Coalition for a Better Acre Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 50% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
COALITION FOR A BETTER ACRE (CBA) IS DEDICATED TO CREATING STABLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS THROUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $5.8 million
- Spending
- $4.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 50%
- Reserves
- 48.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 44%
- Employees
- 35
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $138,555, chief financial officer
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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 48.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 35% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1550% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 2513 of 13 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 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 (6)
- $2.2 million spent. CBA DEVELOPS AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO STABILIZE NEIGHBORHOODS IN LOWELL, HAVERHILL, AND DRACUT. SINCE 1982, CBA HAS DEVELOPED 556 RESIDENTIAL UNITS HOUSING MORE THAN 1,100 PEOPLE AND CONSISTING OF 18 DIFFERENT BUILDINGS/SITES IN LOWELL, HAVERHILL, AND DRACUT. SINCE 1982, CBA HAS INVESTED MORE THAN $189 MILLION IN DEVELOPING STABLE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THESE COMMUNITIES. OUR LANDMARK DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, NORTH CANAL, INVOLVED TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THE FAILING 267-UNIT HUD-OWNED COMPLEX IN 1989. IT WAS THE FIRST COMMUNITY TAKEOVER OF AN EXPIRING USE HUD PROPERTY IN THE UNITED STATES AND WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE DISPLACED THE LOW-INCOME TENANTS RESIDING THERE. NORTH CANAL IS NOW SLATED FOR EXTENSIVE RENOVATION AND EXPANSION OVER THE NEXT DECADE.
- CBA OPERATES THE ACRE'S ONLY FOOD PANTRY, SERVING AN AVERAGE OF 500 ACRE HOUSEHOLDS EACH MONTH, PROVIDING CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD AND SPICES IN A GROCERY STORE ENVIRONMENT. THE PANTRY MADE OVER 699 HOME DELIVERIES TO THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2025 ALONE. CBA ALSO PROVIDES COMPLETE THANKSGIVING TURKEY DINNERS TO ACRE RESIDENTS, WITH PLANS TO DISTRIBUTE 350 EACH NOVEMBER.
- CBA'S YES! PROGRAM PROVIDES 80 YOUTHS AGES 5 TO 13 PARTICIPATE IN OUR FREE YES! (YOUTH EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS) PROGRAM, ENJOYING YEAR-ROUND EXPOSURE TO ENRICHMENT AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES. AFTER SCHOOL, KIDS RECEIVE HOMEWORK AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT, CAREER EXPLORATION, AND TIME TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS. EACH DAY ENDS WITH A HEALTHY MEAL COOKED IN THE CBA KITCHEN. DURING SCHOOL VACATIONS AND SUMMER BREAK, YOUTH ENJOY FIELD TRIPS TO MUSEUMS, PARKS, AND HISTORIC SITES, HELPING TO CLOSE THE EXPERIENCE GAP BETWEEN LOW-INCOME YOUTHS AND THEIR HIGHER-INCOME PEERS. WE CREATED YES! AT THE REQUEST OF WORKING PARENTS LIVING IN CBA HOUSING WHO LACKED ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AFTER-SCHOOL CARE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF HOME. PARENTS REPORT FEELING CONFIDENT THEIR CHILDREN ARE RECEIVING RESOURCES DEMONSTRATING THE MANY PATHWAYS TO A BRIGHT AND SUCCESSFUL FUTURE WHILE THE PARENTS ARE AT WORK.
- CBA HOSTS EVENTS THAT FOSTER NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING ACRE FESTIVAL AND RESOURCE FAIR, WHERE 50 ORGANIZATIONS HELP LINK FAMILIES TO RESOURCES AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT LOWELL; ACRE CLEAN-UP, WHERE UP TO 30 TEAMS WORK SIDE BY SIDE TO BEAUTIFY AND CELEBRATE THE COMMUNITY; NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LOWELL HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE BIKE CONNECTOR, AND FIRST RESPONDERS. AND CBA'S ANNUAL MEETING EACH OCTOBER IS PLANNED ENTIRELY BY MEMBERS, WHO DECIDE ON THE THEME, DECOR, FOOD, AND ENTERTAINMENT.
- CBA PROMOTES VOTER PARTICIPATION IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS THAT VOTER TURNOUT IN THE ACRE IS CONSISTENTLY THE LOWEST AMONG LOWELL'S DISTRICTS, CBA HAS REDOUBLED ITS EFFORTS TO EDUCATE AND EXPLAIN, INFORM, AND ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO VOTE. THIS INCLUDES DOOR KNOCKING, TABLING AT COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND OUR EVER-POPULAR CANDIDATING EVENT, MODELED AFTER SPEED DATING, WHERE CANDIDATES MOVE FROM TABLE TO TABLE WITH FIVE MINUTES TO FIELD QUESTIONS, EXPLAIN THEIR PLATFORMS, AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPANTS TO VOTE.
- CBA OFFERS FREE BASIC ENGLISH INSTRUCTION DURING THE DAY AND IS PLANS TO AN EVENING OPTION IN 2026. ESOL REDUCES ISOLATION AND PROVIDES BASIC ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TO LOOK FOR JOBS, NAVIGATE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND TALK TO CHILDREN'S TEACHERS. IT ALSO PROVIDES THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR STUDENTS TO GO ON TO MORE INTENSIVE ESOL INSTRUCTION, BUT WHICH HAVE LONG WAITING LISTS.
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
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 November 6, 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 December 2024.
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 June 1982.
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.