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Samaritans Inc

EIN 04-2643466 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A NON-RELIGIOUS, VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION SERVING GREATER BOSTON AND METROWEST, DEDICATED TO REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF SUICIDE BY BEFRIENDING INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS, PROVIDING SUICIDE LOSS GRIEF SUPPORT, AND EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT EFFECTIVE PREVENTION STRATEGIES.

Income
$9.0 million
Spending
$8.8 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
11.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
98
Volunteers
190
Highest pay
$297,820, president and 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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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 69% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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 (4)
  1. $4.2 million spent. CRISIS SERVICES: ASSISTS ADULTS AND TEENS IN DESPAIR OR DISTRESS IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF SUICIDE. 9,015 CALLS AND TEXTS WERE ANSWERED MONTHLY DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR. CALLS ARE ANSWERED 24 HOURS PER DAY.
  2. $855,305 spent. GRIEF SUPPORT SERVICES: PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A LOVEDONE TO SUICIDE. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, 4,986 INDIVIDUALS WERE SUPPORTED THROUGH 225 SAFE PLACE MEETINGS AND 196 SURVIOVOR-SURVIVOR VISITS.
  3. $726,117 spent. COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS: PROVIDE EDUCATION TO GROUPSAND INDIVIDUALS ABOUT REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF SUICIDE. DURING THIS FISCALYEAR, 206 WORKSHOPS AND 70 COMMUNITY EVENTS WITH SUICIDE PREVENTION WORKSHOPS WERE HELD WITH 14,399 PARTICIPANTS.
  4. $1.1 million spent. HEY SAM PROGRAM: PROVIDES TIMELY MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS VIA PEER-TO-PEER TEXTS. THE HEY SAM TEXTLINE HAS BECOME A POWERFUL TOOL FOR SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, 4,918 TEXTS WERE RESPONDED TO.

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 July 1978.

    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.

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

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Samaritans Purse (Boone, NC), EIN 58-1437002. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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