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Somerville Community Corporation Inc

EIN 23-7293380 · Somerville, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

THE SOMERVILLE COMMUNITY CORPORATION (SCC) IS A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES LEADERSHIP FOR SUSTAINING THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE AS A VIBRANT, DIVERSE AND TOLERANT COMMUNITY. WE OFFER SERVICES AND LEAD COMMUNITY ORGANIZING THAT SUPPORTS LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME SOMERVILLE RESIDENTS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY AND INCREASE CIVIC PARTICIPATION.BUILDING ON OUR FIFTY YEARS OF HISTORY, TODAY WE ENVISION A SOMERVILLE WHERE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS FROM MANY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND CULTURES ENJOY EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SECURE HOUSING, JOBS, ECONOMIC STABILITY, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP AND ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT.

Income
$5.8 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-104 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
16
Volunteers
38
Highest pay
$167,808, ceo

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: 42 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 107% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $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

    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 (4)
  1. $3.9 million spent. RENTAL PROGRAMS - SIX OF SCC'S RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS ARE OWNED DIRECTLY BY SCC: THE 12 ONE AND TWO-BEDROOM UNITS AT 110 WALNUT STREET; THE 6 THREE-BEDROOOM UNITS AT 190 GILMAN STREET; THE 18 TWO, THREE AND FOUR BEDROOM UNITS AT 33 BOW STREET; THE 14 SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY UNITS ON SEWALL STREET; THE 42 UNITS AT LINDEN STREET APARTMENTS; AND THE 8 ONE AND TWO-BEDROOM UNITS AT 75 CROSS STREET. ALL OF SCC'S RENTAL PROPERTIES, INCLUDING 165 UNITS OWNED THROUGH LLC'S, ARE MANAGED BY WINGATE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, UNDER CONTRACT WITH SCC.
  2. $307,656 spent. AFFORDABLE HOUSING REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENTSCC OWNS AND OPERATES OVER 340 UNITS OF RENTAL HOUSING AND MORE THAN 9,000 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE COMPRISING FOUR COMMERCIAL UNITS, WHICH ARE LEASED TO A HEALTHCARE CLINIC, DENTIST, DAYCARE CENTER AND VARIETY STORE.THE 340 UNITS WERE DEVELOPED WITH LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT EQUITY AND VARIOUS COMBINATIONS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCING FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST AND COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT FUNDS AND FEDERAL RESOURCES SUCH AS MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS ACT, AND HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FUNDS.IN MAY 2023 SOMERVILLE COMMUNITY CORPORATION WITH ITS PARTNER POAH HAD A GROUNDBREAKING TO PRESERVE 80 UNITS AND BUILDING 80 NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. WE ALSO STARTED THE PRE-DEVELOPMENT PROCESS TO PRESERVE 61 UNITS AT BOW STREET AND LINDEN STREET APARTMENTS.
  3. $928,749 spent. ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITYSCC'S FINANCIAL LITERACY, ASSET BUILDING, AND FIRST SOURCE CAREER COUNSELING HELP PEOPLE FIND GOOD JOBS, BUILD WEALTH, AND FIND FINANCIAL STABILITY. WE ALSO OFFER TRAINING IN DIGITAL LITERACY AND COMPUTER BASICS.THE FIRST SOURCE JOBS PROGRAM HELPS LOCAL JOB SEEKERS GAIN THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO ESTABLISH A CAREER PATHWAY RESULTING IN GOOD JOBS, CAREER GROWTH, AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY. WE OFFER 1:1 CAREER COACHING, JOB READINESS TRAINING, ESL, AND COMPUTER LITERACY SUPPORT.OUR FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASSES HELP PEOPLE BETTER UNDERSTAND DEBT, BANKING, CREDIT, AND HOW TO SAVE. OUR POPULAR FIRST-TIME BUYER CLASSES HELP PEOPLE BETTER UNDERSTAND THE OFTEN-INTIMIDATING PROCESS OF SAVING FOR AND PURCHASING A HOME, AS WELL AS HOW TO ACCESS PROGRAMS THAT CAN MAKE DOING SO MORE ACCESSIBLE.IN 2023, WE SERVED:WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: 293JOB PLACEMENTS: 63FINANCIAL COACHING: 29HOMEBUYER GRADUATES: 237
  4. $9,386 spent. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING - SCC HELPS TO MAKE SOMERVILLE MORE LIVABLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND INCLUSIVE BY INCREASING AND DIVERSIFYING HOUSING OPTIONS, AS WELL AS ORGANIZING IN THE COMMUNITY AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICIES. IN 2022, WE ORGANIZED AROUND THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES:-WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE IN HOPES OF PASSING THIS LOCAL RULE PETITION THAT CAN PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS TO THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE-WE HAVE SUPPORTED EFFORTS WITH THE CITY'S OFFICE OF HOUSING STABILITY TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR THE NEWLY CREATED MUNICIPAL RENTAL VOUCHER PROGRAM.-WE CONTINUE TO ADD OUR NAME TO SUPPORT TOPA (TENANT'S OPPORTUNITY AND PROTECTION ACT)-WE CREATED A RESIDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT SUPPORTS THE VOICES OF OUR RESIDENTS BY MEETING BI-MONTHLY WITH STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS TO DISCUSS ISSUES AROUND THEIR RESIDENCY WITH SCC.-ASSISTED 20+ RESIDENTS WITH OBTAINING RENTAL ASSISTANCE

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 December 1974.

    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.