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Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center Inc

EIN 23-7209691 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT HELP THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES THEY SERVE TO ATTAIN GREATER ECONOMIC STABILITY AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING. BCNC SERVES THE GREATER BOSTON AREA AT A PRIMARY SERVICES SITE IN BOSTON'S CHINATOWN, AND A SATELLITE SERVICE SITE IN THE NEIGHBORING CITY OF QUINCY.

Income
$10.7 million
Spending
$9.9 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
9.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 65%
Employees
187
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$193,834, president & chief executiv

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 June 30, 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 (4)
  1. $3.2 million spent. THE CHILD CARE PROGRAM INCLUDES THE ACORN CENTER FOR EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE, THE RED OAK AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM AND THE FAMILY CHILD CARE PROGRAM.THE ACORN CENTER FOR EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE PROVIDES BILINGUAL CANTONESE/ENGLISH FULL DAY CHILD CARE FOR TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS. ACORN PROGRAM HOURS ARE YEAR-ROUND, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 7:30 A.M. TO 5:30 P.M. AND THE PROGRAM IS ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN (NAEYC) AND LICENSED BY THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE (EEC). ACORN OFFERS CHILDREN A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT AND AN EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF THE HERITAGE OF ALL CHILDREN.THE RED OAK AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, LICENSED BY EEC, PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND AFTER SCHOOL CARE, EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT SERVICES FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, AND EXPANDS TO FULL-DAY PROGRAMMING DURING SCHOOL VACATIONS AND THE SUMMER MONTHS, RED OAK HAS A MULTICULTURAL AND ARTS FOCUS AND PROVIDES HOMEWORK INSTRUCTION, RECREATIONAL AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, AND ACCULTURATION SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS.FAMILY CHILD CARE RECRUITS, TRAINS, AND LICENSES CHINESE SPEAKING ASIAN AMERICANS INTERESTED IN OPENING FAMILY CHILD CARE BUSINESSES, AND PROVIDES ONGOING PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY LICENSED. THE PROGRAM RUNS THE FIRST AND ONLY STATE FUNDED CHINESE FAMILY CHILD CARE SYSTEM IN MASSACHUSETTS AND PROVIDES OVER 40 SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE SLOTS FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.
  2. $1.5 million spent. THE FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAM HELPS IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, INCLUDING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, COPE WITH CHALLENGING ISSUES AND ADJUST TO THEIR NEW LIVES IN THE UNITED STATES BY PROVIDING PARENT EDUCATION, CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING AND SUPPORT SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THE PROGRAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH OTHER BCNC PROGRAMS AND EXTERNAL PARTNERS TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
  3. $1.4 million spent. IN BOSTON AND QUINCY, THE ADULT EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE INITIATIVES PROGRAM OFFERS BEGINNING TO ADVANCED ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES ("ESOL") COURSES, INSTRUCTION IN DIGITAL/TECHNICAL LITERACY, ACADEMIC AND CAREER COUNSELING, JOB SEARCH SKILLS, PLACEMENT AND EMPLOYMENT RETENTION SUPPORT, AND OTHER RELATED TOPICS TO PREPARE PARTICIPANTS TO ENTER THE AMERICAN WORKFORCE AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.
  4. $1.9 million spent. THROUGH ARTS, CULTURE AND EDUCATION, THE PAO ARTS CENTER BRINGS TOGETHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS GENERATIONS TO RECLAIM A CRITICAL PIECE OF CHINATOWN HISTORY TO CREATE HEALTHY FAMILIES AND A VIBRANT COMMUNITY. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BUNKER HILL COMMUNITY COLLEGE, BCNC OPENED THE PAO ARTS CENTER IN 2017 TO BE CHINATOWN'S FIRST COMMUNITY-BASED ARTS CENTER AND BOSTON'S NEWLY DEDICATED ASIAN AMERICAN AND ASIAN IMMIGRANT CULTURAL SPACE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 August 1972.

    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.