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Beacon Hill Civic Association Inc

EIN 04-2295394 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong97 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF THE BEACON HILL SECTION OF BOSTON AND TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AMONG ITS RESIDENTS.

Income
$346,489
Spending
$342,960
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
67.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
3
Volunteers
0

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

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 67.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $30,412 spent. INFORMATIONAL SERVICES - THIS PROGRAM NOTIFIES MEMBERS AND SEEKS INPUT ON VARIOUS ISSUES AFFECTING THE CHARACTER OF THE BEACON HILL SECTION OF BOSTON. THESE ISSUES ARE DESCRIBED IN THE DESCRIPION OF THE BHCA COMMITTEES UNDER "COMMUNITY PROJECTS" ABOVE.
  2. $86,197 spent. COMMUNITY PROJECTS - IN FURTHERANCE OF BEACON HILL CIVIC ASSOCIATION (BHCA)'S CHARITABLE MISSION, NUMEROUS COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN CREATED WHICH ARE DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:THE ZONING AND LICENSING COMMITTEE COMMITTEE'S MISSION IS TO ASSIST PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE MAKING CHANGES TO THEIR PROPERTIES THAT REQUIRE VARIANCES FROM THE CITY'S ZONING CODE. BY HOSTING PROPERTY REPRESENTATIVES TO DESCRIBE THEIR PROJECTS AND RATIONALES FOR REQUESTING VARIANCES, THE COMMITTEE PROVIDES COMMUNITY INPUT AND INSIGHT. EACH OF THE COMMITTEE'S VOTES IS PRESENTED TO THE BHCA BOARD FOR VOTE; THE BOARD'S VOTE IS INCORPORATED INTO A LETTER TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEAL. THE COMMITTEE REVIEWS REQUESTS BY LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND MERCHANTS FOR LIQUOR LICENSES IN A SIMILAR MANNER TO THE REVIEW OF ZONING VARIANCES.THE ARCHITECTURE COMMITTEE'S MISSION IS TO HELP MAINTAIN THE ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY OF OUR NATIONAL HISTORICAL LANDMARK DISTRICT. THE COMMITTEE REVIEWS PROPERTIES THAT HAVE SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS TO THE BEACON HILL ARCHITECTURAL COMMISSION (BHAC). THE BHAC HOLDS MONTHLY HEARINGS ON APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS AND REVIEWS ARCHITECTURAL VIOLATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CH. 616 OF THE ACTS OF 1955, AS AMENDED (THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE LEGISLATION THAT CREATED THE HISTORIC BEACON HILL DISTRICT IN 1955). AHEAD OF EACH BHAC MEETING, OUR COMMITTEE REVIEWS THE APPLICATIONS GOING BEFORE THE BHAC AND PROVIDES NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT TO THE COMMISSION.THE TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE HAS THREE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS: (1) MONITORING EVENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS THAT CAN IMPACT TRAFFIC AND/OR PARKING ON BEACON HILL; (2) SERVING AS A FORUM FOR DISCUSSION AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY OF BOSTON, OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES, OR THE BHCA BOARD ABOUT THE COMMUNITY'S POSITION ON GOVERNMENT ACTIONS THAT MIGHT IMPACT TRAFFIC AND/OR PARKING ON BEACON HILL; AND (3) ASSISTING RESIDENTS TO BRING ABOUT CHANGES THAT WILL IMPROVE RESIDENT PARKING AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ON BEACON HILL.WORKING WITH THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND BEACON HILL RESIDENTS AND MERCHANTS, THE SAFETY COMMITTEE STRIVES TO MAINTAIN THE ENVIRONMENT OF SAFETY AND SECURITY ON BEACON HILL. COMMITTEE MEMBERS ATTEND THE MONTHLY NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY MEETINGS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND DEVELOP A COMMUNICATION STRATEGY TO EDUCATE NEIGHBORS ON BEST SAFETY PRACTICES.THE TREE COMMITTEE WORKS TO PRESERVE THE TREES ON THE STREETS OF BEACON HILL BY HELPING TO IDENTIFY TREES THAT NEED TO BE PRUNED OR REPLACED BY THE CITY. IT COORDINATES WITH THE CITY'S PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT ON RELATED ACTIVITIES LIKE TREE REMOVAL DUE TO SICKNESS/POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD, COMPREHENSIVE PRUNING NEEDS, AND THE MAINTENANCE OF THE TREE GUARDS AND PLANTINGS ALONG CHARLES STREET. ON OCCASION THE COMMITTEE HAS HELPED TO FUND TREE REPLACEMENTS AND PRUNING ACTIVITIES WHEN THE CITY FUNDS ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE AND WITH PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE BHCA BOARD. CURRENTLY THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE FUNDS: (1) TREE COMMITTEE FUND AND (2) CHARLES STREET - BHCA 90TH ANNIVERSARY FUND. THE CHARLES STREET FUNDS ARE SPECIFICALLY ALLOCATED TO MAINTAIN AND REPAIR THE TREE PITS/GUARDS ALONG THE STREET.THE PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES COMMITTEE FOCUSES ON THE OPEN, GREEN SPACES AROUND BEACON HILL, WHICH ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY'S QUALITY OF LIFE. SOME OF THESE SPACES ARE BIG, LIKE THE COMMON, THE PUBLIC GARDEN AND THE ESPLANADE, AND OTHERS ARE QUITE SMALL, LIKE THE PHILLIPS STREET PLAY AREA AND THE MYRTLE STREET PLAYGROUND. OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE COMMITTEE HAS WORKED TO INCREASE ATTENTION AND CARE TO THESE SPACES AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS. THE COMMITTEE WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE CITY'S PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND THE FRIENDS OF THE PUBLIC GARDEN.L ON ISSUES SUCH AS DEVELOPMENT, TRAFFIC PATTERNS, AND NOISE INSOFAR AS THE SAME MAY AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE ON BEACON HILL.THE GREEN COMMITTEE SUPPORTS AND ENCOURAGES SUSTAINABLE LIVING FOR BEACON HILL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES, WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS ON RECYCLING, GREEN LIVING AND TRANSPORTATION. THE COMMITTEE'S WORK IS PART ADVOCACY AND PART EDUCATION. THE COMMITTEE PRODUCES ARTICLES FOR PUBLICATION IN THE BEACON HILL TIMES "GREEN CORNER"THE JOINT CHARLES STREET COMMITTEE IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE BEACON HILL CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND THE BEACON HILL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION. THE COMMITTEE WORKS ON ISSUES SUCH AS THE STREETSCAPE, TRASH AND RECYCLING PICKUP, ZONING, SAFETY, TRAFFIC, AND PARKING. AS APPROPRIATE, THE COMMITTEE COLLABORATES WITH OTHER BHCA COMMITTEES, AS WELL AS THE CITY. THE COMMITTEE ENCOURAGES ACTIVE PARTICIPATION FROM RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.THE PLANNING AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS AN UMBRELLA COMMITTEE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED TO MONITOR AND OVERSEE THE BHCA'S INVOLVEMENT ON THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES AND GROUPS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, TO ENSURE THAT THE BHCA HAS A VOICE IN THE PLANNING ON ALL PROJECTS OR PROPOSALS THAT MAY IMPACT BEACON HILL, AS WELL AS TO IMPROVE THE BHCA'S RELATIONS WITH GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS TO STRENGTHEN THE ORGANIZATION'S VOICE IN GOVERNMENTAL AND COMMUNITY PLANNING ON ALL PROJECTS OR PROPOSALS AFFECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
  3. $28,006 spent. PUBLICATIONS - ANNUAL PUBLICATION OF THE BEACON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE, WHICH SERVES AS A REFERRAL SOURCE FOR MEMBER BUSINESSES. THESE BUSINESSES SUPPORT THE ASSOCIATION'S TAX EXEMPT MISSION.
  4. $91,268 spent. MEMBERSHIP - THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE SEEKS TO IDENTIFY AND ENGAGE POTENTIAL NEW MEMBERS, AS WELL AS STEWARD EXISTING MEMBERS, IN THE RESIDENTIAL, BUSINESS, AND NON-PROFIT SEGMENTS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN NEIGHBORS JOIN TOGETHER WE ARE ALL STRONGER. MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE AN IMPORTANT SOURCE FOR OUR DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES. WE ACTIVELY SEEK TO EXPAND OUR MEMBERSHIP BASE, WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS WITH TWO RECEPTIONS EACH YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, WE PRODUCE AN ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH AN INFORMATION RESOURCE AND TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT ADVERTISE IN THE GUIDE. FINALLY, WE MANAGE THE MERCHANT LOYALTY PROGRAM AS A WAY TO FURTHER ENCOURAGE MEMBERS AND MERCHANT TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

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 October 13, 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 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 June 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 February 2007.

    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.