Old North Foundation of Boston Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OLD NORTH ILLUMINATED INSPIRES ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP AND COURAGEOUS, COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP BY INTERPRETING AND PRESERVING THE OLD NORTH CHURCH & HISTORIC SITE (LOCATED IN BOSTON'S NORTH END). ONI ENVISIONS A FUTURE IN WHICH EVERYONE WILL SEE THEIR STORIES, STRUGGLES, AND HOPES REFLECTED IN PLACES OF PROMINENCE AND OUR SHARED AMERICAN HISTORY. PROGRAMMING FOCUSES ON THREE AIMS: ON-SITE INTERPRETATION OF THE HISTORIC SITE, PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC SITE, AND DEVELOPING LESSON PLANS AND DIGITAL RESOURCES FOR CLASSROOMS AND ADULT LEARNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 3.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 44%
- Employees
- 60
- Volunteers
- 42
- Highest pay
- $176,591, 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 51% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 18 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
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (2)
- $1.0 million spent. INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION:EACH YEAR, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS EXPERIENCE OLD NORTH CHURCH & HISTORIC SITE. CENTERING THE CHURCH'S HISTORY IN CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE, OUR INTERPRETATION WEAVES TOGETHER THE SEMINAL STORY OF REVERE'S MIDNIGHT RIDE WITH THEMES OF ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP AND THE CHURCH'S PARADOXICAL TIES TO 18TH CENTURY ENSLAVEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, ONI SUPPORTS EDUCATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH CURRICULA AND ENRICHMENT MATERIALS THAT TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THE PAST AND ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS ACTIVE CITIZENS WHO ARE GAINING THE WISDOM, CONFIDENCE AND MOTIVATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN THE 2023 - 2024 SCHOOL YEAR, THE PROGRAM EXPANDED TO REACH 14,000+ STUDENTS IN 44 STATES. IN 2024, ONI BEGAN A MAJOR RESTORATION PROJECT TO RECOVER AND RESTORE 20 CHERUB MURALS PAINTED IN THE EARLY 18TH CENTURY.
- $252,480 spent. PRESERVATION:ONI PRESERVES OLD NORTH CHURCH AND ITS ACCOMPANYING HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND GARDENS, INLCUDING THE 1715 CLOUGH HOUSE, A 1918 CHAPEL AND A PARISH HOUSE DATING TO THE NORTH END'S TENEMENT ERA.
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
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 December 2024.
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 August 1991.
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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