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Boston 4 Celebrations Foundation Inc

EIN 04-3311403 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak20 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC CELEBRATION, CONCERT, AND FIREWORKS ON JULY 4THIN BOSTON, VIEWED BY THOUSANDS IN PERSON AND THROUGH THE MEDIA.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
-16.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
0
Volunteers
23
Highest pay
$1.3 million, president, trustee

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

Financial health

Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 833% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 79% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 3 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 August 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 (1)
  1. $3.6 million spent. THE BOSTON 4 CELEBRATIONS RETURNED TO THE CHARLES RIVER ESPLANADE ON JULY 4, 2025. KEITH LOCKHART LED THE BOSTON POPS ESPLANADE ORCHESTRA IN THE ORGANIZATION'S JOYOUS CELEBRATION OF THE COUNTRY'S INDEPENDENCE AT THE HATCH SHELL. THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON, THE CROWD AT THE ESPLANADE SWELLED. AN ESTIMATED 400,000 PEOPLE ENJOYED THE CONCERT. IN 2025, KEITH LOCKHART MARKED HIS 30TH YEAR AS THE BOSTON POPS CONDUCTOR. THE BOSTON POPS ESPLANADE ORCHESTRA WAS JOINED BY HEADLINERS LEEANN RIMES AND LESLIE ODOM JR, BOSTON'S OWN BELL BIV DEVOE, THE BOSTON CHILDREN'S CHORUS, AND THE U.S. ARMY FIELD BAND AND CHORUS. THE U.S. ARMY CHORUS SANG THE "STAR SPANGLED BANNER" AS WELL AS A "SALUTE TO OUR ARMED FORCES." (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)THE CONCERT CAME TO A CONCLUSION WITH A PERFORMANCE OF TCHAIKOVSKY'S 1812 OVERTURE WITH LIVE CANNONS FOLLOWED BY A HALF HOUR FIREWORKS DISPLAY THAT REQUIRED A TEAM OF 20 PEOPLE TO DESIGN, ENGINEER, LOAD IN 4,000 FIREWORKS SHELLS THAT LIT UP THE SKY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 August 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 1996.

    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.