Through two decades of growth and learning, World Bicycle Relief has pursued a simple but powerful mission: Mobilizing individuals and communities through the Power of Bicycles.

Thanks to our supporters and partners, over the past 20 years, we’ve distributed more than 868,000 bicycles and empowered more than 4 million people to thrive. 

Every donation, every bicycle, every program and every decision is geared toward maximizing impact for the people we serve. Rather than simply giving away bicycles, we’ve built a model that ensures mobility solutions continue to reach those who need them most for generations to come. 

World Bicycle Relief’s social enterprise model blends philanthropy with the benefits of a market-driven approach. This innovative hybrid model was formed in 2008 to meet increasing market demand for our Buffalo Bicycles. 

Under this model, the nonprofit – World Bicycle Relief – wholly owns a for-profit – Buffalo Bicycles Ltd. – which sells bicycles to nonprofits, businesses, local governments and individuals. Sales from Buffalo Bicycles Ltd. support World Bicycle Relief’s programs, allowing us to deliver greater efficiencies, distribute more bicycles per donation, position for scale and generate deeper, long-term impact where we work. 

Funds from our global supporters through donations, fundraising and partnerships also play a critical role in programming, delivery of bicycles to people in need, developing and testing our mobility solutions and constant evaluation of our impact. 

Our unique model also relies on training local mechanics, assembly and distribution facilities, retail shops and local assembly teams.

This comprehensive approach builds long-term sustainability and ensures a continuous supply of bicycles and parts where they’re needed most.

At the heart of our work is the Buffalo Bicycle, specially engineered for rugged terrain, heavy loads, and daily use in rural areas. Built with easily repairable, high-quality components, these bicycles are designed to last. 

Manufacturing bicycles designed for rough roads and heavy loads addresses the systemic challenges of distance and rural transportation, dramatically increasing efficiency for our riders.

While we focus on serving people in need of reliable transportation, we believe every rider deserves the best experience possible. That’s why we continuously refine the Buffalo Bicycle to better meet the demands of daily use. Over the years, we’ve introduced many improvements, guided by the riders themselves. This includes our latest innovation—the Buffalo Bicycle Utility S2, featuring a two-chain multispeed drivetrain that allows riders to travel farther with less effort. 

We manufacture Buffalo Bicycles at scale and distribute them exclusively within our operating countries, thereby minimizing overhead costs and logistics challenges. This streamlined approach allows us to reduce expenses while ensuring a steady, reliable supply of bicycles where they are needed most.

By focusing our operations on operating countries and maintaining a highly efficient, cost-effective business model, we are able to stretch your support further—delivering more bicycles, empowering more individuals, and strengthening more communities.

Every dollar you give creates the greatest possible impact. 

We often are asked why Buffalo Bicycles aren’t sold internationally. Or, why not offer a “buy one, give one” model like some other companies with philanthropic missions? 

The answer is simple: Our model ensures the greatest impact. Selling bicycles outside of our operating countries would divert valuable resources away from the communities we serve and introduce logistical costs that reduce efficiency.

By maintaining our focus, we ensure your support helps as many people as possible gain reliable mobility.