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South Shore Community Action Council Inc

EIN 04-6125732 · Plymouth, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL WORKS TO ELIMINATE POVERTY ON THE SOUTH SHORE BY COORDINATING, STRENGTHENING, AND SUPPLEMENTING COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SO THEY CAN LIVE IN DECENCY AND WITH DIGNITY, REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, AND PARTICIPATE TO THE EXTENT OF THEIR CAPABILITIES IN ALL THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE TO OFFER.

Income
$33.8 million
Spending
$31.8 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
-1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 78%
Employees
290
Volunteers
731
Highest pay
$248,964, chief executive officer th

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (8)
  1. $9.8 million spent. ENERGY PROGRAM: THE ENERGY AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE CONSISTS OF THREE PROGRAMS: LIHEAP - FUEL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES ELIGIBLE LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WITH HELP IN PAYING WINTER HEATING BILLS THROUGH PAYMENTS TO PRIMARY HEAT SOURCE VENDORS; HEARTWAP - PROVIDES HEATING SYSTEM REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT SERVICES TO FUEL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS PRIMARILY ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS; WEATHERIZATION - ASSISTS LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN REDUCING THEIR HEATING BILLS BY PROVIDING HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY SERVICES.
  2. $6.4 million spent. HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START: THE HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM, LOCATED IN THREE SITES (PLYMOUTH, WAREHAM AND MARSHFIELD) PROVIDES EDUCATION, FAMILY SERVICES, NUTRITION (MEALS), AND HEALTH SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. CHILDREN RANGE IN AGE FROM THREE MONTHS TO FIVE YEARS. THE FAMILIES HAVE LIMITED INCOMES AND MEET FEDERAL INCOME GUIDELINES. TEN PERCENT OF THE HEAD START SLOTS ARE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIALS NEEDS.
  3. $5.5 million spent. OTHER CHILDCARE: INCLUDES PROGRAMS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS INCLUDING, EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, HOMELESS AND VOUCHER PROGRAMS. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO INFANTS STARTING AT 3 MONTHS OLD UP TO 10 YEAR OLD SCHOOL CHILDREN THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS. THESE CHILDREN RECEIVE A PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM SIMILAR TO HEAD START AND RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS AS WELL.
  4. $278,329 spent. OTHER: INCLUDES CSBG ADMIN AND PROGRAM FUNDS.
  5. $2.0 million spent. CLIENT ASSISTANCE: INCLUDES FUNDS FROM PRIVATE UTILITY COMPANIES IN THE AREA THAT SUPPLEMENT THE FEDERALLY FUNDED HEARTWAP AND WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM SERVICES TO LOW INCOME CLIENTS, AND VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS ASSISTING CLIENTS IN AREAS OF NEED SUCH AS RENTS, MORTGAGES AND UTILITIES.
  6. $461,964 spent. CHILD NUTRITION: PROVIDES NUTRITIONAL SERVICES IN THE FORM OF BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND SNACKS EACH DAY TO ELIGIBLE CHILDREN.
  7. $3.9 million spent. TRANSPORTATION: PROVIDES CRITICAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS WITHIN THE COUNCIL'S SERVICE AREA. TYPICAL SERVICES RANGE FROM MEDICAL TRIPS TO BOSTON AREA HOSPITALS, ELDERLY AND DISABLED CLIENT TRIPS TO ADULT DAY HEALTH AND REHAB CENTERS AND OUT OF TOWN SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION FOR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
  8. $1.3 million spent. FOOD RESOURCES: THE COUNCIL FORMED THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTER AS ONE OF A VARIETY OF STRATEGIES TO PROVIDE FOOD TO MORE PEOPLE ON THE SOUTH SHORE VIA COORDINATION OF LOCALLY DONATED FOOD; INCLUDING FOOD STORAGE FOR PANTRIES AND TRANSPORTATION OF FOOD TO AGENCIES SERVING LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 September 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 1965.

    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.