Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group Inc

Overview

Mission

Our team of researchers uncovers the facts; our staff brings our findings to the public through media as well as one-on-one interactions; and our advocates bring the voice of the public to the halls of power on behalf of consumers.

What it reported doing in 2024

General program: this project involves general research, advocacy, educational activities, and lobbying on the following issues: consumer protection, toxics and toxic use reduction, energy policy legislation; utility reform, student rights legislation, good government/democracy, recycling and zero waste, and clean water.

Operating model

Revenue model
Membership-supported. 72% of the money available for current operations came from membership dues.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
042536325
IRS 990 coverage
2009–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Headquarters
Boston, MA, USA
Phone
6172924800
Rating
69
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate

The verdict

SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and most voting board members are independent. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 45
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 84
  • Sustainability: 79
  • Growth: 60

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 40.1%; rating input score 40
  • Program expense ratio: 63.7%; rating input score 64
  • Fundraising efficiency: $4.83 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 80%; rating input score 80; 18th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Fail
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 40.1%; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 25.28; rating input score 97; 97th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 16.8%; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -0.3% per year; rating input score 0; 17th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 2.7% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 10.5% per year; rating input score 100; 60th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 40.1% of revenue deployed · 63.7% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 4 of 5 board members independent · 8 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 2 filed program accomplishments · $752K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $134K · 6 people listed
  • Highest-paid contractors: 1 contractor listed · $921K reported
  • Consistency: 33 of 33 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 15 annual filings from 2009 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Leadership & pay

6 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • JANET DOMENITZ (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $133,880 total reported compensation
  • DEIRDRE CUMMINGS (TREASURER/CLERK): $64,415 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2024.