Harvard Square Business Association Inc
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
TO ADVANCE THE COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND PUBLIC INTERESTS OF HARVARD SQUARE, TO PROMOTE A COMMERCIAL EXCHANGE, TO ACCUMULATE AND GIVE TO ITS MEMBERS BUSINESS INFORMATION, TO ADJUST CONTROVERSIES AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS, TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN UNIFORMITY IN COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS, AND TO PROMOTE JUST AND EQUITABLE PRINCIPLES OF TRADE.
- Income
- $623,258
- Spending
- $641,110
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 34
- Highest pay
- $214,976, exec. director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- THE HARVARD SQUARE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1910 FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING COMMERCE IN HARVARD SQUARE, WHILE BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE SQUARE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE HAVE ADDED THE TAGLINE, "WHILE BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE OUTSIDE SPACE". THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH OUR STATED GOALS. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING WAS A METHOD THAT SEEMED TO WORK BEST FOR HARVARD SQUARE. SUBSEQUENTLY, A SERIES OF ANNUAL EVENTS WERE CREATED TO ATTRACT PEOPLE THAT SPANNED THE ENTIRE DEMOGRAPHIC SPECTRUM. ON OCTOBER 12TH, 2025, WE CELEBRATED OUR 46TH ANNUAL OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATION AND GENERATED $ 73,010 IN INCOME AND HAD EXPENSES OF $35,921. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT WE HAD ABOUT 25,000 VISITORS DURING THE 6-HOUR PERIOD. ATTENDANCE WAS MUCH LOWER DUE TO RAINY CONDITIONS. HOWEVER, AS ALWAYS, OUR HOPE IS THAT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES HAVE A GREAT TIME, VISIT OUR STORES, EAT IN OUR RESTAURANTS AND REMEMBER THE SQUARE FONDLY SO THAT THEY COME BACK AS A FREQUENT VISITOR. WE ALSO HOPE THAT THEY TELL ALL THEIR FRIENDS TO DO THE SAME. THE SQUARE IS STILL ENJOYING A HIGH OCCUPANCY RATE AND OUR MEMBERSHIP CONTINUES TO GROW; WE ARE CURRENTLY ENJOYING A MEMBERSHIP OF STILL OVER 400, OF WHICH, 75% ARE LOCALLY-OWNED INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES. OUR MAJOR EXPENSE FOR 2025 WAS MARKETING EXPENSE OF $50,161 FOR VARIOUS HARVARD SQUARE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION EVENTS IN THE PUBLIC SPACE. OUR EVENTS ARE ALWAYS FREE, OPEN-TO-THE-PUBLIC, FAMILY-FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING TO ALL. OKTOBERFEST WAS OUR THIRD LARGEST EXPENSE AT $25,128. THE MAJOR EXPENSE CATEGORIES ARE TRULY AN INVESTMENT THAT REINFORCES OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING A WELCOMING, CLEAN AND SAFE SPACE FOR ALL OUR VISITORS, NEIGHBORS, STUDENTS AND BUSINESSES AND TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC SPACE. WE ORGANIZED 65 EVENTS IN 2025 THAT WERE FREE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE OUTSIDE PUBLIC SPACE. IN 2025, WE CONTINUED OUR ADVOCACY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS BY THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE. THE HARVARD SQUARE KIOSK RESTORATION PROJECT IS NOW COMPLETE AND FULLY OCCUPIED. THE PLAZA RESTORATION PROJECT IS UNDERWAY. THERE ARE TEN PHASES OF WHICH SEVERAL ARE NOW COMPLETE. THE ENTIRE PLAZA AND STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THIS PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETE IN THE SPRING OF 2026. WE CONTINUE TO SEE NEW BUSINESSES OPEN, MAJOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS ARE IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND THE FUTURE REMAINS BRIGHT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(6) business league.
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 November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 December 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 1985.
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 November 4, 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.