Brookline Teen Center

What it reported doing in 2024

In fy25, the brookline teen center continued to serve students in grades 6 -12 five days per week, providing consistent after-school enrichment and a safe, structured space for teens who live in brookline or attend brookline schools. Our mission remains clear: to fill critical gaps in our community by offering meaningful programming and supervision outside of school hours when teens need it most. Btc offered a dynamic array of programs including tutoring, mentoring, cooking club, robotics, bowling, basketball, baseball, volleyball, crochet, field trips (both local and beyond Massachusetts) and daily access to our state-of-the-art music studio where teens explore everything from beginner instrument lessons to music engineering and producing original songs. In 2025, we expanded hands-on stem learning through a partnership with boston university's anatomy academy, bringing medical and pre-health students into the center to lead interactive science sessions, including dissections and experiential anatomy programming. This initiative made science engaging, accessible, and exciting for our teens while strengthening our academic enrichment offerings. We also broadened our cultural and educational field trip programming. High school students participated in visits to historically black colleges and universities (hbcus), providing exposure to institutions where many of our teens see their identities, values, and cultures meaningfully reflected. Additional trips included tours of colleges in western Massachusetts and new england and New York, visits to cultural institutions such as the institute of contemporary art (ica), and explorations of historical landmarks throughout greater boston, the local islands while also deepening civic, cultural and global awareness, for example blending volunteer work while hosting a korean school group at the btc last summer. Our commitment to teen employment and workforce development continued through internships, youthscapers services, and leadership opportunities. We also strengthened partnerships with local sports teams, offering space, particularly during the winter months, for practices such as indoor baseball training. These partnerships not only support local youth athletics but also introduce new teens to the center and its resources. In 2025, btc hosted the first-ever taste of brookline event, bringing together 15 local restaurants to provide complimentary tastings while raising funds in support of our programs. We continue to partner with local businesses and restaurants to build strong community connections and shared investment in our youth. We also hosted casino night, an annual event that raises funds and awareness for btc. Our community has grown to include more than 500 registered teen members. Each weekday, btc opens immediately after school, providing a warm meal upon arrival and snacks throughout the afternoon and evening. After a brief homework block, teens have autonomy over their time, with access to an array of clubs, academic support, mentorship, and welcoming spaces to connect and recharge. Btc plays a vital role in filling gaps across brookline. We provide independent programming on early release days, snow days, professional development days, winter and spring breaks, and throughout the summer, ensuring teens have safe, supervised, and enriching options when families need them most. We are not an extension of the school day; we are a community-based solution to unmet needs. Toward the end of fy25, btc launched a pilot after-school care program for 4th and 5th graders, operating two days per week to support families seeking structured, age-appropriate supervised care. In addition, we began hosting friday night events for older teens and their friends from brookline and neighboring communities creating a safe and welcoming place to spend friday evenings with trusted btc staff. Btc proudly engages young people from all backgrounds and reflects the diversity of brookline. On avera

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 94.2%; rating input score 94
• Program expense ratio: 59%; rating input score 59
• Fundraising efficiency: $2.44 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • 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: -59.8%; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.81; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.22; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 21.7%; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.1% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1.9% per year; rating input score 100; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 1.7% per year; rating input score 100; 24th percentile among comparable filings