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Caritas Communities Inc

EIN 04-2875899 · Braintree, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

AT CARITAS COMMUNITIES, WE PREVENT HOMELESSNESS BY PROVIDING VERY LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS WITH PERMANENT HOUSING, SUPPORT, SENSE OF COMMUNITY, AND EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES. FOR OVER 39 YEARS, CARITAS HAS HELPED FILL THE NEED FOR SAFE, SECURE HOUSING IN GREATER BOSTON.

Income
$9.2 million
Spending
$7.4 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
-26.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
81
Volunteers
28
Highest pay
$211,450, executive director/president

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: 45 out of 100. Higher than 24% 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

    0 of 20

    It owes 114% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 76% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

    14 of 14 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. $2.0 million spent. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT - CARITAS COMMUNITIES, INC. SERVES AS THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER AND PROPERTY MANAGER OF ALL OF ITS 34 BUILDINGS LOCATED IN 14 GREATER BOSTON COMMUNITIES, AND HAS SERVED AS A CO-DEVELOPER OF THREE ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS LOCATED IN SOUTH BOSTON. CARITAS COMMUNITIES, INC. UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF STABLE, SAFE, AND QUALITY HOUSING AND BY SERVING AS THE DEVELOPER AND PROPERTY MANAGER OF ITS RENTAL HOUSING, CARITAS COMMUNITIES, INC. IS ABLE TO ENSURE ITS HOUSING MAINTAINS THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE ITS RESIDENTS DESERVE.
  2. $2.9 million spent. RENTAL HOUSING - CARITAS COMMUNITIES, INC. PROVIDES PERMANENT HOMES TO MORE THAN 1,000 VERY LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS. FOR OVER 39 YEARS, CARITAS HAS HELPED FILL THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE, SAFE, SECURE HOUSING IN GREATER BOSTON. WE PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND STABILIZE NEIGHBORHOODS. CARITAS COMMUNITIES, INC. PRIDES ITSELF ON PROVIDING SAFE, WELL MAINTAINED, STABLE HOUSING. EACH HOUSE IS SUPERVISED BY A LIVE-IN RESIDENT MANAGER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE RESIDENTS AND THE UPKEEP OF THE PROPERTY. THE CARITAS MODEL CREATES SUSTAINABLE PROPERTIES THAT LESSEN THE NEED FOR HOMELESS SHELTERS. WE MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO HAVE A PERMANENT HOME, AND TO MAINTAIN DIGNITY AND STABILITY IN THEIR LIVES.
  3. $133,633 spent. HEALTHY RESIDENTS - CARITAS DEVELOPED THE HEALTHY RESIDENT PROGRAM TO HELP HEAL THE OUTCOMES OF POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS THAT RESULT IN ISOLATION, DISTRUST, DEPRESSION AND POOR HEALTH. CARITAS' HEALTHY RESIDENT PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES FREE Y MEMBERSHIPS, COMMUNITY MEALS, OPEN ART WORKSHOPS, WRITING WORKSHOPS, BUDGET WORKSHOPS AND LIBRARIES IN OUR HOMES, ALL INTENDED TO PROVIDE CARITAS RESIDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS AND PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT FACILITATE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLNESS AND SOCIAL BELONGING.
  4. $128,018 spent. RESIDENT SERVICES - CARITAS COMMUNITIES PROVIDES ON-SITE COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO RESIDENTS IN NEED OF AN EXTRA HAND. OUR PROFESSIONAL RESIDENT SUPPORT STAFF ARE REGULARLY ON-SITE AT OUR HOUSES WITH THE AIM OF ESTABLISHING TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESIDENTS. THIS APPROACH ENABLES US TO HELP RESIDENTS IDENTIFY THEIR NEEDS AND THE CHALLENGES THEY ARE FACING, AND CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
  5. $57,402 spent. EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE - BY PROVIDING EMERGENCY FUNDS TO COVER RENT DURING A TEMPORARY SETBACK, RESIDENTS WHO ARE SCARCELY MAKING ENDS MEET DO NOT HAVE TO FEAR LOSING THEIR HOME DUE TO A FEW DAYS OF MISSED WORK BECAUSE OF ILLNESS, REDUCED WORK HOURS OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THEIR CONTROL. THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO HELP KEEP TENANTS IN THEIR HOMES BY PROVIDING EMERGENCY FUNDS TO COVER THEIR RENT DURING A TEMPORARY FINANCIAL CRISIS. NINETY PERCENT OF GRANT RECIPIENTS RE-STABILIZE AND ARE ABLE TO RESUME REGULAR RENT PAYMENTS.

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 October 13, 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 2025.

    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 March 1987.

    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 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.