The Bottom Line Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
043351427
IRS 990 coverage
2014–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Jamaica Plain, MA, USA
Phone
8574154810
Rating
82
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Community Improvement, Capacity Building N.E.C.

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$20,192,316
Expenses
$25,813,070
Assets
$33,582,184
Liabilities
$5,749,494

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

33 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • STEVEN COLON (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER)
  • THOMAS WILL HOBART (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - IL)
  • GINETTE SAIMPREVIL (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - MA)
  • VICTORIA COKER (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - NY)
  • JAMES COSBY (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - OH)
  • BRIAN ALEXANDER (VICE PRESIDENT OF GROWTH)

Highest reported compensation

  • STEVEN COLON (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER): $408,527 total reported compensation
  • SHAUWEA HAMILTON (CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER): $231,263 total reported compensation
  • SHANNON DONNELLY (CHIEF OPERATIONAL & FINANCIAL OFFICER): $213,073 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Bottom line was founded in 1997 to help first generation students from low income backgrounds get into college, graduate from college, and go far in life. We accomplish this mission by providing one-on-one comprehensive support during the college (continued on sch o) application process and for up to six years in college.

What it reported doing in 2024

In fiscal year 2025, bottom line serverd more than 1080 high school students through the organization's highschool access program, of which 91% made a commitment to college by the end of their senior years. The organization supported approximately 4100 students in the college success program, across more than 40 campuses nationwide, celebrating 719 graduates! Bottomline supported more than 1900 students in the current year of the bluprint program, connecting degree-aspiring students all over the country with a virtual advisor.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 95% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 90% 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.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 75
  • Transparency & Controls: 87
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 24
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 89.5%; rating input score 90
  • Program expense ratio: 68.5%; rating input score 68
  • Fundraising efficiency: $4.34 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd 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: Pass
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Missing
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th 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: -27.8%; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.3; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.17; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 11.1%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 9.2% per year; rating input score 100; 67th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 10.4% per year; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 17.6% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 89.5% of revenue deployed · 68.5% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 20 of 20 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $17.7M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $409K · 33 people listed · 4 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 4 contractors listed · $1M reported
  • Consistency: 40 of 40 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 8 filed schedules · includes major donors, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 11 filing years from 2014 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 14 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.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 17/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 3/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 46/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 17/100.