Chinatown Community Land Trust Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CHINATOWN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST (CHINATOWN CLT) WORKS TO STABILIZE THE FUTURE OF CHINATOWN AS A NEIGHBORHOOD FOR WORKING CLASS FAMILIES AND A REGIONAL HUB FOR THE CHINESE COMMUNITY. WE WORK FOR COMMUNITY CONTROL OF THE LAND, DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DISPLACEMENT, PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND SHARED NEIGHBORHOOD SPACES, CONSISTENT WITH THE CHINATOWN MASTER PLAN.
- Income
- $926,082
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 11.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 214
- Highest pay
- $99,633, executive di
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
Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $549,009 spent. ROW HOUSE PRESERVATION CHINATOWN CLT HAS A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON PRESERVING PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES BY REMOVING SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S SMALL PROPERTIES FROM THE SPECULATIVE MARKET. THESE BRICK ROW HOUSES HAVE HISTORICALLY HOUSED SOME OF CHINATOWN'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AND HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY SEVERE PRICE ESCALATION. CHINATOWN CLT SEEKS TO PRESERVE PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES AND SMALL BUSINESS SPACES, AND TO MAINTAIN CORE ROW HOUSE STREETS AS ANCHORS OF THE WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. ROW HOUSE INVESTMENTS CONTINUES TO HOLD 99-YEAR GROUND LEASES FOR PERMANENT AFFORDABILITY. IT HAS COMPLETED SALES OF SEVEN AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP UNITS TO FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS AND RECENTLY STABILIZED TWO OCCUPIED ROW HOUSES FOR A TOTAL OF SIX RENTAL UNITS. ROW HOUSE PRESERVATION CHINATOWN CLT HAS A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON PRESERVING PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES BY REMOVING SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S SMALL PROPERTIES FROM THE SPECULATIVE MARKET. THESE BRICK ROW HOUSES HAVE HISTORICALLY HOUSED SOME OF CHINATOWN'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AND HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY SEVERE PRICE ESCALATION. CHINATOWN CLT SEEKS TO PRESERVE PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES AND SMALL BUSINESS SPACES, AND TO MAINTAIN CORE ROW HOUSE STREETS AS ANCHORS OF THE WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. ROW HOUSE INVESTMENTS CONTINUES TO HOLD 99-YEAR GROUND LEASES FOR PERMANENT AFFORDABILITY. IT HAS COMPLETED SALES OF SEVEN AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP UNITS TO FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS AND RECENTLY STABILIZED TWO OCCUPIED ROW HOUSES FOR A TOTAL OF SIX RENTAL UNITS.
- $181,469 spent. HISTORIC AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION CHINATOWN CLT WORKS TO PRESERVE AND GROW CHINATOWN AS A HISTORIC AND CULTURAL DISTRICT THAT PRESERVES AND SAFEGUARDS THE LIVING PULSE OF BOSTON'S IMMIGRANT HISTORY; IT CENTERS ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT CHINATOWN CAN ONLY BE PRESERVED IF ITS WORKING CLASS CHINESE RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES REMAIN. CHINATOWN CLT RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH THE METROPOLITAN AREA PLANNING COMMISSION AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ON A CHINATOWN CULTURAL PLAN. WORK INCLUDES AN IMMIGRANT HISTORY TRAIL TO ACTIVATE NEARLY TWO CENTURIES OF HISTORIC ARCHIVES, PARTNERING WITH BOSTONS HISTORIC MARKER PROGRAM, THE CHINATOWN WORKER STATUES PROJECT, PLACE-KEEPING THROUGH PUBLIC ART AND SOCIAL TOURISM, AND EXPLORATION OF BOTH HISTORIC CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND CULTURAL DISTRICT STATUS. HISTORIC AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION CHINATOWN CLT WORKS TO PRESERVE AND GROW CHINATOWN AS A HISTORIC AND CULTURAL DISTRICT THAT PRESERVES AND SAFEGUARDS THE LIVING PULSE OF BOSTON'S IMMIGRANT HISTORY; IT CENTERS ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT CHINATOWN CAN ONLY BE PRESERVED IF ITS WORKING CLASS CHINESE RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES REMAIN. CHINATOWN CLT RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH THE METROPOLITAN AREA PLANNING COMMISSION AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ON A CHINATOWN CULTURAL PLAN. WORK INCLUDES AN IMMIGRANT HISTORY TRAIL TO ACTIVATE NEARLY TWO CENTURIES OF HISTORIC ARCHIVES, PARTNERING WITH BOSTONS HISTORIC MARKER PROGRAM, THE CHINATOWN WORKER STATUES PROJECT, PLACE-KEEPING THROUGH PUBLIC ART AND SOCIAL TOURISM, AND EXPLORATION OF BOTH HISTORIC CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND CULTURAL DISTRICT STATUS.
- $78,153 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL & ENERGY JUSTICE "CHINATOWN CLT PARTNERS WITH THE GREEN JUSTICE COALITION AND RESILIENT URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS TO DEVELOP A COMMUNITY-CONTROLLED ENERGY PROJECTS TO SUPPORT RESILIENCE, CLEAN ENERGY, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOR CHINATOWN. PROJECTS INCLUDE DECARBONIZATION AND ELECTRIFICATION OF SMALL PROPERTIES, HEAT RESILIENCE MEASURES, ENERGY EFFICIENT INSTALLATIONS SUCH AS AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS, SOLAR AND BATTERY DESIGNS, AND EXPLORATION OF COMMUNITY SOLAR. CHINATOWN CLT AND THE CHINESE PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION ESTABLISHED CHINATOWN POWER, INC. AS A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION TO LEAD THIS WORK."
- $91,416 spent. PLANNING FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY "CHINATOWN CLT LED A PARTICIPATORY PLANNING PROCESS TO PRODUCE CHINATOWN MASTER PLAN 2020 AND CO-FACILITATES THE ONGOING CHINATOWN MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE IN ORDER TO GUIDE IMPLEMENTATION STEPS TO ACHIEVE THE COMMUNITY'S VISION. ONGOING FOCUSES INCLUDE STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC LAND, PROMOTION OF A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMIC STABILITY, AND SHARED PUBLIC SPACES. AS AN OUTGROWTH OF THE PARTICIPATORY PLANNING WORK, CHINATOWN CLT HAS BECOME A LEADING ADVOCATE AND PLANNER OF OPEN SPACE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AS A CORE PARTNER IN THE REDESIGN OF REGGIE WONG MEMORIAL PARTNER, AN ORGANIZING ANCHOR FOR A GREEN SPACE BY THE PLANNED CHINATOWN LIBRARY, AND AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN PUBLIC PLANNING PROCESSES FOR THE TUNNEY LEE PLAZA AND RECONNECTING CHINATOWN PROJECTS." COMMUNITY BUILDING AND COLLECTIVE GOVERNANCE "CLT WORKS WITH RESIDENTS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY FABRIC AND ITS SENSE OF COMMUNITY. AN IMPORTANT GOAL IS TO RECLAIM THE PRACTICE OF THE COMMUNITY COMMONS, COLLECTIVELY GOVERNING AND PROTECTING PUBLIC LAND, SHARED SPACES, AND RESOURCES THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITY LIFE, NOT THEIR MONETARY VALUE. RECENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ORGANIZING RESIDENTS AROUND A VARIETY OF STREET IMPROVEMENTS, FOR COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE OF REGGIE WONG PARK, AND DEVELOPING A SHARED COMMUNITY LAND TRUST LOAN FUND WITH BOSTON AREA PARTNERS.CHINATOWN CLT IS PART OF A GROWING MOVEMENT FOR COLLECTIVE CONTROL AND STEWARDSHIP OF LAND TO STABILIZE OUR COMMUNITIES AND PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE GREATER BOSTON CLT NETWORK, THE RIGHT TO THE CITY ALLIANCE, AND OTHER MOVEMENT BUILDING NETWORKS. FOCUSES INCLUDE PEER LEARNING, SHARED RESOURCES, AND PROMOTION OF POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT LIMIT LAND SPECULATION, INCREASE COMMUNITY CONTROL, AND STABILIZE NEIGHBORHOODS."
- PLANNING FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY "CHINATOWN CLT LED A PARTICIPATORY PLANNING PROCESS TO PRODUCE CHINATOWN MASTER PLAN 2020 AND CO-FACILITATES THE ONGOING CHINATOWN MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE IN ORDER TO GUIDE IMPLEMENTATION STEPS TO ACHIEVE THE COMMUNITY'S VISION. ONGOING FOCUSES INCLUDE STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC LAND, PROMOTION OF A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMIC STABILITY, AND SHARED PUBLIC SPACES. AS AN OUTGROWTH OF THE PARTICIPATORY PLANNING WORK, CHINATOWN CLT HAS BECOME A LEADING ADVOCATE AND PLANNER OF OPEN SPACE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AS A CORE PARTNER IN THE REDESIGN OF REGGIE WONG MEMORIAL PARTNER, AN ORGANIZING ANCHOR FOR A GREEN SPACE BY THE PLANNED CHINATOWN LIBRARY, AND AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN PUBLIC PLANNING PROCESSES FOR THE TUNNEY LEE PLAZA AND RECONNECTING CHINATOWN PROJECTS." COMMUNITY BUILDING AND COLLECTIVE GOVERNANCE "CLT WORKS WITH RESIDENTS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY FABRIC AND ITS SENSE OF COMMUNITY. AN IMPORTANT GOAL IS TO RECLAIM THE PRACTICE OF THE COMMUNITY COMMONS, COLLECTIVELY GOVERNING AND PROTECTING PUBLIC LAND, SHARED SPACES, AND RESOURCES THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITY LIFE, NOT THEIR MONETARY VALUE. RECENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ORGANIZING RESIDENTS AROUND A VARIETY OF STREET IMPROVEMENTS, FOR COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE OF REGGIE WONG PARK, AND DEVELOPING A SHARED COMMUNITY LAND TRUST LOAN FUND WITH BOSTON AREA PARTNERS.CHINATOWN CLT IS PART OF A GROWING MOVEMENT FOR COLLECTIVE CONTROL AND STEWARDSHIP OF LAND TO STABILIZE OUR COMMUNITIES AND PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE GREATER BOSTON CLT NETWORK, THE RIGHT TO THE CITY ALLIANCE, AND OTHER MOVEMENT BUILDING NETWORKS. FOCUSES INCLUDE PEER LEARNING, SHARED RESOURCES, AND PROMOTION OF POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT LIMIT LAND SPECULATION, INCREASE COMMUNITY CONTROL, AND STABILIZE NEIGHBORHOODS."
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
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2015.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.