is Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars?
Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Altamonte Springs, FL. It holds $283K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars's EIN?
Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-3362703. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Charity Cars Inc Aka 1-800-Charity Cars Free Charity Cars's focus areas in our free grants database
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