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Brookline Community Foundation Inc

EIN 04-2103944 · Brookline, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BROOKLINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CREATES OPPORTUNITY AND PROMOTES EQUITY THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF GIVING.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
38.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 41%
Employees
8
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$189,309, former executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 38.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 68% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $1.9 million spent. BCF'S PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITY INCLUDES FOUR KEY INITIATIVES. ALL OF THESE PROGRAMMATIC INITIATIVES AND PHILANTHROPIC SERVICES DRIVE TOWARDS BCF'S STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES.- BCF GRANTMAKING - OUR CORE GRANTMAKING PROGRAMS THAT FUND BROOKLINE'S NONPROFITS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND EFFORTS THAT AIM TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO OPPORTUNITY AND EQUITY AND EXPAND ACCESS FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. THROUGH THIS EFFORT, BCF AWARDS GRANTS IN VARIOUS PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM, SAFETY NET GRANT PROGRAM, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM, B. GREAT GRANT PROGRAM AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO BROOKLINE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. BCF ALSO MAKES GRANTS THROUGH CERTAIN FUNDS ESTABLISHED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BENEFIT BROOKLINE.- UNDERSTANDING BROOKLINE - A RESEARCH INITIATIVE THAT PUBLISHED A NEW REPORT AND A DYNAMIC COMMUNITY DATABASE PROVIDING INSIGHTS INTO THE TRENDS SHAPING BROOKLINE. FOR THE FIRST TIME, REAL-TIME BROOKLINE-SPECIFIC DATA ON HEALTH, WELLNESS, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, EDUCATION, AND MORE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY USE. THE DATA AND ANALYSIS CAN BE LEVERAGED TO DRIVE COLLABORATIVE PLANNING, PRIORITY-SETTING AND ACTION FOR BCF AND OTHERS IN BROOKLINE. THIS EXCITING PROJECT WAS CELEBRATED AT AN IN-PERSON LAUNCH IN NOVEMBER 2023.- COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS - WE USE INSIGHTS GAINED THROUGH RESEARCH TO DRIVE SHARED COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND ENGAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN COLLABORATIVE SOLUTION-BUILDING. THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS WE LEARN FIRSTHAND WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS SEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEANINGFUL CHANGE AND WHERE WE CAN MAKE TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENTS IN BROOKLINE. AND THROUGH NEW INITIATIVES AND PARTNERSHIPS, WE'RE BRINGING DEEPER INSIGHTS AND NEW IDEAS TO ADDRESS OUR SHARED CHALLENGES TOGETHER.- PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSHIP - BCF PARTNERS WITH DONORS TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY INVESTMENT THAT SUPPORTS A THRIVING BROOKLINE TODAY, TOMORROW, AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WE WORK SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH DONORS, SPONSOR SITE VISITS AS WELL AS DONOR PROGRAMS TO ILLUSTRATE THE IMPACT OF THEIR GIVING TO BCF. WE HELP DONORS REALIZE THEIR UNIQUE PHILANTHROPIC VISIONS, ESTABLISH AND MANAGE FUNDS THAT PROVIDE CRUCIAL SUPPORT TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND ENSURE THEIR GIVING HAS THE GREATEST POSSIBLE IMPACT IN BROOKLINE. DONORS ARE ABLE TO MAKE LEGACY GIFTS TO HELP ENSURE THE FUTURE OF BROOKLINE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1938.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Maine Community Foundation Inc (Ellsworth, ME), EIN 01-0391479. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.