Boston Ujima Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE BOSTON UJIMA PROJECT, INC IS A BLACK LED, DEMOCRATIC, MEMBER-RUN ORGANIZATION BUILDING A COOPERATIVE BUSINESS, ARTS AND INVESTMENT ECOSYSTEM IN BOSTON, WITH A MISSION TO RETURN WEALTH TO WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. UJIMA IS BRINGING TOGETHER NEIGHBORS, WORKERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, INVESTORS, ORGANIZERS, ARTISTS AND CULTURE-MAKERS, TO CREATE A COMMUNITY-CONTROLLED ECONOMY IN OUR CITY. UJIMA IS SWAHILI FOR "COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY." WE ARE COUNTERACTING YEARS OF DISINVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND FILLING IN GAPS IN FINANCING FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, COOPS AND ARTISTS, BY BRINGING TOGETHER ACTORS FROM SECTORS THAT ARE TRADITIONALLY NOT OFTEN IN CONVERSATION WITH EACH OTHER, FINANCE & ORGANIZING.
- Income
- $9.5 million
- Spending
- $2.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 24.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 93
- Highest pay
- $54,579, executive director/president
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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 38% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 74% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 9 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 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 (4)
- $652,733 spent. BUSINESS ALLIANCEAS A MEMBER OF THE UGBA, COMPANIES GAIN ACCESS TO CAPITAL THROUGH THE UJIMA FUND, FINANCIAL COACHING, PEER COACHING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, COOPERATIVE PURCHASING, AND OTHER JOINT VENTURES TO STRENGTHEN OPERATIONS AND MARKET SHARE. A FEATURED OFFERING OF THE UBA IS CREATIVE, CONSUMER ORGANIZING OF UJIMA'S MEMBERS AND OTHER RESIDENTS TO INTENTIONALLY SUPPORT UJIMA'S BUSINESSES.
- $522,433 spent. ARTS & CULTURAL ORGANIZINGUJIMA'S ARTS & CULTURAL ORGANIZING PROGRAMS SEEK TO STEWARD THE WISDOM, LEADERSHIP, AND VISIONS OF AN ALTERNATIVE FUTURE CREATED BY THE BIPOC ARTISTS, AND THINKERS, OF ALL GENERATIONS THROUGH ONLINE AND IN-PERSON OFFERINGS, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, AND WORKSHOPS.
- $492,565 spent. POLICY & ORGANIZINGCOMMITTED TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN EXISTING COALITIONS, PRIORITIZING ISSUES SUCH AS COMMUNITY SAFETY, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND ADOPTING A MULTIGENERATIONAL APPROACH.THE POLICY PILLAR SUPPORTS ONGOING POLICY EFFORTS ALIGNED WITH THE MISSION, MEMBERSHIP, AND COMMUNITY BASE, WHILE THE ORGANIZING PILLAR STRIVES TO BUILD POLITICAL ALIGNMENT WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION AND COMMUNITIES.
- $169,604 spent. ASSEMBLIES
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
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 June 2025.
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 July 2024.
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.