Bridge Over Troubled Waters Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS PROVIDES EFFECTIVE AND INNOVATIVE SERVICES TO HOMELESS, AT-RISK, AND RUNAWAY YOUTH, HELPS YOUTH AVOID A LIFETIME OF DEPENDENCY ON SOCIAL SERVICES, GUIDES YOUTH TOWARDS SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND ENABLES YOUTH TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES AND BUILD FULFILLING, MEANINGFUL FUTURES.
- Income
- $11.7 million
- Spending
- $12.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 12.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 52%
- Employees
- 122
- Volunteers
- 39
- Highest pay
- $304,304, president & ceo
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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 37% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $3.8 million spent. RESIDENTIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS:HOUSING - BRIDGE PROVIDES BOTH SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND INDEPENDENT HOUSING OPTIONS, DEPENDING ON EACH INDIVIDUAL YOUTH'S LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE AND NEEDS. BRIDGE ALSO HELPS YOUTH IN NEW HOUSING, SETTING THEM UP WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND PROVIDING THEM WITH ONGOING ASSISTANCE AS THEY MAKE THE TRANSITION TO STABLE HOUSING.THE TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM PROVIDES HOUSING, LIFE-SKILLS TRAINING, AND SUPPORT TO HOMELESS YOUTH, AGES 17 TO 21. YOUTH LIVE AMONG THEIR PEERS WHILE THEY LEARN HOW TO SET GOALS AND WORK TOWARD THEM WHILE FOCUSING ON DAILY ROUTINES THAT MAY INCLUDE WORK, SCHOOL, HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT, SHARED MEALS AND A REGULAR CALENDAR OF COMMUNITY EVENTS. ALL RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE SERVICES AT BRIDGE.THE EMERGENCY RESIDENCE PROGRAM PROVIDES HOUSING, LIFE-SKILLS TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO HOMELESS YOUTH AGES 22 TO 24. YOUTH LIVE AMONG THEIR PEERS WHILE THEY LEARN HOW TO SET GOALS AND WORK TOWARD THEM WHILE FOCUSING ON DAILY ROUTINES THAT MAY INCLUDE WORK, SCHOOL, HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT, SHARED MEALS AND A REGULAR CALENDAR OF COMMUNITY EVENTS. ALL RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO ALL SERVICES AT BRIDGE. SINGLE PARENT HOUSE (MATERNAL GROUP HOME) - HOUSING FOR YOUNG, PREGNANT AND PARENTING YOUNG ADULTS, AGES 18 TO 21, AND THEIR CHILDREN, WHILE THEY ADVANCE THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS. YOUNG PARENTS LIVE AMONG THEIR PEERS WHILE THEY LEARN THE LIFE SKILLS NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE AND SUSTAIN THEIR OWN HOUSEHOLDS AND RAISE HEALTHY CHILDREN. MOTHERS PARTICIPATE IN PARENTING EDUCATION AND GROUPS ON HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND NURTURING CARE. ALL RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO ALL SERVICES AT BRIDGE.INDEPENDENT HOUSING - YOUTH IN BRIDGE'S LIBERTY HOUSE AND RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM HAVE ACCESS TO CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT WHILE THEY DEVELOP SKILLS FOR LIVING INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR OWN SPACE.
- $3.0 million spent. PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION; AND EMERGENCY SERVICES:BRIDGE'S PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES REACH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF BOSTON'S HOMELESS, AT-RISK, AND RUNAWAY YOUTH POSSIBLE, PROVIDING SAFE ACCESS POINTS FOR YOUTH TO CONNECT WITH HELP, AND PREVENTING RUNAWAYS AND HOMELESSNESS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. THIS IS THE FIRST LINE OF CONTACT BETWEEN YOUTH AND BRIDGE, SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE A WELCOMING, WARM, AND SAFE CONTACT FROM THE START.STREET OUTREACH AND MOBILE MEDICAL VAN - YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS CONNECT WITH TRAINED OUTREACH WORKERS IN GREATER BOSTON FOR SURVIVAL AID AND AN INITIAL CONNECTION TO BRIDGE. TRAINED OUTREACH WORKERS CANVASS THE CITY ON FOOT, VISITING PLACES WHERE YOUTH ARE KNOWN TO GATHER, AS WELL AS CHECKING HOTSPOTS SUCH AS T STOPS AND PARKS.ON THE MOBILE MEDICAL VAN, YOUTH ACCESS ESSENTIALS INCLUDING SURVIVAL AID AND MEDICAL CARE AND START TO BUILD TRUST WITH THE BRIDGE TEAM. THE MOBILE MEDICAL VAN TEAM MEMBERS CONNECT WITH YOUTH ON THE BOSTON COMMON, IN CAMBRIDGE, AND OTHER AREAS OF BOSTON WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE KNOWN TO GATHER. VOLUNTEER MEDICAL STAFF OFFER YOUNG ADULTS FREE BASIC FIRST AID, REFERRALS TO HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH ADVICE, AS WELL AS ACCESS TO CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES INCLUDING EMERGENCY SHELTER, HYGEINEE ITEMS, SOCKS, AND CLOTHES), ASSESSMENT, COUNSELING AND EDUCATION. TRANSITIONAL DAY SERVICES OFFER HOMELESS YOUTH A HOT MEAL, SHOWERS, LOCKERS, AND ACCESS TO LAUNDRY, CONNECT WITH CASE MANAGERS, AND PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS. THE PROGRAM OFFERS BREAKFAST AND LUNCH, AS WELL AS A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE SPACE TO RELAX, READ, USE COMPUTERS, AND CONNECT WITH FRIENDS AND STAFF. EVERY NIGHT AT 6:00 PM, THE SPACE IS RECONFIGURED AS THE WELCOME CENTER PROVIDING HOMELESS YOUTH WITH DINNER, COTS, WARMTH, AND SAFETYWITH AN OVERNIGHT CASE MANAGER.RUNAWAY SERVICES - BRIDGE IS THE LOCAL RESPONDENT FOR THE NATIONAL RUNAWAY HOTLINE (1-800-RUNAWAY), OFFERING 24-HOUR ACCESS TO A COUNSELOR AND A SAFE BED OFF THE STREETS FOR YOUTH 14 TO 17 YEARS OLD WHO HAVE RUN AWAY FROM HOME AND IN CRISIS.
- $2.4 million spent. OUTREACH AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS: PATHWAYS TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY - PREPARING YOUTH FOR ADULTHOOD INCLUDES HELPING EACH INDIVIDUAL LEARN TO MANAGE THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING, TO HANDLE THEIR FINANCES, AND TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY AT SCHOOL OR AT A JOB. THESE SKILLS ARE FOUNDATIONAL FOR THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS AS INDEPENDENT, FUNCTIONING ADULTS. MANY OF THESE YOUTH, WHO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED AND NEGLECTED BY THE ADULTS IN THEIR LIVES, ARE RECEIVING THIS GUIDANCE FOR THE FIRST TIME.COUNSELING AND SUPPORT - YOUTH MEET WITH BRIDGE'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICIANS TO PROCESS PAST TRAUMA, MANAGE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, AND ESTABLISH GOALS. BRIDGE'S LICENSED COUNSELORS SPECIALIZE IN EFFECTIVE REMEDIES WITH HOMELESSNESS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE, TRAUMA, POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, ATTACHMENT DISORDER, AND OTHER DISORDERS, INCLUDING DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. ALL COUNSELING IS FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL.EDUCATION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT - THE EDUCATION PROGRAM HELPS STUDENTS EARN THEIR HISET (GED). STUDENTS MAY ENTER THE PROGRAM AT ANY TIME AND WORK AT THEIR OWN PACE TO BUILD ACADEMIC SKILLS TO HELP THEM REACH THEIR LONG-TERM EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER GOALS. STUDENTS ALSO DEVELOP JOB AND COMPUTER SKILLS NECESSARY FOR BOTH COLLEGE AND THE WORKPLACE. BRIDGE'S COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELORS ASSIST YOUTH WITH JOB SEARCHES, COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, INTERVIEW PREPARATION, RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS, FINDING PROFESSIONAL CLOTHING FOR INTERVIEWS, AND PROVIDE COUNSELING AND REFERRALS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT.
- $57,073 spent. BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS, INC. PROVIDED A GRANT TO BRUNSON HOUSE AND WSK HOUSE FOR BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1972.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.