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Culturehouse Incorporated

EIN 84-2003390 · Somerville, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CULTUREHOUSE IMPROVES LIVABILITY IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES BY TRANSFORMING UNDERUTILIZED SPACES INTO VIBRANT SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

Income
$664,766
Spending
$612,378
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
14
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$88,913, 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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $312,656 spent. GENERAL OPERATIONS:BECAUSE WE HAVE A SMALL CORE TEAM THAT WORKS ACROSS PROGRAMS, WEGROUP ALL STAFF SALARIES INTO OUR "GENERAL OPERATIONS" CATEGORY,ALONG WITH GENERAL EXPENSES FOR THE ORGANIZATION THAT ARE USED ACROSSPROGRAMS SUCH AS SOFTWARE. WITH VERY LITTLE OVERHEAD, WE ARE ABLE TOSPEND OUR TIME WORKING DIRECTLY ON OUR PROGRAMS, WHERE WE GET TOENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH OUR COMMUNITY. THIS PAST YEAR, OUR TEAM HASWORKED ON 10 PROJECTS ACROSS OUR THREE PROGRAM AREAS AND SUPPORTEDALMOST 400 VOLUNTEER HOURS.
  2. $91,885 spent. SPECIAL PROJECTS:IN OUR SPECIAL PROJECTS PROGRAM, WE LEVERAGE OUR PROVEN PLACEMAKINGMETHODOLOGY TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN BRINGING THEIR PROJECTSTO LIFE. WE OFFER A RANGE OF SERVICES, DRAWING FROM OUR PAST WORK ANDTAILORED TO PROJECT NEEDS. IN 2025, ENGAGED COMMUNITIES AROUNDEXTREME HEAT AND BUILT SHADED SPACES OUTSIDE LIBRARIES.
  3. $112,877 spent. COMMUNITY POP-UPS:IN OUR COMMUNITY POP-UPS PROGRAM WE WORK ALONGSIDE COMMUNITIES TOACTIVATE VACANT PROPERTIES AND TRANSFORM THEM INTO COMMUNAL LIVINGROOMS, THIRD SPACES, AND HOSTS FOR REGULAR PROGRAMMING. THEY SERVE ASHUBS FOR ON-THE-GROUND RESEARCH TO DETERMINE LONG-TERM PLACEMAKINGOPPORTUNITIES. IN 2025, WE OPENED OUR FIRST LONG-TERM COMMUNTIY SPACE IN CAMBRIDGE--WHICH RECIEVED OVER 20,OOO VISITORS IN THE 6 MONTHS IT WAS OPEN IN 2025. WE ALSO LAUNCHED OUR FIRST TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE COHORT, TRAINING TWO COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFITS ON HOW TO OPEN THEIR OWN POP-UP CIVIC SPACES.

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 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 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 November 2019.

    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.