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Philanthropy Massachusetts Inc

EIN 04-2457605 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE THE PRACTICE AND EXPANSION OF EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE PHILANTHROPY TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND VITALITY OF THE REGION.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
13
Volunteers
29
Highest pay
$157,069, ceo, as of 05/2024

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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

    18 of 19 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $2.7 million spent. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP ACTIVITIES: PHILANTHROPY MASSACHUSETTS PROVIDES GENERAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT THAT INCLUDES ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, PROVIDING PERIODIC STATEMENTS OF THE ACCOUNT, AND HANDLING ALL STATE AND FEDERAL FILINGS TO INCORPORATED AND UNINCORPORATED ENTITIES OPERATING FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES.
  2. $1.2 million spent. SUMMER FUND: THE SUMMER FUND SUPPORTED OVER 60 NONPROFITS OPERATING OVER 100 SUMMER CAMP AND PROGRAM SITES. IN 2024, THE FUND SUPPORTED YOUTH THROUGH THREE DISTINCT GRANT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING GENERAL OPERATING GRANTS, A HOMELESS CAMPERSHIP FUND, AND A MENTAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE FUND.
  3. $705,198 spent. MEMBER SERVICES: IN 2024, PHILANTHROPY MASSACHUSETTS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE ITS FUNDER MEMBERS AND THE FUNDING COMMUNITY WITH A RANGE OF VIRTUAL PROGRAM OFFERINGS COVERING MULTIPLE TOPICS AND REGIONS. OVER 2,000 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED PROGRAMS ON TOPICS INCLUDING: POWER AND EQUITY, PHILANTHROPY 101, ARTS AND MENTAL HEALTH. WE ALSO BROUGHT TOGETHER OUR PROGRAM STAFF LEARNING NETWORK, CFO NETWORK, FAMILY FOUNDATION CEOS AND FOUNDATION STAFF FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF MA. WE ALSO PROVIDED CUSTOMIZED RESEARCH FOR FUNDER MEMBERS AND A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER.
  4. $279,384 spent. NONPROFIT PARTNER SERVICES: PHILANTHROPY MASSACHUSETTS HAS 400 GRANT SEEKING PARTNERS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND CONSULTANTS. PHILANTHROPY MASSACHUSETTS BRIDGES THE NONPROFIT AND FUNDER COMMUNITIES BY GIVING ACCESS TO RESEARCH AND INFORMATION TO SUPPORT FUND DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NONPROFIT STAFF MEMBERS. SOME OF THE PROGRAMS PRESENTED INCLUDE MEET-THE-DONORS AND SKILL-BUILDING WORKSHOPS IN GRANT RESEARCH, GRANT WRITING, DONOR CULTIVATION, A FUNDRAISING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM AND A FUNDRAISING FOR SENIOR EXECUTIVES PROGRAM. THE RESOURCE STAFF PROVIDED VIRTUAL ACCESS TO DATABASES FOR GRANT RESEARCH AS WELL AS ONE-ON-ONE TRAINING ON RESEARCH. CUSTOMIZED RESEARCH IS PROVIDED BY THE RESOURCE CENTER TO PARTNERS AT A PREMIUM LEVEL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 September 1970.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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