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Boston Harbor Now Inc

EIN 04-3268863 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF GREATER BOSTON BENEFIT FROM A VIBRANT, RESILIENT, AND INCLUSIVE WATERFRONT, HARBOR, AND ISLANDS; THESE SPACES ARE EQUITABLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND ADAPTED TO CLIMATE CHANGE; AND TO ENSURE OUR PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ECONOMIC HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

Income
$10.1 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
33
Volunteers
991
Highest pay
$305,715, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 67% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 March 31, 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 (4)
  1. $2.2 million spent. BOSTON HARBOR NOW, INC. (BHN), AS THE NON-PROFIT PARTNER OF THE BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS NATIONAL AND STATE PARK, MANAGES A NUMBER OF OPERATIONS, FACILITIES, AND REVENUE-GENERATING SERVICES TO ENHANCE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND PROVIDE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE PARK. MANAGED SERVICES INCLUDE PUBLIC FERRY OPERATIONS, ISLAND-BASED FOOD SERVICE AND PRIVATE EVENTS. IN ADDITION, BHN MANAGES THE MAINLAND PARK WELCOME CENTER LOCATED IN BOSTON ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. BHN ALSO ORGANIZES PROGRAMMING, PROVIDES FREE AND REDUCED COST ACCESS TO UNDERSERVED YOUTH AND FAMILIES, AND WORKS WITH MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND NONPROFITS TO INCREASE USE AND APPRECIATION OF THE HARBOR.
  2. $840,485 spent. BOSTON HARBOR NOW, INC. LEADS HARBORWALK 2.0 TO ENSURE AN ACCESSIBLE, RESILIENT AND EQUITABLE HARBOR THROUGH PLANNING, POLICY, AND ADVOCACY WORK. TO ADDRESS THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, BOSTON HARBOR NOW WORKS TO REFORM REGULATIONS AND PROCESSES TO EXPEDITE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RESILIENCE PROJECTS, INCLUDING NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS ON THE WATERFRONT AND ISLANDS. WE REVIEW ALL MAJOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSALS ALONG THE BOSTON WATERFRONT TO ENSURE THAT RESILIENCE AND ACCESSIBILITY ARE MAXIMIZED.
  3. $477,784 spent. BOSTON HARBOR NOW, INC. PROVIDES THOUGHT LEADERSHIP FOR THE HARBOR, WATERFRONT AND ISLANDS, INCREASES AWARENESS ABOUT THE HARBOR, WATERFRONT AND ISLANDS, AND INCREASES ENGAGEMENT WITH THESE PLACES THROUGH PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, AND DIGITAL INTERACTION.
  4. $610,566 spent. THE STONE LIVING LAB IS LOOKING TO CREATE A FUTURE WHERE PEOPLE WORK WITH NATURE TO MAKE COASTAL REGIONS RESILIENT AND ADAPTIVE TO CLIMATE CHANGE WHILE ENHANCING NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENTS. IT IS AN INNOVATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP FOR TESTING AND SCALING UP NATURE-BASED APPROACHES TO CLIMATE ADAPTATION, COASTAL RESILIENCE, AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION IN THE HIGH-ENERGY, COLD-WATER ENVIRONMENT OF BOSTON HARBOR. THE LAB IS A PARTNERSHIP AMONG THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS, IN COLLABORATION WITH MEMBERS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TRIBE AT PONKAPOAG: UMASS BOSTON SCHOOL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BOSTON HARBOR NOW CITY OF BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS NATIONAL PARK SERVICELAB OPERATIONS ARE LED BY UMASS BOSTON SCHOOL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND BOSTON HARBOR NOW. BOSTON HARBOR NOW HELPED TO LAUNCH THE LAB AND BUILD A TEAM OF STAFF AND CONSULTANTS. WE CONTINUE TO POSITION AND BRAND IT; BUILD STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY; RUN A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM; ASSIST WITH THE RESEARCH AND MONITORING PROGRAM; ORGANIZE CONFERENCES; MANAGE AND LEAD THE REAL-TIME MONITORING IN BOSTON HARBOR PROJECT; AND ADVOCATE FOR LEGISLATION AND POLICY CHANGES FOR HOW CLIMATE ADAPTATION INFRASTRUCTURE CAN BE BUILT THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1995.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.