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Somerville Community Access Television Inc

EIN 22-2506464 · Somerville, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SOMERVILLE COMMUNITY ACCESS TELEVISION IS A LEADING PUBLIC ACCESS MEDIA CENTER THAT ENABLES A VIBRANT AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY TO EXPRESS ITS CREATIVITY, EXPLAIN ITS IDEAS, SHARE ITS CULTURES, AND FOSTER THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH. SCAT SUPPORTS AND CREATES COMMUNITY-DRIVEN MEDIA THROUGH EDUCATION, PRODUCTION RESOURCES, AND DISTRIBUTION ON CABLE TELEVISION AND THE WEB. THIS INCLUDES: PROVIDING MEDIA ARTS TRAINING AND LITERACY TO RESIDENTS (INCLUDING YOUTH AND UNDER- REPRESENTED GROUPS) THAT COMPRISE SOMERVILLE MA AND BEYOND; FACILITATING AUDIO AND VIDEO PRODUCTION THROUGH USE AND LOANING OF STUDIO FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT; TRANSMITTING BOTH COMMUNITY-PRODUCED AND IN-HOUSE CONTENT VIA CABLE ACCESS TELEVISION (SCATV CH 3 ON CHARTER AND RCN),BOSTONFREERADIO.COM, AND VARIOUS WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCES MAINTAINED BY THE ORGANIZATION.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$806,691
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
12.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
16
Highest pay
$43,054, executive di

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 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $647,534 spent. ACCESS TO BROADCAST TIME ON LOCAL CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEMS AND STREAMING MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR SOMERVILLE RESIDENTS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS. YOUTH ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDE AFTER SCHOOL, SUMMER, AND OTHER OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMMING FOR SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN BETWEEN GRADES 3 THROUGH 9. TRAINING AND ACCESS TO VIDEO PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING MEDIA THAT REFLECTS THE PERSPECTIVES OF SOMERVILLE RESIDENTS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS.

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 April 1984.

    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.