Project Hope Boston Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROJECT HOPE IS A MULTI SERVICE AGENCY THAT MOVES FAMILIES UP AND OUT OF POVERTY.PROJECT HOPE WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WOMEN AND FAMILIES IN THE DORCHESTER AND ROXBURY NEIGHBORHOODS OF BOSTON ON THEIR JOURNEYS UP AND OUT OF POVERTY. WE DO THIS BY BEING A CATALYST FOR CHANGE IN THE LIVES OF FAMILIES, DEVELOPING AND PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND FAMILY SUPPORT SOLUTIONS TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS.
- Income
- $9.8 million
- Spending
- $7.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 53%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $166,161, executive director (until 10/2024)
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 76% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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)
- $3.1 million spent. FAMILY CHILDCARE: IN 1988, PROJECT HOPE LAUNCHED THE FAMILY CHILDCARE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, AN INNOVATIVE VENTURE TO SUPPORT HOME-BASED CHILDCARE PROVIDERS. KNOWN TODAY AS THE FAMILY CHILDCARE NETWORK (FCC). THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES TECHNICAL SUPPORT, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, AND SUPPORT TO WOMEN TO HELP THEM ESTABLISH HOME-BASED DAYCARES THAT FOCUS ON QUALITY CARE AND EDUCATION. MANY OF OUR PROVIDERS ARE MULTI-LINGUAL AND PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED BILINGUAL/BICULTURAL CHILDCARE TO IMMIGRANT AND NON-IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ALIKE. FCC PROVIDERS ARE LICENSED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE. WE OFFER OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN COLLEGE LEVEL CHILD DEVELOPMENT COURSES AND A RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ON AN ONGOING BASIS. THESE INCLUDE TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, SAFETY, CHILD DEVELOPMENT.
- $1.5 million spent. SHELTER: PROJECT HOPE'S FAMILY SHELTER, FOUNDED IN 1981, WAS ONE OF THE FIRST EMERGENCY HOMELESS SHELTERS FOR FAMILIES IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS AND CONTINUES TO ADDRESS THE URGENT NEED FOR EMERGENCY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE OFFER A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR 11 WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN AT A TIME. THE FAMILIES WE PARTNER WITH FACE A NUMBER OF BARRIERS TO HOUSING STABILITY, INCLUDING LONG WAIT LISTS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING, FEWER SUBSIDIES FOR MARKET RATE HOUSING, RISING RENTS, RISING COSTS FOR HEAT, FOOD INSTABILITY, LACK OF ACCESS TO QUALITY CHILDCARE, AND FEW SLOTS IN JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS. EACH FAMILY WE SERVE HAS A PRIVATE ROOM AND ACCESS TO A COMMUNAL KITCHEN, DINING ROOM, LIVING ROOM AND CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY PLAYROOM. THE SHELTER STABILIZES FAMILIES THROUGH CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING SEARCH TO ASSIST THEM IN FINDING SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. FAMILIES ARE ALSO CONNECTED TO PROJECT HOPE'S WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMING. THE SHELTER IS A MODEL FOR A RESPECTFUL AND EMPOWERING APPROACH THAT PRIORITIZES HELPING WOMEN GAIN CONFIDENCE AND PREVAIL AGAINST TREMENDOUS ODDS.
- $236,466 spent. HOUSING SERVICES: THE ORIGINAL MISSION OF PROJECT HOPE'S HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT WAS TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR FAMILIES LIVING IN OUR FAMILY SHELTER. WHILE WE CONTINUE THAT WORK TODAY, OUR SERVICES HAVE EXPANDED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSTABILITY THROUGH EVICTION PREVENTION AND HOUSING SEARCH/PLACEMENT. OUR TEAM PROVIDES HOUSING COUNSELING, EVICTION PREVENTION, LANDLORD NEGOTIATION, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, BUDGETING ADVICE, AND EMERGENCY RENTAL FUNDS. WE ALSO HAVE MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM WHO WORK AT TWO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE OFFICES AND MEET WITH HOMELESS OR AT-RISK FAMILIES TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND ALTERNATIVES TO SHELTER.
- $531,538 spent. ADULT EDUCATION AND EMPLOYER PARTNERS: IN 1990, PROJECT HOPE ESTABLISHED THE ADULT EDUCATION SERVICES PROGRAM TO MEET THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME AND HOMELESS WOMEN. IN 1996, THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WAS FOUNDED TO ASSIST LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY SINGLE MOTHERS, GAIN WORKFORCE SKILLS AND ACCESS CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. AFTER OFFERING THESE TWO SERVICES AS STANDALONE PROGRAMS, WE COMBINED THEM INTO THE WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN 2019 TO BETTER SERVE OUR FAMILIES. THIS ENSURES THAT NO MATTER THEIR ENTRY POINT INTO PROJECT HOPE, ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL BENEFITS FROM A CAREER PATHWAY FOCUS THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO DEVELOP THE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT NECESSARY TO OBTAIN, RETAIN, AND IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT. WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION OFFER LOW-INCOME WOMEN, PRIMARILY FROM ROXBURY AND NORTH DORCHESTER, BASIC EDUCATION, AND ENGLISH LEARNING CLASSES, AS WELL AS A RANGE OF JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR EMPLOYEMENT SKILLS, CAREER EXPLORATION, AND EXPERTISE SPECIFIC TO ADMINISTRATIVE JOBS IN HEALTHCARE. WE LEVERAGE EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP EVERY PROGRAM GRADUATE SECURE A JOB OR INTERNSHIP AND WE PROVIDE CONTINUED SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THEIR FIRST YEAR OF EMPLOYMENT.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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