People Making a Difference Through Community Service Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PMD seeks to create a world in which people and their businesses are socially aware and engaged in their communities such that they approach volunteerism by learning about problems and needs, volunteering their time, providing resources to address these programs and needs, and carrying out these activities dependably, safely and enjoyably in-person, virtually, and/or remotely.
- Income
- $132,245
- Spending
- $114,885
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 22.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 278
- Highest pay
- $67,602, president & 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 22.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 91% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 6 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.
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 (1)
- $94,846 spent. 2024 Program Service Accomplishments People Making a Difference through Community Service, Inc. (PMD) promotes informed and responsible volunteerism by engaging individuals in meaningful, hands-on work that meets local needs and by helping charities and businesses develop their own, successful community involvement programs. People Making a Difference directly helped 22 charities and their clients. PMD partnered with these charities to plan and to complete 31 productive, high quality service projects involving 278 motivated volunteers in-person and virtually. PMD recruited 171 new volunteers who participated in the service projects described below. Together with 107 PMD volunteers who had participated in prior PMD projects, they gave 2,542 hours to complete needed work in 21+ communities. 82% (18) of the charities that PMD assisted had no staff dedicated to working with volunteers or relied on part-time staff, while the other 18% (4) received PMD assistance due to special needs. In 2024, PMD's community service program addressed the following issues: 43% Literacy (science, Braille), 23% Environment/Conservation, 18% Poverty/Hunger, 5% Youth Development, and 10% Support of Troops & First Responders. PMD's specific activities included the following: (continued on Schedule O) 2024 PMD SERVICE PROJECTS: 1/15, 3/16, 8/10 & 11/24 Prepare and serve meals and socialize with formerly homeless or at-risk for homelessness elderly residents of Hearth's Anna Bissonnette House, South End. ABH has 41 frail residents for whom good nutrition and socialization are often challenging. 1/27 & 2/17 Officiate for virtual middle (NV & OK)) & high (MI) school science bowl competitions. These virtual competitions organized by the National Science Bowl (NSB) engage students in preparing for and answering questions about life science, physical science, earth and space science, energy, and mathematics. One of the main goals is to excite students to study math, science, and engineering and to pursue related careers. Officiating PMD volunteers moderate, judge questions, and recognize to enable teams composed of up to 5 students/team to compete virtually. 2/3, 2/10&11, 3/2&3 + 3/23 Prepare and officiate for NY, GA, MA-ME-MI, and NJ-FL regional competitions of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) as rules judges, timekeepers, scorekeepers, science judges, science graders, moderators, monitors, recognizers, Team Challenge Question (TCQ) software hosts and proctors, and hosts. These competitions test ocean knowledge, including the biology, chemistry, geology, physics, history, and economics of the ocean as well as ocean-related current events in a fast-paced, quiz-show style. One of the main goals is to expose talented and aspiring students to the wonder of marine science and associated career opportunities. PMD recruited, trained and supported volunteers who officiated for three regional bowls hosted by PMD: Bay Scallop (NY), Blue Lobster (MA & ME), and Shore (NJ) Bowls. Furthermore, PMD supported another regional bowl, Southern Stingray-GA by providing and preparing PMD's web-based software, osb.pmd.org, for administering and grading Team Challenge Questions. Officiating PMD volunteers enabled 6 teams of 33 students and teachers/coaches from NY high schools, 12 teams composed of 65 students and teachers/coaches from MA, ME & MI high schools, plus 6 teams composed of 36 students and teachers/coaches from NJ & FL high schools, to compete. PMD recruited, trained, assigned, and supported all Bay Scallop (21), Blue Lobster (42), and Shore Bowl (26) volunteer officials. 2/24 Officiate for the Northeast Regional Middle School Science Bowl competition of the NSB as moderators, scorekeepers, timekeepers, science judges, and administrators, Cambridge (MIT). Officiating PMD volunteers enabled 12 teams composed of 72+ middle school students and their teachers/coaches to compete in-person. PMD recruited, helped train and assign, and supported all volunteers. Participating schools were from Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. 3/12 Collect/host and organize bulk seed order for Boston community gardeners. Create online system so that gardeners from 44+ community gardens could request 12,500+ bulk-ordered seed packets for The Trustees. PMD completed, organized, and hosted its 27th annual counting of packets and fulfillment of requests outdoors. 3/9 Host and officiate for the virtual Maine High School Science Bowl for the NSB. Organize head-to-head, virtual competition. Recruit, train, and support 32 volunteers who officiate for head-to-head matches between 14 teams composed of up to five students/team from nine schools. 4/27 & 7/21 Erect fencing for conservation grazing project & remove invasive black swallow wort at Rock Meadow Conservation Area, Belmont. Pound in t-posts, stretch fencing, attach fencing to posts, etc. so that sheep can graze down grasses instead of relying on fossil-fuel-powered mowing to maintain this meadow. 4/23 & 7/18 Assemble monocular microscopes (3 classroom sets) for Boston Public Richard J. Murphy School, Dorchester, to improve science education for Next Generation Science Standards via hands-on learning by middle school students. These are particularly needed since there are not enough working microscopes for classroom sets and since students are not allowed to share equipment due to infection risk management. 5/18 Buy & pack needed toiletries, hand sanitizer, and snacks for street outreach by Pine Street Inn, Boston's largest homeless shelter. 6/8 Fulfill prisoners' request letters for educational, self-help, and other books donated to the Prison Book Program, Quincy, that strives to provide prisoners across the country with free, quality reading materials to expand their minds beyond the walls that cage them, to change their own lives, and to speak out for their rights. 6/11&13 & 9/21 Make survival bracelets and lanyards for U.S. troops and first responders sent CARE packages by Operation Gratitude
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1994.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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