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Save the Harbor Save the Bay Inc Boston Fish Pier

EIN 04-2908768 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO RESTORE AND PROTECT BOSTON HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT AND SHARE THEM WITH THE PUBLIC FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
47
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$152,415, executive director

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 (4)
  1. $641,637 spent. BETTER BEACHES PROGRAM: WE LEAD AND MANAGE THE METROPOLITAN BEACHES COMMISSION FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE, WHICH ISSUES AN ANNUAL REPORT FOCUSING ATTENTION ON THE STATE OF THE REGION'S PUBLIC BEACHES FROM NAHANT TO NANTASKET. OUR BETTER BEACHES PROGRAM STRENGTHENS BOSTON'S WATERFRONT NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE REGION'S BEACHFRONT COMMUNITIES BY HOSTING AND SPONSORING HUNDREDS OF FREE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS ON THE REGION'S PUBLIC BEACHES FROM NAHANT TO NANTASKET INCLUDING CONCERTS, WORKSHOPS, CLAMBAKES AND FAMILY NIGHTS, SAND SCULPTURE COMPETITIONS AND HEALTHY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES INCLUDING SWIMMING AND KAYAKING. THE FOCUS OF THESE EVENTS IS TO IMPROVE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THESE SPACES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO FACE PHYSICAL, LANGUAGE, MONETARY AND OTHER BARRIERS TO ENJOY OUR REGION'S PUBLIC BEACHES. IN 2024, SAVE THE HARBOR FUNDED 201 FREE BEACH EVENTS FROM NAHANT TO NANTASKET THROUGH THE BETTER BEACHES GRANT PROGRAM.
  2. $539,174 spent. YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS: SAVE THE HARBOR/SAVE THE BAY RUNS THE REGION'S LARGEST FREE, HARBOR-FOCUSED YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, CONNECTING OVER 300,000 YOUTH, TEENS AND FAMILIES TO BOSTON HARBOR AND THE BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS SINCE WE BEGAN THEM IN 2002. OUR FREE PROGRAMS INCLUDE EXCURSIONS TO SPECTACLE AND GEORGES ISLANDS IN THE BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK, AND FISHING TRIPS TO GIVE SMALLER COMMUNITY GROUPS A CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH THE SPECIES IN THE HARBOR. IN 2024, SAVE THE HARBOR ENGAGED 19,099 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN FREE, DIVERSE, AND ACCESSIBLE YOUTH-LED PROGRAMS ON THE BOSTON HARBOR, THE REGION'S PUBLIC BEACHES AND THE BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS.
  3. $167,723 spent. CLEAN WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC POLICY: SAVE THE HARBOR CONVENES AND LEADS AN INDEPENDENT BEACHES SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHICH PRODUCES AN ANNUAL REPORT CARD ON WATER QUALITY AND BEACH FLAGGING ACCURACY ON THE METROPOLITAN REGION'S PUBLIC BEACHES THAT ARE MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION. IT ALSO ADVISES US AS WE DEVELOP SITE SPECIFIC PLANS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY ON THE REGION'S PUBLIC BEACHES.WE ALSO CHAIR THE OUTFALL MONITORING SCIENCE ADVISORY PANEL'S (OMSAP) PUBLIC INTEREST ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PIAC) AND SERVE ON THE BOSTON HARBOR DREDGING PROJECT TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP AND ON THE CITY OF BOSTON'S MUNICIPAL HARBOR PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR BOTH THE DOWNTOWN AND THE SOUTH BOSTON WATERFRONT.
  4. $63,588 spent. THE BOSTON HARBOR WOMEN OF COLOR COALITION CREATES A SPACE THAT CENTERS ON WOMEN OF COLOR AND IS FOCUSED ON CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS, CREATING PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS OF ADVANCEMENT, DEVELOPING CULTURALLY INFORMED PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS, AND BUILDING STRATEGIES TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

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 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 December 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 July 1987.

    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.