People Helping People Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of People Helping People is to help meet the basic needs of Burlington, MAs at-risk residents. We do this through sustained community-wide efforts focused on providing hunger relief, emergency financial aid and holiday support.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 260
- Highest pay
- $67,063, executive director (as of march 2024)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 August 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)
- PHP Burlington Food Pantry: The Pantry provides supplemental food assistance on a weekly basis to help qualifying residents residents meet their nutritional needs. The pantry is set-up like a grocery store, but distribution continues to be done on a drive up basis. In total the Pantry distributed the equivalent of 312,994 pounds of food in addition to the distribution of donated Grocery Store Gift Cards totaling $10,500 (estimated at 8,400 pounds). As an alternate location to provide access to shelf stable items a Micropantry has been established at the Burlington Public Library in July 2024. Under the food pantry umbrella, the PHP Victory Garden is fully staffed by volunteers that produces fresh produce for pantry clients, which during the growing season accounted for approximately 3,600 pounds of food or an in kind value estimated at $7,100. Additionally, PHP runs a Lunch Program for kids that provides healthy food to eligible school-age children during school breaks. There were 412 total visits to the lunch program in 2024 for an average of 46 families and 115 children on a weekly basis in addition to 134 backpacks distributed to pantry children. Volunteers provided almost 12,000 hours of support to our staff to ensure that the Food Pantry and Victory Garden can provide the necessary support to the Pantry Clients. Program Service Accomplishments accumulated over 2,100 visits with an average of 176 households helped during the month or an increase of 14.5%. Addition cumulative statistics include: # of Adults: 2,839; # of Children: 2,105; # of Senior: 932; # of New Households: 74 (including displaced families); # of Veterans: 18; Pet Pantry: 2,300 pounds of food (estimated at an additional 21,600 pounds). Included in the total distributions were 9,290 pounds that were distributed to 38 distinct migrant families with the Mobile pantry.
- Holiday Program: Support the eligible families through Holiday Meals and the Wish Tree Program. While the majority items distributed for the Holiday programs are donated in kind, the organization will purchase open items for the Wish Tree to ensure wishes and basic needs requests are fulfilled for all the children. The total holiday gift program expenses are split between estimated in-kind donations of $71,309 and purchases of $15,338 partially offset in the year by donations labeled for Holiday and InGathering. Holiday Meals: Through a separate InGathering distribution, meals are distributed to the pantry clients on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving InGathering served 135 families through the distribution of 8,795 pounds of food, including an estimated weight applied to the $40 gift cards given to clients to supplement their Thanksgiving Meals. Several corporate sponsors support the program through in kind or cash donations. In December, PHP also distributed $4,945 of Grocery Store Gift Cards for the pantry clients to put towards a holiday meal. Wish Tree: Helps eligible families, providing children with gifts including clothing, shoes, bedding, toys, books and blankets, etc. The program distributed over 1,650 brand new items to 190 Children from 89 Families to fulfill basic needs and wishes. Additionally, gift cards were distributed to 71 active Senior Pantry Clients 65 or over and to 35 High School students. For the Wish Tree Program, children of Pantry Clients or those recommended through Burlington Youth & Family Services or the Public Schools receive: Sweatshirt, Pajamas, Underwear/Diapers, Shoes, books and 3 Wishes (with up to 1 Gift Card) with Blanket(s) per family. Additionally organizations have provided Socks and Generic Toys that are added to the items distributed.
- $17,319 spent. Covenant for Basic Needs: Established to meet the temporary, emergency needs of individuals and families who are in need of support to cover rent, utilities, emergency housing, medical needs, etc. Additionally, we have supported summer camps for children. All of the requests are screened by counselors at Burlington Youth & Family Services. Total Funding: $17,319 # of Claims: 45 Avg. Cost/Claim: $385 Avg. Monthly Funding: $1,443
- People Helping People Kathy Abouzahra Memorial Scholarship: The scholarship applications are reviewed by members of the Abouzahra Family that funded 100% of the scholarship in cooperation with a couple PHP Board Members. They are willing to award up to $5,000/year in scholarships. During the year, representatives from the family and board awarded 3 scholarships that totaled $2,500 to be paid in the coming year.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1989.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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