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Community Dispute Settlement Center Inc

EIN 04-3030799 · Cambridge, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CDSC PROMOTES BETTER WAYS TO UNDERSTAND AND DEAL WITH CONFLICT THROUGH SKILLED TEAMS OF PRO BONO MEDIATORS, VARIED TRAINING PROGRAMS AND BROAD COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

Income
$494,687
Spending
$407,506
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
15.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 59%
Employees
7
Volunteers
66
Highest pay
$89,000, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $121,305 spent. COURT SERVICES PROGRAM VOLUNTEER MEDIATORS OFFER INDIVIDUALS DISPUTE RESOLUTION OUTSIDE OF THE COURTROOM BY PROVIDING MEDIATION SERVICES IN DISTRICT COURTS FOR CONSUMERS IN SMALL CLAIMS, LANDLORD/TENANTS IN SUMMARY PROCESS CASES, AND OTHER CIVIL CASES; IN JUVENILE COURT FOR HARRASSMENT PREVENTION ORDERS (HPO) AND CHILD REQUIRING ASSISTANCE (CRA) AS WELL AS LAND COURT.
  2. $88,130 spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAM VOLUNTEER MEDIATORS OFFER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES THROUGH MEDIATION IN AREAS SUCH AS SEPARATION/DIVORCE FOR MARRIED AND NON-MARRIED COUPLES, NEIGHBORHOOD DISPUTES, WORKPLACE CONFLICTS AND PRISONER RE-ENTRY.
  3. $86,961 spent. TRAINING SERVICES PROGRAM ONE THOUSAND FIFTY-FOUR (1,054) PARTICIPANTS TOOK PART IN 71 TRAININGS: (2) MEDIATION TRAININGS- COMPREHENSIVE 32-HOUR SKILL BUILDING; A RESOURCE TO RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS. (4) YOUTH PEER MEDIATION TRAININGS; (7) CONTINUING EDUCATION SEMINARS FOR MEDIATORS; (47) CONFLICT SKILLS WORKSHOPS ENTITLED GOT CONFLICT? DEAL WITH CONFLICT EFFECTIVELY: TOOLS FOR YOUR TOOLBOX, WHICH ARE CUSTOMIZED FOR A BROAD RANGE OF HUMAN SERVICE PROFESSIONALS, PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS AND STAFF AND YOUTH GROUPS, BOTH SCHOOL- AND COMMUNITY-BASED; (11) GENERAL OUTREACH/INFO SESSIONS ABOUT CDSC SERVICES, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES PRO-BONO CONFLICT SKILLS WORKSHOPS, AS WELL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 September 1993.

    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.