Urban Guild Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CORPORATION IS ORGANIZED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN BOSTONS URBAN COMMUNITIES BY BUILDING CAPACITY, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, AND PROVIDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN A MANNER THAT RESPONDS DIRECTLY TO COMMUNITY NEEDS, INTERESTS, AND SKILLS.
- Income
- $873,952
- Spending
- $860,986
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- -21.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 59%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $118,257, ceo and president
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: 37 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 47% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 92% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 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
10 of 10Gave 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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)
- $496,184 spent. THE GUILD DEVELOPS LOCAL AND GLOBAL ECOSYSTEMS FOR COLLABORATIVE, COMMUNITY-OWNED SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AND INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON HEALTH FOOD, CLEAN ENERGY, ART AND CULTURE, HEALING AND WELLNESS, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE DEMONSTRATION, AS WELL AS TRAINING AND EDUCATION, CREDENTIALING RESEARCH AND PUBLISHING.
- $193,712 spent. THE GUILD INVESTS IN AND EXPANDS MEANINGFUL PROGRAMMING, TRAINING, CAPACITY BUILDING AND CREDENTIALING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT (I) FOOD ACCESS AND HEALTHY EATING, (II) HEALING AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES, (III) RESURFACING LOCAL & INDIGENOUS PRACTICES, AND (IV) HEALING & WELLNESS FOCUSED ENTREPRENEAURSHIP.
- $58,365 spent. THE GUILD CREATES NEW AND FLEXIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE SHOWCASING AND DEMONSTRATION OF SOLUTIONS, CULTURE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL INITIATIVES CREATED BY A LOCAL-TO-GLOBAL INDIGENOUS AND POC ECOSYSTEM WHICH INCLUDES A WIDE VARIETY OF COMMITTED CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERS AND ALLIES. GUILD SANCTUARY VENUES FORM THE FOUNDATION FOR DEEP EXPERIENCES OF HEALING AND CONNECTION, EDUCATION, MARKET VETTING OF ENTREPRENEURIAL IDEAS AND NEW KNOWLEDGE AND ASSET CREATION.
- $9,973 spent. THE GUILD SHOWCASES GLOBAL POC ARTISTS, EXHIBITS, HAPPENINGS, WORKSHOPS, EXPERIENCES AND CEREMONIES FOR THE DEFINED PURPOSE OF CREATING PROFOUND AND NOVEL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE SHARING, UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND RITUAL. IT ALSO SUPPORTS NEW MODELS TO SUPPORT THE WORK AND PRACTICE OF GLOBAL POC ARTISTS IN A MANNER THAT INTIMATELY CONNECTS DEEP COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE AND LEARNING, ON A GLOBAL BASIS.
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
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 October 13, 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 December 2024.
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 April 2017.
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 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.