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Citizens Housing & Planning Association Inc

EIN 04-6138418 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS EDUCATION & TRAINING IN PROGRAMS FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$4.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
10.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
23
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$188,115, 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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 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 (6)
  1. $1.1 million spent. RESEARCH ADVOCACY AND COALITION BUILDING - CHAPA WORKS TO INCREASE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED WITH HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. UNDER THIS PROGRAM AREA, CHAPA MANAGES THE NEW ENGLAND NETWORK, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER HOUSING ADVOCATES FROM ALL SIX NEW ENGLAND STATES.
  2. $1.4 million spent. HOUSING COUNSELING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS - CHAPA MANAGES SEVERAL PROGRAMS TO INCREASE HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. THESE INCLUDE: A HOMEOWNERSHIP COUNSELING GRANT PROGRAM UNDER A CONTRACT WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ("HUD") AND THE MASSACHUSETTS HOMEOWNERSHIP COLLABORATIVE, WHICH PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO HOME BUYER COUNSELING AGENCIES.
  3. $569,545 spent. NEW LEASE FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES - CHAPA SERVES AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR NEW LEASE FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES ("NL"). THE NL PROGRAM WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH STATE AGENCIES, QUASIPUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
  4. $373,521 spent. TRAINING AND EDUCATION - CHAPA ACTS AS AN INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS A WEB PAGE WITH MONTHLY UPDATES AND SENDS OUT REGULAR NEWSLETTERS WITH UPDATES ON STATE AND FEDERAL HOUSING POLICY. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOLDS CONFERENCES AND FORUMS TO KEEP AFFORDABLE HOUSING STAKEHOLDERS INFORMED OF NEW PROGRAMS, DEVELOPMENTS AND/OR CHANGES IN PUBLIC POLICIES.
  5. $75,658 spent. MASSACCESS REGISTRY - FUNDED BY MASSACHUSETTS REHABILITATION COMMISSION AND MANAGED BY CHAPA, THE MASSACHUSETTS ACCESSIBLE HOUSING REGISTRY IS A DATABASE OF ACCESSIBLE UNITS THROUGHOUT MASSACHUSETTS THAT HELPS TO MATCH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WITH VACANT APARTMENTS.
  6. MASSACHUSETTS SMART GROWTH ALLIANCE - CHAPA SERVES AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SMART GROWTH ALLIANCE ("MSGA"). MSGA IS MADE UP OF LEADING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK TOGETHER TO PROMOTE STATE POLICIES THAT FOSTER SMART GROWTH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. THE ACTIVITY FOR THIS PROGRAM BECAME STAGNANT DURING A PRIOR YEAR, HOWEVER, CHAPA REMAINS THE FISCAL SPONSOR AND THE NET ASSETS REMAIN RESTRICTED FOR MSGA'S PURPOSES.

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 February 1967.

    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.