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The Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth Inc

EIN 04-3271457 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

MASSINC'S MISSION IS TO MAKE MASSACHUSETTS A PLACE OF CIVIC VITALITY AND INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY BY PROVIDING RESIDENTS WITH THE NONPARTISAN RESEARCH, REPORTING, ANALYSIS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND POLICY CHOICES, INFORM DECISION MAKING, AND HOLD THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
21
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$222,402, chief executive officer

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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. $1.3 million spent. COMMONWEALTH BEACON PROVIDES ITS READERS WITH NON-PARTISAN JOURNALISM COVERING POLITICS, POLICY AND CIVIC LIFE IN MASSACHUSETTS. WE PRODUCE A DAILY NEWSLETTER THAT CONTAINS ORIGINAL REPORTING ON A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES, INCLUDING HEALTH, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, ENERGY, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND POLITICS. WE ALSO PUBLISH OVER 300 OPINION PIECES PRODUCED BY CIVIC LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO SHARE THEIR IDEAS WITH THE PUBLIC. COMMONWEALTH BEACON ALSO PRODUCES A WEEKLY PODCAST, CALLED THE CODCAST, THAT FEATURES INTERVIEWS WITH LEADING FIGURES IN GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS AND CIVIC LIFE. IN 2024, WE PUBLISHED OVER 1,000 NEWS STORIES AND 300 OPINION PIECES.
  2. $1.0 million spent. THE MASSINC POLICY CENTER ADVANCES MASSINC'S MISSION THROUGH RESEARCH, CONVENING AND COLLABORATION. IN 2024, WE PUBLISHED 8 RESEARCH PAPERS ON A RANGE OF TOPICS FROM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO EDUCATION TO TRANSPORTATION. THESE RESEARCH PAPERS WERE DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND EXPERTS WHO HELP TO SHAPE OUR RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND UNDERSTAND THE DATA AND FINDINGS. WE SHARE OUR RESEARCH THROUGH PUBLIC EVENTS, EMAILS AND MEETINGS WITH INTERESTED PARTIES. THE POLICY CENTER ALSO HOSTS THE GATEWAY CITIES INNOVATION INSTITUTE WHICH WORKS TO UNLOCK THE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF SMALL TO MID-SIZE REGIONAL CITIES. THE INSTITUTE LEVERAGES MASSINC'S RESEARCH, POLLING, AND POLICY TEAM TO STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS AMONG GATEWAY CITY LEADERS AND ADVANCE A SHARED POLICY AGENDA.

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

  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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 August 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 November 4, 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.