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The Boma Project Inc

EIN 84-1671995 · Manchestr Ctr, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BOMA'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENTS OF AFRICA'S DRYLANDS WITH ECONOMIC INCLUSION PROGRAMS THAT INCREASE RESILIENCE TO ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL SHOCKS.

Income
$10.7 million
Spending
$10.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
10
Highest pay
$241,727, treasurer &

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% 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, 2024, 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

    10 of 10 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, 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 (3)
  1. $6.4 million spent. THE RURAL ENTREPRENEUR ACCESS PROJECT ("REAP") IS AN INNOVATIVE, DATA DRIVEN, HIGH-IMPACT, GENDER FOCUSED POVERTY GRADUATION PROGRAM THAT TARGETS ULTRA-POOR WOMEN AT THE EPICENTER OF EXTREME POVERTY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE TRUE "LAST MILE" OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL-ISOLATION. THROUGH A TWO-YEAR PROCESS OF SEQUENCED INTERVENTIONS - INCLUDING A CASH TRANSFER TO START A SMALL BUSINESS, FINANCIAL AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, MENTORING, AND A SAVINGS PROGRAM - REAP HELPS THE POOREST AND MOST VULNERABLE WOMEN ESTABLISH SAVINGS TO BUILD THEIR RESILIENCE TO SHOCKS AND LIFT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF EXTREME POVERTY. ON AVERAGE, 96% OF WOMEN "GRADUATE" FROM EXTREME POVERTY BASED ON BOMA'S STRICT CRITERIA, MEANING THEY HAVE FOOD FOR THEIR CHILDREN, DIVERSIFIED INCOME AND SAVINGS, AND THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR LIFE-CHANGING RESOURCES LIKE EDUCATION AND MEDICAL CARE. THE RURAL ENTREPRENEUR ACCESS PROJECT ("REAP") IS AN INNOVATIVE, DATA DRIVEN, HIGH-IMPACT, GENDER FOCUSED POVERTY GRADUATION PROGRAM THAT TARGETS ULTRA-POOR WOMEN AT THE EPICENTER OF EXTREME POVERTY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE TRUE "LAST MILE" OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL-ISOLATION. THROUGH A TWO-YEAR PROCESS OF SEQUENCED INTERVENTIONS - INCLUDING A CASH TRANSFER TO START A SMALL BUSINESS, FINANCIAL AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, MENTORING, AND A SAVINGS PROGRAM - REAP HELPS THE POOREST AND MOST VULNERABLE WOMEN ESTABLISH SAVINGS TO BUILD THEIR RESILIENCE TO SHOCKS AND LIFT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF EXTREME POVERTY. ON AVERAGE, 96% OF WOMEN "GRADUATE" FROM EXTREME POVERTY BASED ON BOMA'S STRICT CRITERIA, MEANING THEY HAVE FOOD FOR THEIR CHILDREN, DIVERSIFIED INCOME AND SAVINGS, AND THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR LIFE-CHANGING RESOURCES LIKE EDUCATION AND MEDICAL CARE.
  2. $2.2 million spent. TECHNICAL ADVISORY - AS A STRATEGIC PARTNER AND TECHNICAL ADVISOR TO NON- GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, BOMA LEVERAGES ITS EXPERTISE AND CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE OF IMPACT TO EMBED THE GRADUATION APPROACH INTO HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE SYSTEMS IN FRAGILE STATES AND REGIONS. AS A TECHNICAL ADVISOR TO GOVERNMENTS, BOMA SUPPORTS THE ACTIVITIES AND PROCESSES THAT WILL LEAD TO THE ADOPTION OF THE GRADUATION APPROACH INTO SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS, BEGINNING WITH KENYA.
  3. $420,504 spent. EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY - BOMA HAS A STRONG COMMITMENT TO EXPAND THE KNOWLEDGE OF POVERTY GRADUATION, LIVELIHOODS, GENDER PROGRAMMING, FINANCIAL INCLUSION, AND SAVINGS MODELS BY COLLABORATING WITH RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS AND PARTNERS THAT CAN HELP US ADVANCE GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES IN THE ARID LANDS OF AFRICA. BOMA CONTINUES TO BRING THE ISSUES OF THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN FORGOTTEN AREAS INTO GLOBAL DEBATE THROUGH PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS. IN ADDITION, BOMA CONDUCTS OUTREACH WITH GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN THE POVERTY GRADUATION FIELD BY HOSTING POVERTY GRADUATION LEARNING EVENTS, FIELD VISITS, AND BRIEFINGS FOR GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS, SUCH AS FOR KENYA, ETHIOPIA AND SUDAN, WHO ARE INTERESTED IN TESTING BOMA'S MODEL IN THEIR COUNTRIES. EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY - BOMA HAS A STRONG COMMITMENT TO EXPAND THE KNOWLEDGE OF POVERTY GRADUATION, LIVELIHOODS, GENDER PROGRAMMING, FINANCIAL INCLUSION, AND SAVINGS MODELS BY COLLABORATING WITH RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS AND PARTNERS THAT CAN HELP US ADVANCE GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES IN THE ARID LANDS OF AFRICA. BOMA CONTINUES TO BRING THE ISSUES OF THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN FORGOTTEN AREAS INTO GLOBAL DEBATE THROUGH PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS. IN ADDITION, BOMA CONDUCTS OUTREACH WITH GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN THE POVERTY GRADUATION FIELD BY HOSTING POVERTY GRADUATION LEARNING EVENTS, FIELD VISITS, AND BRIEFINGS FOR GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS, SUCH AS FOR KENYA, ETHIOPIA AND SUDAN, WHO ARE INTERESTED IN TESTING BOMA'S MODEL IN THEIR COUNTRIES.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.