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A Better City Initiative Inc

EIN 56-2605048 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WORKING WITH OUR RELATED ORGANIZATION, A BETTER CITY, INC., WE PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, BOSTON METROPOLITAN REGION, AND OTHER URBAN AREAS, BY PARTICIPATING IN THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TRANSPORTATION, LAND DEVELOPMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.

Income
$533,125
Spending
$324,920
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$354,452, president & 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 58% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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, 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 (2)
  1. $246,671 spent. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:A BETTER CITY INITIATIVE, INC.(ABCI) CONTINUED TO WORK WITH MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS TO MEET AND EXCEED WITH VARYING CITY AND STATE POLICIES IN THE BUILDING SECTOR AND BEYOND. ABCI JOINED WITH PARTNERS TO LAUNCH THE THIRD COHORT OF POWERCORPSBOS BUILDING OPERATOR TRAINEES, AS WELL AS THE INAUGURAL B-COOL TEMPERATURE SENSOR PILOT TO ADDRESS THE SIGNIFICANT DATA GAPS IN MEASURING LIVE TEMPERATURE DATA ACROSS BOSTON'S HOTSPOT NEIGHBORHOODS.
  2. $78,249 spent. TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE:A BETTER CITY INITIATIVE, INC.(ABCI) HAS MAINTAINED STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH MBTA LEADERSHIP TO IDENTIFY THE SAFETY, SERVICE, AND STAFFING IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL AS FINANCING SOLUTIONS NEEDED TO GET THE SYSTEM BACK ON TRACK. ABCI'S EFFORTS HAVE PRIORITIZED ENHANCING TRANSIT SERVICE TO TRANSIT-DEPENDENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES, REALIZING THE EXPANSION OF LOW-INCOME FARE OPTIONS, AND ADVANCING DECARBONIZATION PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES.

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 November 6, 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 August 2007.

    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 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.