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Community Rowing Inc

EIN 04-2863756 · Brighton, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT COMMUNITY ROWING INC., WE ARE DEDICATED TO FOSTERING A COMMUNITY THAT IS BOTH WELCOMING AND SUPPORTIVE. UNDER THE BANNER OF ROWING FOR ALL WE MAKE ROWING ACCESSIBLE WITHOUT REGARD TO INDIVIDUAL ABILITY, BACKGROUND OR EXPERIENCE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)CRI OFFERS EXCEPTIONAL, ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE ROWING PROGRAMS IN A DIVERSE COMMUNITY CONTEXT.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
149
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$172,459, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 October 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 (3)
  1. $2.0 million spent. YOUTH COMPETITIVE (SPRING, SUMMER & FALL) - YOUTH COMPETITIVE ROWING AT COMMUNITY ROWING, INC. (CRI). THE ORGANIZATION SETS AN UNPARALLELED STANDARD FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING. OUR AWARD WINNING COACHING STAFF ARE FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING THE WHOLE PERSON, AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM DEVELOP AWARENESS, MATURITY AND AN INTEREST IN SUPPORTING THEIR COMMUNITY AS THEY LEARN TO TRAIN AND COMPETE ON THE CHARLES RIVER. THE COMPETITIVE VARSITY TEAM IS A YEARLONG YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT LEVERAGES THE SPORT OF ROWING TO CREATE MATURE, COMMUNITY ORIENTED YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES. PRACTICING FIVE OR SIX TIMES A WEEK, THE YOUTH IN THE PROGRAM ARE GUIDED BY AWARD WINNING COACHES WHO ARE COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING THE WHOLE PERSON.
  2. $1.4 million spent. CRI YOUTH AND ADULT RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS SERVE A BROAD SWATH OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH MULTIPLE PROGRAMMATIC AVENUES FOR PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN TO ROW AND THEN CARRY THEIR NEW FORMED SKILLS INTO RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS. CRI SERVES MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH WHO ARE EXPLORING ROWING FOR THE FIRST TIME THROUGH AFTER SCHOOL AND WEEKEND PROGRAMMING. IN THE SUMMER WE PROVIDE MORNING AND AFTERNOON YOUTH PROGRAMS THAT ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEARN ROWING IN INCREMENTS FROM ONE WEEK INTRODUCTION CLASSES TO FULL SUMMER RECREATIONAL SCHEDULES. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDE ADULT LEARN TO ROW PROGRAMS IN BOTH TEAM BOAT ROWING PROGRAMS AND IN SINGLE SEAT BOATS AT TIMES CONVENIENT TO PEOPLE WITH TRADITIONAL WORK SCHEDULES AS WELL AS MID DAY AND EVENING PROGRAMS. LEARN TO ROW AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE THE BACKBONE OF PROGRAMS WE OFFER TO THE COMMUNITY AND ARE A HALLMARK OF CRI'S REACH INTO A VARIETY OF COMMUNITIES AROUND THE BOSTON AREA.
  3. $1.4 million spent. OUTREACH PROGRAMS (MILITARY, PARA & LET'S ROW BOSTON) - COMMUNITY ROWING, INC. PROVIDES OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES TO MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDERSERVED AND/OR UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE SPORT OF ROWING THROUGH OUR MILITARY, PARA ROWING, LET'S ROW BOSTON PROGRAMS. WE WORK WITH STRONG INSTITUTIONAL & COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO EXPAND RESOURCES TO CREATE SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS FOR DISTINCT GROUPS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending October 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1986.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.