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Greenlight Fund Inc

EIN 20-0407083 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GREENLIGHT FUND TRANSFORMS THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN HIGH-POVERTY URBAN AREAS BY CREATING INFRASTRUCTURE AND A CONSISTENT ANNUAL PROCESS IN CITIES TO IDENTIFY CRITICAL NEEDS, IMPORT INNOVATIVE ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAMS THAT CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AND MEASURABLE IMPACT, AND GALVANIZE LOCAL AND NATIONAL SUPPORT TO HELP PROGRAMS REACH AND SUSTAIN IMPACT IN THE NEW CITY.

Income
$15.3 million
Spending
$15.2 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
11 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
70
Volunteers
455
Highest pay
$207,503, vp, development and expansion

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% 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 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 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 (1)
  1. $12.5 million spent. TO MEET ITS MISSION IN THE THIRTEEN CITIES WHERE IT OPERATES, THE GREENLIGHT FUND DOES THE FOLLOWING:- RUNS AN ANNUAL PROCESS TO IDENTIFY CRITICAL COMMUNITY NEEDS; SEARCHES THE COUNTRY TO FIND INNOVATIVE, RESULTS-ORIENTED NONPROFIT APPROACHES TO MEETING NEEDS; CONDUCTS RIGOROUS DILIGENCE ON THESE NONPROFITS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR OUTCOMES, REVENUE MODEL, REPLICABILITY, AND POTENTIAL FIT ON THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE; AND SELECTS ONE ORGANIZATION TO IMPORT INTO THE CITY THAT SHOWS THE GREATEST PROMISE OF MAKING A SIGNIFICANT, MEASURABLE IMPACT AS COST EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE.- SUPPORTS ORGANIZATIONS IT SELECTS WITH FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. GREENLIGHT TYPICALLY PROVIDES AROUND $600,000 OVER AN ORGANIZATION'S FIRST FOUR YEARS IN THE NEW CITY, HELPS ATTRACT TALENTED LEADERSHIP TO THEIR LOCAL STAFF AND BOARDS, TAKES A SEAT ON THEIR LOCAL BOARDS, FACILITATES PARTNERSHIPS AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, AND SUPPORTS AND MONITORS PROGRESS TO BECOME SUSTAINABLE IN THE NEW LOCATION.- LAUNCHES ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY BY SHOWCASING THEM AT EVENTS WHERE THEY CAN BUILD AWARENESS AND RECRUIT NEW SUPPORTERS.SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN BOSTON IN 2004, THE GREENLIGHT FUND HAS IMPORTED SIXTEEN ORGANIZATIONS INTO BOSTON: FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN-BOSTON, RAISING A READER-MASSACHUSETTS, PEER HEALTH EXCHANGE, YOUTH VILLAGES' LIFESET PROGRAM, UPTOGETHER, SINGLE STOP USA, THE NEW TEACHER CENTER, COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS, BLUEPRINT SCHOOLS NETWORK, CAREMESSAGE, YOUTH GUIDANCE: BECOMING A MAN, PER SCHOLAS, YOUTH GUIDANCE: WORKING ON WOMANHOOD, CHILD FIRST, THE FOUNTAIN FUND, AND THE LITERACY LAB'S LEADING MEN FELLOWSHIP.SINCE 2012 WHEN IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN PHILADELPHIA, GREENLIGHT PHILADELPHIA HAS IMPORTED SINGLE STOP USA, YEAR UP, CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, PARENTCHILD+, COMPASS WORKING CAPITAL, HOPEWORKS, AND THE FOUNTAIN FUND INTO THE CITY.SINCE 2012 WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, GREENLIGHT BAY AREA HAS IMPORTED GENESYS WORKS, UASPIRE, SPRINGBOARD COLLABORATIVE, BLUEPRINT MATH FELLOWS, PARENTCHILD+, EVERYONE ON, AND FOOD CONNECT INTO THE BAY AREA. SINCE 2015 WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED IN CINCINNATI, GREENLIGHT CINCINNATI HAS IMPORTED CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, UPTOGETHER, FIRST PLACE FOR YOUTH, THE LITERACY LAB'S LEADING MEN FELLOWSHIP, HOMESTART'S RENEW COLLABORATIVE, AND FATHERS' UPLIFT INTO THE CITY. SINCE 2016 WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED IN DETROIT, GREENLIGHT DETROIT HAS IMPORTED CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, NEW TEACHER CENTER, SPRINGBOARD COLLABORATIVE, AND BOTTOM LINE INTO THE CITY.SINCE 2017 WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED IN CHARLOTTE, GREENLIGHT CHARLOTTE HAS IMPORTED PARENTCHILD+, CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE, AND INNER EXPLORER INTO THE CITY. SINCE 2018, WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED IN KANSAS CITY, GREENLIGHT KANSAS CITY HAS IMPORTED YOUTH GUIDANCE: BECOMING A MAN, YOUTH GUIDANCE: WORKING ON WOMANHOOD, ALL OUR KIN, FOOD CONNECT, AND MRELIEF INTO THE CITY. SINCE 2019 WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED IN ATLANTA, GREENLIGHT ATLANTA HAS IMPORTED CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, THE LITERACY LAB'S LEADING MEN FELLOWSHIP, INNER EXPLORER, AND CAPITAL GOOD FUND INTO THE CITY.SINCE 2020 WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED IN THE TWIN CITIES, GREENLIGHT TWIN CITIES HAS IMPORTED LET EVERYONE ADVANCE WITH DIGNITY, IRTH, FOOD CONNECT, AND INNER EXPLORER INTO THE CITY.SINCE 2021 WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED IN BALTIMORE, GREENLIGHT BALTIMORE HAS IMPORTED POINT SOURCE YOUTH AND PARENTCHILD+ INTO THE CITY.SINCE 2022 WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED IN GREATER NEWARK, GREENLIGHT GREATER NEWARK HAS IMPORTED EMS CORPS AND READING PARTNERS.IN 2023, GREENLIGHT FUND LAUNCHED ITS TWELFTH SITE, CHICAGO, AND BEGAN ITS FIRST SELECTION PROCESS IN 2023.SINCE 2024 WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED IN DENVER, GREENLIGHT DENVER HAS IMPORTED HOMESTART'S RENEW COLLABORATIVE INTO THE CITY. ACROSS GREENLIGHT FUND'S THIRTEEN LOCATIONS, IN 2024 GREENLIGHT-SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS REACHED 749,000 CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES WITH THEIR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ACHIEVING MEASURABLE RESULTS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO TRANSFORM LIVES.

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 October 13, 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 September 2004.

    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 October 21, 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.