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Boston Debate League

EIN 59-3789722 · Roxbury Xing, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BDL'S MISSION IS TO PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR COLLEGE, CAREER, AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WORLD THROUGH DEBATE-INSPIRED LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
14
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$186,854, 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 (2)
  1. $1.2 million spent. IN THE AFTER-SCHOOL DEBATE PROGRAM, GREATER BOSTON'S MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS JOIN DEBATE TEAMS WHICH ARE COACHED BY TEACHERS IN THE SCHOOL AND COMPETE IN CITY-WIDE BDL TOURNAMENTS AND OTHER DEBATE EVENTS. AT TOURNAMENTS, STUDENTS WORK IN TEAMS OF TWO TO DEBATE REAL-WORLD POLICY QUESTIONS, FACING OPPONENTS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS AND USING COLLEGE-LEVEL TEXTS AS EVIDENCE. TO MAKE DEBATE ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS, THE AFTER-SCHOOL DEBATE PROGRAM OFFERS THREE INCREASINGLY RIGOROUS DIVISIONS AS WELL AS A SPANISH-LANGUAGE DIVISION. DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, AFTER-SCHOOL DEBATE SERVED MORE THAN 740 STUDENTS AT 35 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS.
  2. $429,477 spent. THE DEBATE-INSPIRED CLASSROOMS (FORMERLY EVIDENCE-BASED ARGUMENTATION) INITIATIVE PARTNERS WITH SCHOOLS AND COHORTS OF TEACHERS, SUPPORTING TEACHERS IN ALL DISCIPLINES. BDL STAFF SERVE AS INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES AND PLAN AND FACILITATE FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT STUDENTS LEARN BETTER WHEN THEY TALK MORE - AND WITH EACH OTHER - IN THE CLASSROOM, SO DEBATE-INSPIRED CLASSROOMS CENTERS INSTRUCTION ON STUDENT VOICE BY OFFERING A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF TOOLS THAT TEACHERS CAN USE TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN ACADEMIC CONTENT. WITH DEBATE-INSPIRED CLASSROOMS COACHING, TEACHERS CREATE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTS WHERE STUDENTS ENGAGE WITH CONTENT AND EACH OTHER IN WAYS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL, ENERGIZED, AND ALIGNED WITH REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS; WHERE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN EVIDENCE-BASED DISCOURSE; AND WHERE STUDENTS LEAD AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER. DEBATE-INSPIRED CLASSROOMS REACHED 3000 STUDENTS AND 250 EDUCATORS IN PARTNER SCHOOLS AND THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR. THE DEBATE-INSPIRED CLASSROOMS (FORMERLY EVIDENCE-BASED ARGUMENTATION) INITIATIVE PARTNERS WITH SCHOOLS AND COHORTS OF TEACHERS, SUPPORTING TEACHERS IN ALL DISCIPLINES. BDL STAFF SERVE AS INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES AND PLAN AND FACILITATE FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT STUDENTS LEARN BETTER WHEN THEY TALK MORE - AND WITH EACH OTHER - IN THE CLASSROOM, SO DEBATE-INSPIRED CLASSROOMS CENTERS INSTRUCTION ON STUDENT VOICE BY OFFERING A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF TOOLS THAT TEACHERS CAN USE TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN ACADEMIC CONTENT. WITH DEBATE-INSPIRED CLASSROOMS COACHING, TEACHERS CREATE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTS WHERE STUDENTS ENGAGE WITH CONTENT AND EACH OTHER IN WAYS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL, ENERGIZED, AND ALIGNED WITH REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS; WHERE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN EVIDENCE-BASED DISCOURSE; AND WHERE STUDENTS LEAD AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER. DEBATE-INSPIRED CLASSROOMS REACHED 3000 STUDENTS AND 250 EDUCATORS IN PARTNER SCHOOLS AND THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR.

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 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 October 13, 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 June 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 May 2006.

    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 October 21, 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.