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Bigelow Cooperative Day Care Center

EIN 04-2887815 · Somerville, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BIGELOW COOPERATIVE DAY CARE CENTER IS A NON-PROFIT DAY CARE CENTER COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A POSITIVE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO NURTURE THE COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF INFANT, TODDLER AND PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN. PARENTS TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A LOVING, CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT WITH AN ANTII-BIAS MULTICULTURAL CURRICULUM. IN ADMITTING FAMILIES AND HIRING TEACHERS, BIGELOW STRIVES FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY, INCLUDING REPRESENTATION BASED ON RACE, GENDER, CULTURAL HERITAGE, RELIGION, SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND, SEXUAL PREFERENCE, MARITAL STATUS, DISABILITIES AND POLITICAL BELIEFS.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
17
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$84,038, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 August 31, 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)
  1. $1.2 million spent. BIGELOW COOPERATIVE DAY CARE CENTER, INC. IS A HIGH QUALITY PRESCHOOL AND EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LICENSED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE, FOR 49 CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN 3 MONTHS TO 7 YEARS AND IS LOCATED IN SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS. THE STATE OF THE ART CHILD CARE FACILITY, WHICH WAS BUILT IN 2012, INCLUDES ACCOMMODATION FOR 6 INFANTS, 16 PRESCHOOL CHILDREN, 9 MIXED INFANT AND TODDLERS, AND 18 MIXED TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOL AGED CHILDREN, AN OUTDOOR PLAY SPACE, AN INDOOR GROSS MOTOR ROOM AND PARKING FACILITIES FOR PICK UP AND DROP OFF. BIGELOW IS A COOPERATIVE WHICH, BY ITS NATURE, REQUIRES EXTENSIVE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND DIRECTION OF ITS PROGRAMS. REVENUES ARE RECEIVED PRIMARILY FROM PARENTS THROUGH TUITION FEES. IN ADDITION, TUITION SUBSIDIES ARE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS FOR INCOME ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 August 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 September 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.