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Pal of Massachusetts Inc

EIN 22-2672818 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 50% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

PAL OF MASSACHUSETTS SEEKS TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF TRUST AND RESPECT BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, AND REDUCE CRIME.

Income
$469,789
Spending
$454,702
Spent on programs
50%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
698
Highest pay
$169,063, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 41% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    50% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (1)
  1. $226,399 spent. THE POLICE ACTIVITIES LEAGUE (PAL) OF MASSACHUSETTS SUPPORTS A BROAD ARRAY OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE INTERACTION BETWEEN YOUTH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST, RESPECT, AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, WITH THE GOAL OF STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES AND CREATING SAFE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE YOUTH CAN THRIVE. IN 2025, PAL SUPPORTED PROGRAMMING IN 53 COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, ENGAGING MORE THAN 4,400 YOUTH AND HUNDREDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THROUGH A VARIETY OF SPORTS-BASED, MENTORING, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO FOSTER POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. FEATURED PROGRAMS INCLUDED THE BOSTON STRONG INVITATIONAL, SHOP WITH A COP/HEROES & HELPERS IN FOUR LOCATIONS, AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS DELIVERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN COMMUNITIES INCLUDING EVERETT, BROCKTON, LEOMINSTER, AND FALL RIVER. PAL ALSO SUPPORTED YOUTH ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING PROGRAMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COREY C. GRIFFIN FOUNDATION, WHICH PROVIDE BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND HOLIDAY EXPERIENCES FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AT&T, PAL ALSO SUPPORTED INITIATIVES TO HELP BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, INCLUDING THE DISTRIBUTION OF LAPTOP COMPUTERS TO 200 YOUTH TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL ACCESS AND DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY. PAL ALSO CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE TEAM PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES STRUCTURED RECREATIONAL AND MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE. TEAM PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDED THE UNITY BASKETBALL LEAGUE, VOLLEYBALL PROGRAMMING IN WOBURN AND BROCKTON, BOSTON FUTSAL AND GIRLS SELF-DEFENSE PROGRAMS, METROWEST-AREA WATER SAFETY PROGRAMMING, AND FLAG FOOTBALL, A BASEBALL TOURNAMENT, AND BOWLING IN SPRINGFIELD, ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL YOUTH ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. YOUTH ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCES ALSO INCLUDED PROFESSIONAL SPORTS OUTINGS, TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITIES, AND EDUCATIONAL TRIPS, ALL DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMAL INTERACTION BETWEEN YOUTH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHILE STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH. MSP TEAM 43,455 YOUTH ENRICHMENT 3,850 BOSTON STRONG 16,382 SHOP WITH A COP 33,398 THE POLICE ACTIVITIES LEAGUE (PAL) OF MASSACHUSETTS SUPPORTS A BROAD ARRAY OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE INTERACTION BETWEEN YOUTH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST, RESPECT, AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, WITH THE GOAL OF STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES AND CREATING SAFE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE YOUTH CAN THRIVE. IN 2025, PAL SUPPORTED PROGRAMMING IN 53 COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, ENGAGING MORE THAN 4,400 YOUTH AND HUNDREDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THROUGH A VARIETY OF SPORTS-BASED, MENTORING, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO FOSTER POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. FEATURED PROGRAMS INCLUDED THE BOSTON STRONG INVITATIONAL, SHOP WITH A COP/HEROES & HELPERS IN FOUR LOCATIONS, AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS DELIVERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN COMMUNITIES INCLUDING EVERETT, BROCKTON, LEOMINSTER, AND FALL RIVER. PAL ALSO SUPPORTED YOUTH ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING PROGRAMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COREY C. GRIFFIN FOUNDATION, WHICH PROVIDE BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND HOLIDAY EXPERIENCES FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AT&T, PAL ALSO SUPPORTED INITIATIVES TO HELP BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, INCLUDING THE DISTRIBUTION OF LAPTOP COMPUTERS TO 200 YOUTH TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL ACCESS AND DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY. PAL ALSO CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE TEAM PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES STRUCTURED RECREATIONAL AND MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE. TEAM PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDED THE UNITY BASKETBALL LEAGUE, VOLLEYBALL PROGRAMMING IN WOBURN AND BROCKTON, BOSTON FUTSAL AND GIRLS SELF-DEFENSE PROGRAMS, METROWEST-AREA WATER SAFETY PROGRAMMING, AND FLAG FOOTBALL, A BASEBALL TOURNAMENT, AND BOWLING IN SPRINGFIELD, ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL YOUTH ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. YOUTH ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCES ALSO INCLUDED PROFESSIONAL SPORTS OUTINGS, TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITIES, AND EDUCATIONAL TRIPS, ALL DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMAL INTERACTION BETWEEN YOUTH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHILE STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH. MSP TEAM 43,455 YOUTH ENRICHMENT 3,850 BOSTON STRONG 16,382 SHOP WITH A COP 33,398

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 April 1986.

    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.