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Hebrew Seniorlife Inc

EIN 90-0183119 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 243 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF HEBREW SENIORLIFE, INC. (HSL) IS TO HONOR OUR ELDERS, BY RESPECTING AND PROMOTING THEIR INDEPENDENCE, SPIRITUAL VIGOR, DIGNITY AND CHOICE AND BY RECOGNIZING THAT THEY ARE A RESOURCE TO BE CHERISHED. AS PART OF OUR MISSION, WE ACCEPT SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FRAILEST AND NEEDIEST MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE MOST DEPENDENT ON OUR CARE.

Income
$17.0 million
Spending
$32.3 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
91.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
167
Volunteers
325
Highest pay
$1.2 million, president and ceo (thru 7/2023, returned 5/2024 to 6/2025)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 91.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 90% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 243 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 20 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 September 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 (1)
  1. $27.0 million spent. HSL IS AN UNPARALLELLED PROVIDER OF SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES, GERIATRIC HEALTH CARE, RESEARCH INTO HUMAN AGING, AND MEDICAL EDUCATION. FOUNDED IN 1903, HSL STRIVES TO TRANSFORM EVERY ASPECT OF THE AGING EXPERIENCE. AN AFFILIATE OF HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL, HSL SERVES OVER 3,000 SENIORS EACH DAY AT OUR SITES IN BROOKLINE, CANTON, DEDHAM, RANDOLPH, REVERE, ROSLINDALE, AND REACHES COUNTLESS MORE THROUGH OUR RESEARCH AND TEACHING.. EXAMPLES OF OUR PROGRAM SERVICES ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. HEALTH CARE: HSL PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES FROM PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY CARE TO OUTPATIENT AND REHAB CARE, TO HOME CARE, LONG-TERM AND HOSPICE CARE. OUR HOSPICE PROGRAM, THE FIRST JEWISH FAITH-BASED HOSPICE IN MASSACHUSETTS, COMPRISES MORE THAN 70 RABBIS AND CANTORS SERVING THE BOSTON AREA. ADDITIONAL SPECIALTY PROGRAMS INCLUDE HSL'S CENTER FOR MEMORY HEALTH, AND OUR CENTER FOR THE PREVENTION OF ELDER ABUSE AND NEGLECT. 2. SENIOR LIVING: MORE THAN 95% OF THE SENIORS LIVING IN HSL'S SUBSIDIZED HOUSING COMMUNITIES IN BROOKLINE, RANDOLPH, AND REVERE ARE MEDICAID DEPENDENT. IN 2016, HSL RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION TO IMPLEMENT AND TEST OUR UNIQUE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING MODEL IN OUR SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES AND BEYOND. 3. RESEARCH: THE HINDA AND ARTHUR MARCUS INSTITUTE FOR AGING RESEARCH, HSL'S RESEARCH ARM, IS ONE OF THE LARGEST GERONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH FACILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. DOZENS OF INTERVENTIONS DEVELOPED AT THE MARCUS INSTITUTE HAVE BECOME STANDARD CARE FOR SENIORS. THE MARCUS INSTITUTE RANKS IN THE TOP 15% OF NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH GRANT RECIPIENTS, WITH MORE THAN $60 MILLION OF NIH AND NIA FUNDING. THE MARCUS INSTITUTE TRAINS FUTURE GERIATRICIANS AND GERONTOLOGICAL RESEARCHERS THROUGH THE HARVARD MULTI-CAMPUS GERIATRIC MEDICINE FELLOWSHIP - THE LARGEST GERIATRIC FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES. IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES, HSL WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE BOSTON GLOBE AS ONE OF BOSTON'S TOP PLACES TO WORK FOR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 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 June 2005.

    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.

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.