Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
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
THE SOUTHWEST BOSTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS LED BY PRINCIPLES OF RACIAL EQUITY AND INCLUSION, TO ALLEVIATE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES THAT IMPACT PEOPLE'S QUALITY OF LIFE AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES. IT SHALL BE LED BY AND FOR RESIDENTS OF THE HYDE PARK, ROSLINDALE, MATTAPAN, DORCHESTER AND WEST ROXBURY. WE WILL DEVELOP AND PRESERVE HOUSING FOR LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME PEOPLE; PREVENT DISPLACEMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY ELDERS AND THOSE OF LIMITED MEANS; AND STRENGTHEN THE COMMERCIAL BASE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE WILL WORK TO CREATE VIBRANT, STABLE AND HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS, THROUGH COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND RESIDENTIAL HEALTH AND THE ARTS THAT BRING LONG-TIME RESIDENTS AND NEWCOMERS OF ALL AGES AND DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TOGETHER.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $2.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- -99.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 91%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $53,819, interim executive director (as of 6/2024)
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
Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 110% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 42% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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 (3)
- $2.4 million spent. REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENTSWBCDC DEVELOPS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES IN THE BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS OF HYDE PARK AND ROSLINDALE, IN ORDER TO HELP SUSTAIN AND PRESERVE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ADDRESS THE ONGOING HOUSING CRISIS IN BOSTON. THE ORGANIZATION HAS A PORTFOLIO OF 95 AFFORDABLE UNITS ACROSS BOTH NEIGHBORHOODS. THE CDC OWNS 8 TOWNHOMES IN ROSLINDALE THAT WERE ACQUIRED AND PRESERVED AS AFFORDABLE IN 2016 THROUGH THE CITY OF BOSTON DND ACQUISITION AND OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM. IN 2018 THE CDC COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION ON 27-UNITS OF CO-DEVELOPED TRANSIT ORIENTED APARTMENTS ON FAIRMOUNT AVE IN HYDE PARK. IN 2019-2020, THE CDC ACQUIRED 4 PROPERTIES IN HYDE PARK, TOTALLING 34 MORE UNITS OF LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSING. IN 2022, THE CDC ACQUIRED 3 MORE PROPERTIES IN HYDE PARK AND ROSLINDALE, TOTALING A FURTHER 21 UNTS. SIX OF THESE UNITS ARE LEASED TO FAMILYAID FOR USE AS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR PREVIOUSLY UNHOUSED FAMILIES. THE CDC HAS AGGRESSIVELY GROWN ITS REAL ESTATE.THE CDC IS CURRENTLY IN THE PRE-DEVELOPMENT PHASE OF A REFINANCING PROJECT FOR 8 OF OUR 9 PROPERTIES. THIS REFINANCING WILL PROTECT THE AFFORDABILITY OF THESE PROPERTIES, PAY FOR UPDATING OF THE BUILDINGS AND DECREASE THE CARBON USE IN THEIR SYSTEMS THROUGH LONGER-TERM, LOW-COST FINANCING.
- $91,028 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENTSWBCDC RUNS THE HYDE PARK GREEN TEAM. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION HIRES BETWEEN 16 AND 25 YOUTH, AGES 14 - 23 TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE CITY-OWNED URBAN WILD SITES IN HYDE PARK. THIS PROGRAM IS CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT, WHICH RELIES ON THE GREEN TEAM TO SUPPORT ITS GOALS FOR ITS NATURAL SITES IN HYDE PARK AND THE BOSTON DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND ENGAGEMENT. THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES TRAINING ON JOB READINESS, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, FINANCIAL LITERACY AND URBAN AGRICULTURE,LANDSCAPING, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, WOODS SAFETY, AND JOBS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD. THE PROGRAM RUNS EACH SUMMER.
- $50,756 spent. GREEN INITIATIVE - COMMUNITY ORGANIZINGWE ARE WORKING IN PART WITH THE FAIRMOUNT INDIGO CDC COLLABORATIVE TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE THREATS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND PREPARING MITIGATION STRATEGIES. OUR THREE YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTALLYSUSTAINABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, GREEN JOBS AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE. CREATING URBAN TREE COVER AND GREEN SPACE WILL EMBED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS PROTECTIONS AGAINST NEGATIVE CLIMATE IMPACTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ARE WORKING ON CHANGES IN STATE AND CITY POLICY THATWILL IMPROVE AND CREATE HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES. THE CDC ALSO WORKS ON PRESERVING AND PROTECTING GREEN SPACES. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND THE SOLOMON FOUNDATION ON A PATH ALONG THE NEPONSET RIVERBANK, AND ARE ACTIVE ON THE EPA'S COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP FOR THEIR SUPERFUND CLEAN-UP ALONG THE NEPONSET RIVER IN HYDE PARK.
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 2001.
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.
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.