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Fenway Community Development Corp

EIN 04-2666507 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FENWAY CDC WORKS TO PRESERVE THE FENWAY AS A VIBRANT AND DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD BY DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PROVIDING PROGRAMS THAT ENRICH LIVES, AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY VOICES.

Income
$9.8 million
Spending
$7.2 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-47.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 70%
Employees
20
Volunteers
56
Highest pay
$223,411, deputy dir. & head of real estate

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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 78% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (5)
  1. $4.5 million spent. RENTAL PROPERTIES - IN 2024, OUR WHOLLY-OWNED RENTAL PROPERTIES INCLUDED: 15-25 HEMENWAY STREET HOUSING WHICH IS A 24-UNIT MIXED INCOME HOUSING PROPERTY ; FENWAY APARTMENTS, LLC WHICH COMPRISES 22 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 108 PETERBOROUGH STREET.; NEW FENWAY WESTLAND, LLC WHICH IS A 96 UNIT MIXED-INCOME HOUSING DEVELOPMENT; AND 43 HEMENWAY DEVELOPER LLC WHICH IS A 6-UNIT RENTAL PROPERTY. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH OUR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, FENWAY CDC CONTROLS FOUR OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROPERTIES. FENWAY CDC ALSO PURSUED OPPORTUNITIES TO PRESERVE EXISTING AND BUILD NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS DESCRIBED IN SCHEDULE O UNDER OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES.
  2. $476,808 spent. RESIDENT SERVICES AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT - FOR THREE DECADES, FENWAY CDC HAS OFFERED COUNSELING, CASE MANAGEMENT, WORKSHOPS, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO HELP LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME RESIDENTS OF FENWAY AND OTHER BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS. DURING 2024, OUR PROGRAMS PROVIDED UNEMPLOYED AND LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO GAIN FINANCIAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY. WE HELPED THEM OBTAIN EDUCATION AND CAREER CREDENTIALS, SKILLS TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION ADVANCEMENT PROGRAMS, AND ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS. OUR FINANCIAL EDUCATION HELPED VULNERABLE RESIDENTS TO OVERCOME BARRIERS AND INSTILLED POSITIVE BEHAVIORS TO BUILD FINANCIAL STABILITY. OUR HEALTH & WELLNESS PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY EVENTS IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS.
  3. $891,156 spent. AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN 2024, FENWAY CDC PROVIDED OVER 750 RESIDENTS WITH SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOMES. WE PURCHASED A PARCEL ON QUEENSBERRY STREET TO DEVELOP INTO 24 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION ON BURBANK TERRACE, LLC, A 27-UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROPERTY IN 2024. WE PREPARED 43 HEMENWAY STREET FOR CONVERSION TO 6 AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITS. FENWAY CDC AND ANOTHER NON-PROFIT JOINTLY PREPARED AN EXISTING PROPERTY AT 20 CHARLESGATE WEST (THE GUILD HOUSE) IN THE FENWAY FOR REDEVELOPMENT INTO 86-UNITS OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING. WE PURSUED OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD AND PRESERVE NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING. FENWAY CDC COLLABORATED WITH DEVELOPERS AND INSTITUTIONS TO FORGE PARTNERSHIPS TO CREATE FUTURE HOUSING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES & INDIVIDUALS.
  4. $198,455 spent. ASSET MANAGEMENT FENWAY CDC PROVIDED OVERSIGHT OF 576 MIXED-INCOME APARTMENTS AND ENSURED THAT OUR PROPERTIES ARE PHYSICALLY AND FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE. WE CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE PROPERTY FINANCES AND WORKED CLOSELY WITH PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND ACROSS FENWAY CDC DEPARTMENTS TO SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS
  5. $439,644 spent. COMMUNITY PLANNING & ORGANIZING IN 2024, FENWAY CDC WORKED WITH RESIDENTS, NON-PROFITS, AND CITY OFFICIALS TO RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY AND STATE'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICIES TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT AND HOMELESSNESS, ADDRESS RACIAL INEQUITIES, CREATE AND PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND EMPOWER COMMUNITIES. OUR EFFORTS ADDRESSED THE CHALLENGES OF HIGH PROPERTY ACQUISITION COSTS AND THE NEED FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME RESIDENTS. RESIDENT LEADERS LEARNED TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH CITY AND STATE OFFICIALS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS. THEY ALSO MONITORED THE DEVELOPMENTS OF PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, HOSPITALS, AND UNIVERSITIES AND SHARED COMMENTS AT COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO MITIGATE ANY NEGATIVE DEVELOPMENT IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTIAL AREA. FENWAY CDC ALSO EDUCATED AT-RISK RESIDENTS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION, TENANTS RIGHTS, AND SUPPORTED COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

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 January 1980.

    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.

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.