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Mustard Seed Communities Inc

EIN 58-1657207 · Needham, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$10.3 million
Spending
$9.2 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
13
Volunteers
1,000
Highest pay
$189,858, executive director

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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, 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 (1)
  1. $8.1 million spent. MUSTARD SEED COMMUNITIES (MSC) PROVIDES LIFELONG RESIDENTIAL CARE TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED. RESIDENTIAL CARE IS PROVIDED IN JAMAICA, NICARAGUA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, ZIMBABWE AND MALAWI. IN ADDITION TO CARING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DISABLED, MSC CARES FOR TEENAGE MOTHERS IN CRISIS AND THEIR BABIES IN JAMAICA, AND FOR CHILDREN AFFECTED BY HIV IN JAMAICA AND ZIMBABWE.MSC OPERATES NUMEROUS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES INCLUDING FEEDING PROGRAMS, SCHOOLS, COMPUTER LABS, COMMUNITY RADIO AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE.JAMAICA - MSC PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR OVER 500 CHILDREN, YOUNG ADULTS, TEEN MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES IN TWELVE HOMES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. MSC MANAGES SEVERAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO COMBAT POVERTY AND PROVIDE EDUCATION. LITTLE ANGELS LEARNING CENTERS, A REGISTERED SCHOOL SYSTEM, IS ONE OF MSC'S PRIMARY OUTREACH INITIATIVES, PROVIDING EDUCATION TO APPROXIMATELY 150 CHILDREN.NICARAGUA - MSC PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR OVER 70 CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES. MSC'S OUTREACH PROGRAM, CHRIST IN THE GARBAGE, PROVIDES FOOD PACKAGES AND SKILLS TRAINING TO WOMEN AND FAMILIES LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY LA CHURECA, THE MANAGUA CITY DUMP.DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - MSC PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR OVER 70 CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES. BEYOND RESIDENTIAL CARE, MSC DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ACTIVELY ENGAGES IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND OUTREACH, OFFERING JOBS, TRAINING, AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE THE WELL-BEING OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.ZIMBABWE - MSC PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR OVER 50 CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES OR AFFECTED BY HIV ACROSS THREE RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES IN BULAWAYO. MSC OPERATES 5 NUTRITION PROGRAMS WHICH PROVIDE A DAILY MEAL TO OVER 1,200 CHILDREN AND OPERATES TWO PRESCHOOLS THAT PROVIDE BASIC EDUCATION AND 2 MEALS A DAY TO OVER 80 CHILDREN. MALAWI - MSC PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR 15 CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. CONSTRUCTION IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY FOR A NEW RESIDENTIAL FACILITY THAT WILL BE HOME TO AN ADDITIONAL 45 CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.

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 September 1986.

    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.

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