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Boston Center for Adult Education Inc

EIN 04-2113278 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULT LEARNERS IN BOSTON AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES THAT RESPONDED TO THE ONGOING AND EVOLVING NEEDS FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT.

Income
$43,812
Spending
$85,327
Reserves
-2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$311,654, president & ceo

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

Financial health

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 95% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

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

Governance

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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. FOUNDED IN 1933, THE BOSTON CENTER FOR ADULT EDUCATION, INC. (THE "CENTER") WAS THE OLDEST, NON-PROFIT ADULT EDUCATION CENTER IN NEW ENGLAND. THE CENTER SEEKED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE EVOLVING EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS BY OFFERING A WIDE VARIETY OF COURSES AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. MOST OF THE CENTER'S REVENUES WERE DERIVED FROM TUITION AND RELATED EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THE CENTER ALSO DEPENDED ON CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY. THE CENTER PROVIDED NON-CREDIT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT FOSTERED PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. IN ADVANCEMENT OF THIS MISSION, THE CENTER OFFERED A VARIETY OF COURSES ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Status was revoked on November 15, 2017 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on July 15, 2018.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.