Action for Boston Community Development

What it reported doing in 2024

Abcd provides a variety of services to low-income families at its central offices and through a network of neighborhood service centers. Other program services include health services, housing and homeless prevention, summer youth employment, education, career development and employment, financial literacy, elder services, food pantries, adult education, foreclosure prevention, tax preparation and drop-in services. Health services reached over 17,106 individuals with disease prevention and reproductive health care and provided training and support for 40 clinics and 140 health care providers. Housing and homeless prevention helps families and individuals who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes to maintain or obtain affordable housing. In fy2025, abcd helped 677 families have a place to call home. Abcd-trained volunteer tax preparers helped 3,593 families and brought $7 million into local households through federal tax refunds and tax credits. On average, foster grandparents spend 38 hours a week sharing their compassion and wisdom with children facing extraordinary challenges including poverty, learning disabilities, and even homelessness. Summerworks, abcd's summer jobs program, places under-resourced boston area youth in paid positions at nonprofit employer sites. In fy2025, 242 youth were placed at a worksite over a six-week period. In addition, abcd held workshops on interviewing, budgeting, and other job readiness skills. Abcd operates two alternative high schools. Ostiguy high is a "recovery high school" serving young people struggling with substance abuse. University high is an alternative high school for students struggling in traditional public schools. Both schools offer students a challenging education and a caring environment with small classes and individual supports.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 91.5%; rating input score 91
• Program expense ratio: 97.8%; rating input score 98
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • 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: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 8.1%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.43; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.69; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0.5%; rating input score 83; 83rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.7% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7% per year; rating input score 100; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 12.8% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings