Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Walkboston Inc

EIN 22-3061699 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WALKMASSACHUSETTS MAKES WALKING SAFER AND EASIER IN MASSACHUSETTS TO ENCOURAGE BETTER HEALTH, A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.

Income
$487,825
Spending
$630,129
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
6
Volunteers
175
Highest pay
$94,332, executive director

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

Weak: 34 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 97 out of 100.

  • 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

    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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $134,862 spent. OUTREACH, ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION:ADVOCACY EFFORTS - WALKMASSACHUSETTS'S ADVOCACY LEADS TO SAFER STREETS, MORE WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS, COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, AND GREATER AWARENESS OF THE HEALTH, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF WALKING. WALKMASSACHUSETTS SPEAKS UP FOR PEOPLE WALKING IN BOSTON AND ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH ON MANY ISSUES INCLUDING TRAFFIC SIGNAL TIMING, NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING CONDITIONS, TRAFFIC CALMING STRATEGIES, VISION ZERO, COMPLETE STREETS POLICIES, AND NEIGHBORHOOD SLOW STREETS PROGRAMS. OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS INCLUDE LETTER WRITING, SPEAKING AT PUBLIC MEETINGS, AND BUILDING STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS TO ADVANCE THE WALKING AGENDA. THROUGH PRESENTATIONS, WALKS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH RESIDENTS, ENGINEERS, PLANNERS AND AGENCY STAFF, WE ALSO SHARE OUR KNOWLEDGE TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER PEOPLE TO SPEAK UP FOR WALKING IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.OUTREACH STRATEGIES - WE WORK WITH FELLOW ADVOCATES TO ADVANCE A VISION OF ROAD DESIGN THAT SAFELY AND ATTRACTIVELY SERVES THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WALKING, BIKING, AND RIDING TRANSIT, INCLUDING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, WHILE ALSO HELPING TO CREATE A TRANSPORTATION FUTURE THAT REDUCES OUR DEPENDENCE ON SINGLE-OCCUPANCY VEHICLES. IN ADDITION, WE WORK EXTENSIVELY WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL ACTIVISTS IN MANY OF BOSTON'S NEIGHBORHOODS, IN THE STATE'S GATEWAY CITIES, AND IN SMALLER SUBURBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. WE ALSO HOST THE WALKMASSACHUSETTS NETWORK WHICH CONNECTS AND SUPPORTS NEW, EMERGING, AND EXISTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON WALKING. FINALLY, WALKMASSACHUSETTS PROMOTES WALKABILITY ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, DIGITAL E-NEWS, WRITTEN PUBLICATIONS AND MAPS, AND ON-THE-GROUND WORKSHOPS.
  2. $280,665 spent. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - WALKMASSACHUSETTS PROVIDES MISSION-BASED WALKABILITY AND ADVOCACY CONSULTING BASED ON OUR OVER 30-YEAR HISTORY OF MAKING PLACES MORE WALKABLE ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. OUR TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND DEDICATION TO WALKABILITY THAT IS ROOTED IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WE SERVE GALVANIZES SUPPORT AND EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO ADVOCATE FOR SAFER, HEALTHIER, AND MORE ENJOYABLE STREETS. THAT SAID, WE KNOW THAT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE DEPENDING ON THEIR AGE, GENDER, RACE, ETHNICITY, ABILITY OR EXPERIENCE. OUR APPROACH DRAWS ON THE EXPERTISE AND DESIRES OF RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND MUNICIPAL STAFF. WE PROVIDE A WIDE VARIETY OF PRESENTATIONS AND TRAININGS, AND FACILITATE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE PEOPLE ABOUT WALKING, AND THE SIDEWALK AND ROAD DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT AFFECT THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF THE WALKING ENVIRONMENT.WE ALSO CONDUCT MULTI-SESSION TRAINING PROGRAMS WITH RESIDENT GROUPS AND YOUTH, WHERE PARTICIPANTS IDENTIFY AREAS WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES THAT NEED WALKABILITY IMPROVEMENTS, DEVELOP PROPOSALS FOR CHANGE, AND PRESENT THEIR IDEAS TO LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHER DECISION-MAKING BODIES. THESE PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND EMPOWER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO MAKE CHANGE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
  3. $6,038 spent. WALKING POLICY AND DESIGN:STATEWIDE PROJECT AND POLICY REVIEW - OUR PROJECT REVIEWS HELP ENSURE THAT TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS PROVIDE SAFE AND CONNECTED PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENTS. WE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO SIGNIFICANT MASSDOT ROADWAY PROJECTS AND LARGE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. IN BOSTON, WE HAVE BEEN AN ACTIVE I-90 INTERCHANGE PROJECT TASK FORCE MEMBER FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WORKING TO BROADEN THE SCOPE OF THE TRANSPORTATION PROJECT TO EMBRACE THE IDEA OF IMPROVED, CONNECTED PARKLAND ALONG THE BANKS OF THE CHARLES RIVER. WE ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES AND GUIDELINES TO IMPROVE WALKING. OUR VOICE FOR WALKING IS STRENGTHENED BY WORKING WITH OTHER MOBILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT HOUSING, CLIMATE RESILIENCY AND PUBLIC HEALTH POLICIES ALL CONTRIBUTE TO FOSTERING NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE PEOPLE CAN WALK AND FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING. THROUGH MEMBERSHIP IN MULTIPLE ISSUE-BASED COALITIONS, WE HAVE BROADENED OUR IMPACT BEYOND TRANSPORTATION-SPECIFIC POLICIES TO OTHERS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTHY, STABLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND SEEK MOBILITY JUSTICE.AGE-FRIENDLY WALKING - WALKMASSACHUSETTS IS WORKING TO IMPLEMENT LOCAL POLICY AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT CHANGES THAT ADVANCE SAFE, COMFORTABLE AND ACCESSIBLE WALKING FOR SENIORS IN SEVERAL MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITIES, WITH A FOCUS ON HIGH-NEED GATEWAY CITIES AND RURAL AREAS. WE COLLABORATE WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS HEALTHY AGING COLLABORATIVE AND OTHER LEADERS ACROSS THE STATE TO PROMOTE WALKING AND WALKABILITY AS CORE ELEMENTS OF THE AGE- AND DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES MOVEMENT.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1990.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.