Boston Athletic Assoc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $37.9 million
- Spending
- $36.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 9.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 50
- Volunteers
- 10,065
- Highest pay
- $387,450, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 83 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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 June 30, 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 (2)
- $25.8 million spent. THE BOSTON MARATHON PRESENTED BY BANK OF AMERICA (THE "BOSTON MARATHON") AMONG THE LEADING ATHLETIC EVENTS IN THE WORLD. THOSE WHO COMPETE RANGE FROM THE FINEST LONG DISTANCE ATHLETES IN THE WORLD - WHO COMPETE FOR SUBSTANTIAL PRIZE MONEY - TO CITIZEN ATHLETES FOR WHOM COMPETING IN THE BOSTON MARATHON REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT PERSONAL AMBITION. THE BAA HAS MANAGED AND OPERATED THE BOSTON MARATHON CONTINUOUSLY SINCE 1897. THE BAA, THROUGH THE BOSTON MARATHON, AND IN SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S OVERALL MISSION OF PROMOTING HEALTH AND FITNESS AND AN OVERALL HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, PROVIDES PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: 1. ENCOURAGING THE PUBLIC TO TRAIN FOR, QUALIFY FOR, AND RUN IN THE BOSTON MARATHON. 2. THE FACT THAT THE BOSTON MARATHON IS THE ONLY ANNUALLY CONTESTED MARATHON FOR WHICH MOST PARTICIPANTS QUALIFY BY MEETING RIGOROUS QUALIFICATION STANDARDS ENCOURAGES ATHLETES TO ASPIRE TO A HIGH LEVEL OF FITNESS, AND IN THE PROCESS, DISPLAY THE BENEFITS OF SO DOING TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. QUALIFICATION FOR THE BOSTON MARATHON REPRESENTS AN ASPIRATION FOR MANY ATHLETES, AND ACHIEVING THAT QUALIFICATION IS A SOURCE OF CONSIDERABLE GRATIFICATION AND SATISFACTION, ALL IN FURTHERANCE OF THEIR PURSUIT OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. 3. IN CONNECTION WITH THE BOSTON MARATHON, THE BAA ASSISTS MARATHON RUNNERS TO FUNDRAISE FOR A WIDE ARRAY OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, MANY OF WHICH (A) PROMOTE HEALTH AND FITNESS, (B) CONDUCT RESEARCH AIMED AT TREATING AND ERADICATING DISEASE, OR (C) PROVIDE HEALTHCARE TREATMENT TO PERSONS AFFLICTED WITH SERIOUS DISEASES. THE BANK OF AMERICA BOSTON MARATHON OFFICIAL CHARITY PROGRAM ("OCP") ENABLES ELECTED CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS TO RAISE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR WORTHWHILE CAUSES. IN 2025, THE OCP REACHED A NEW RECORD FUNDRAISING LEVEL OF $50.4 MILLION ACROSS 176 ORGANIZATIONS. SINCE THE OCP'S INCEPTION IN 1989, MORE THAN $600 MILLION HAS BEEN RAISED SURROUNDING THE BOSTON MARATHON. 4. THE BOSTON MARATHON REPRESENTS A SOURCE OF CONSIDERABLE CIVIC PRIDE TO MANY RESIDENTS OF THE GREATER BOSTON AREA. THEIR SUPPORT AND THE RESILIENCE AND STRENGTH THAT THEY HAVE DISPLAYED, ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY, SERVE TO ENHANCE CIVIC PRIDE IN THE RESILIENCE OF THOSE RESIDENTS.
- $6.6 million spent. DESCRIBED HERE ARE THE OTHER EVENTS AND PROGRAMS CONDUCTED BY THE BAA, IN ADDITION TO THE BOSTON MARATHON, THAT PROMOTE HEALTH AND FITNESS. THEY COMPRISE: (1) THE CONDUCT OF LONG DISTANCE, MASS PARTICIPATION RUNNING EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, (2) THE PROVISION OF A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO BENEFIT GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE GREATER BOSTON AREA, AND (3) THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF RUNNING ATHLETES, AT BOTH THE ELITE AND SUB-ELITE LEVELS. EACH OF THESE IS DESCRIBED SEPARATELY BELOW: 1. LONG DISTANCE, MASS PARTICIPATION RUNNING EVENTS: THE BAA CONDUCTS A SERIES OF ADDITIONAL LONG DISTANCE RUNNING EVENTS--BEYOND THE BOSTON MARATHON--OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, IN THE BOSTON AREA. THESE INCLUDE THE EVENTS THAT COMPRISE WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE "BAA DISTANCE MEDLEY": A. THE BOSTON 5K, A 3.1 MILE ROAD RACE HELD IN BOSTON ANNUALLY ON THE SATURDAY OF BOSTON MARATHON WEEKEND INVOLVING 10,000 PARTICIPANTS. B. THE BAA 10K, A 6.2 MILE ROAD RACE CONDUCTED IN BOSTON ANNUALLY IN LATE JUNE INVOLVING 10,000 PARTICIPANTS; AND C. THE BAA HALF MARATHON, A 13.1 MILE ROAD RACE CONDUCTED IN BOSTON ANNUALLY IN NOVEMBER INVOLVING 9,000 PARTICIPANTS. THESE EVENTS INCLUDE A PRIZE MONEY STRUCTURE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES WHO COMPETE IN THEM (DESCRIBED BELOW), BUT ARE ALSO DESIGNED TO APPEAL TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO DESIRE TO IMPROVE THEIR FITNESS AND HEALTH. THE EVENTS COMPRISE A "FITNESS CALENDAR" FOR THE YEAR, SUCH THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN BEGIN THE SPRING WITH A MODEST DISTANCE 5K RACE, PROGRESS IN JUNE TO A LONGER RACE, AND THEN IN THE FALL BE PREPARED TO RUN A HALF MARATHON. THESE EVENTS ALSO ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO COMPETE ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE FINEST RUNNERS IN THE WORLD. FOR PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES IN THE DISTANCE MEDLEY THE PRIZE MONEY AWARDED IN THE SERIES INCLUDES A PURSE FOR EACH RACE AND BONUS INCENTIVES FOR THE TOP FINISHERS IN THE INDIVIDUAL EVENTS AND FOR EVENT RECORD TIMES SET AT THESE EVENTS. 2. BAA COMMUNITY AND YOUTH PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: - TRAINING CLINICS AND SEMINARS THAT ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN TRAINING AND PREPARING FOR ATHLETIC COMPETITION AND IN PURSUING A HEALTH LIFESTYLE GENERALLY. - THE MIDDLE SCHOOL RELAY CHALLENGE, THAT ALLOWS MIDDLE SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN FROM THE CITIES AND TOWNS ALONG THE BOSTON MARATHON ROUTE AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN AND COMPETE AS RELAY TEAMS IN BOSTON ON MARATHON WEEKEND IN THE BAA RELAY CHALLENGE, THEREBY PROMOTING THE HEALTH AND FITNESS OF THOSE CHILDREN AND OTHERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ELSEWHERE. OVER 21,000 HAVE PARTICIPATED SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM. - COORDINATION AND STAGING OF THE BOSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY PROGRAM INVOLVING STUDENTS FROM 13 BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE MULTI-WEEK PROGRAM CULMINATES IN CHAMPIONSHIP RACES IN FRANKLIN PARK IN BOSTON, AND IS INTENDED AS AN INSPIRATIONAL INTRODUCTION TO THE SPORT AND A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. - THE BAA AND THE DIMOCK COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER HAVE COLLABORATED TO ESTABLISH A 5K NEIGHBORHOOD RACE KNOWN AS THE "ROAD TO WELLNESS." AS ONE OF MASSACHUSETTS' LARGEST COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS THEIR AIM IS TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ROXBURY AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. THE REACH OF THE EVENT EXTENDS BEYOND THE DAY OF THE RACE ITSELF, THROUGH A MULTI-WEEK PERIOD OF TRAINING AND BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR THE 5K RACE IN FAMILIAR STREETS. - IN 2017 THE BAA ESTABLISHED THE BOSTON MARATHON YOUTH JAMBOREE WHICH IS DESIGNED TO INSPIRE CHILDREN IN GRADES PRE-K THROUGH 8TH GRADE TO BE ACTIVE BY ENGAGING THEM IN FUN AND AGE APPROPRIATE TRACK & FIELD-INSPIRED EVENTS. DESIGNED TO BE INCLUSIVE, THE EVENT WELCOMES PARTICIPATION BY CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITY LEVELS. THE BAA REBRANDED THIS EVENT IN 2023 AS ONE OF A SERIES OF NEIGHBORHOOD FITNESS EVENTS ACROSS BOSTON WHICH ENGAGE ATHLETES IN FUN RUNS IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS INCLUDING EAST BOSTON, DORCHESTER, MATTAPAN, AND ROXBURY AND BRIGHTON/ALLSTON. - THE BAA INITIATED A CHARITABLE GIVING PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2019, THROUGH WHICH A SELECT NUMBER OF BOSTON MARATHON PARTICIPANTS RAISED FUNDS FOR THE BAA TO INVEST IN MISSION CONGRUENT ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS THE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH RUNNING PROGRAMS DESCRIBED ABOVE. - THE B.A.A. GIVES BACK GRANTS PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADVANCE THE B.A.A.'S MISSION OF PROMOTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES THROUGH RUNNING. EACH YEAR, THESE GRANTS SUPPORT LOCAL INITIATIVES THAT EXPAND ACCESS TO SPORT, WELLNESS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACROSS GREATER BOSTON. IN 2025, $250,000 IN GRANTS WERE PROVIDED THROUGH A BI-ANNUAL APPLICATION PROCESS AND AWARDED BY A COMMITTEE. - DEVELOPED AND LEAD BY THE B.A.A., THE BOSTON RUNNING COLLABORATIVE (BRC) CONVENES ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A DIVERSE BOSTON RUNNING COMMUNITY, IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO RUNNING AND WALKING IN BOSTON WITH A FOCUS ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. 3. THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPING OF ATHLETES. - THE BAA HAS FOR MANY YEARS OPERATED THE BAA RUNNING CLUB, WHICH PROVIDES COACHING, TRAINING AND COMPETITIVE OUTLETS FOR ITS 415 MEMBERS. THE CLUB IS A 52-WEEK PER YEAR EFFORT WHICH INCLUDES PRACTICES, WORKOUTS, RACING AND VOLUNTEER ACTIONS. THE RUNNING CLUB INCLUDES ATHLETES WHOSE ABILITY EXTENDS FROM SUB-OLYMPIC, NATIONAL CLASS COMPETITORS TO THOSE WHO TRAIN TO SEEK SOLID PERFORMANCES IN B.A.A. EVENTS AND USATF NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIP CROSS COUNTRY, TRACK, AND ROAD EVENTS. - IN 2013, THE BAA ADDED A HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPONENT TO ITS ALREADY-EXISTING BAA RUNNING CLUB. THIS GROUP COMPRISES AN ELITE TEAM OF 10 AMERICAN RUNNERS SUPPORTED BY THE ORGANIZATION, WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF ADIDAS, AT THE LEVEL NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THE HIGHEST ATHLETIC PURSUITS WITHIN THE SPORT OF RUNNING, SUCH AS MAKING USATF NATIONAL PODIUMS AND SELECTION FOR WORLD AND OLYMPIC TEAMS. THE PROVISION OF COACHING AND TRAINING SERVICES TO THIS SELECTED GROUP OF HIGHLY SKILLED ATHLETES IN ORDER TO FURT
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 May 1983.
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 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.