More Than Words Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER YOUTH WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE, COURT INVOLVED, HOMELESS OR OUT OF SCHOOL TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR LIVES BY TAKING CHARGE OF A BUSINESS.
- Income
- $12.9 million
- Spending
- $10.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 5.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 57%
- Employees
- 333
- Volunteers
- 648
- Highest pay
- $170,275, coo
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: 75 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 41% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 15 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 (1)
- $8.9 million spent. MTW IS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE THAT EMPOWERS SYSTEM-INVOLVED YOUTH TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR LIVES BY TAKING CHARGE OF A BUSINESS. WE SERVE THE BOSTON AREA'S MOST UNDERSERVED YOUNG PEOPLE WHO FACE COMPOUNDING RISK FACTORS: 55% ARE INVOLVED IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, 41% ARE COURT-INVOLVED, AND 25% FACE HOMELESSNESS. OVER THE PAST 20+ YEARS, MTW HAS DEVELOPED AND REFINED A MODEL THAT CONSISTENTLY EMPOWERS YOUTH TO ACHIEVE MEASURABLE OUTCOMES IN EDUCATION, WORK, AND LIFE.AT MTW YOUTH BEGIN WITH INTENSIVE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO HELP THEM GET STABILIZED AND READY FOR JOB TRAINING, INCLUDING WORK ON ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS, TRANSPORTATION, FOOD SECURITY, AND HOUSING. THEN YOUTH EARN A JOB MANAGING EVERY FACET OF A $4M+ BUSINESS, DEVELOPING VALUABLE, TRANSFERABLE SKILLS APPROXIMATELY 10-25 HOURS/WEEK. YOUTH SOURCE USED BOOKS AND CLOTHING ITEMS, SELL THEM ONLINE AND IN THREE RETAIL STORES, RUN A FLEXIBLE EVENT SPACE, AND GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY ON A MOBILE BOOKSTORE. THEY ALSO HOLD A SECOND, EQUALLY IMPORTANT YOU JOB, IN WHICH THEY RECEIVE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT TO WORK TOWARDS PERSONAL GOALS. TWO-PLUS YEARS OF CONTINUED SUPPORT IN THE CAREER SERVICES PROGRAM AND ACCESS TO BRIDGE FUNDING HELP YOUTH TRANSITION TO OTHER JOBS, PERSIST IN EDUCATION, AND GET ON A PATH TO A LIVING WAGE. THROUGH THIS TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAM, WE PROVIDE THE STRUCTURE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO EMPOWER OUR YOUTH TO DO THE HARD WORK OF TRANSFORMING THEIR OWN LIVES.THIS MODEL WORKS BECAUSE WORK WORKS. IN OUR MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED FISCAL YEAR WE SERVED 320 YOUTH. 85% OF GRADUATES WERE PRODUCTIVELY ENGAGED IN SCHOOL AND/OR WORK AND 97% OF YOUTH EITHER HAD EARNED OR WERE ON TRACK TO EARN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR HISET.
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 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 October 13, 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 June 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 October 1983.
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 October 21, 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.