United Way Of Massachusetts Bay Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

EARLY EDUCATION AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME LEADING CROSS SECTOR COLLABORATION - Closing Achievement Gaps THE CHALLENGE - Students in Massachusetts face barriers that extend beyond the classroom. Chronic absenteeism is again on the rise, with 29% of low-income students missing more than 10 percent of school in 2025. In some districts like Boston, Lawrence, Lynn, and Lowell, the rates of absenteeism are as high as 20-30%. OUR APPROACH - Systems Leadership Through Community Schools United Way brings together people and partners across sectors to close achievement gaps and strengthen support for the whole child. We convene educators, families, nonprofit partners, and policymakers to align resources, integrate services, and create school-centered ecosystems of support. OUR RESPONSE & RESULTS United Way is expanding the Community Schools strategy across Massachusetts, turning schools into hubs that link families, schools, and local resources to support the whole child: - In the 24 community schools funded across Boston, Lynn, and Haverhill, chronic absenteeism decreased by an average of 3.95%. - Six community schools successfully exited DESE turnaround status, including Lowell's Bartlett, Butler, Moody, and Greenhalge schools, and Lynn's Ford and Washington schools. - Community partnerships raised $300,000 in monetary and in-kind donations for two United Way-supported schools in Haverhill. - The Massachusetts Coalition for Community Schools, led by United Way, is advocating to scale the model statewide. INVESTING IN AGENCIES - Making Childcare & After-School Programs Affordable and Accessible THE CHALLENGE - Massachusetts has some of the highest childcare costs in the country. High-quality early education remains inaccessible to families with the greatest need: Only 43% of low-income children are enrolled in preschool, and just 25% of Boston's school-age children participate in summer learning programs. OUR APPROACH - Strategic Investment to Scale What Works Investing in community-based organizations is one of United Way's core levers for advancing systemic impact. We deploy funding strategically to strengthen high-performing providers, expand proven models, and build regional capacity. United Way also drives statewide solutions to make early education and after-school programs accessible and affordable. OUR RESPONSE & RESULTS - Advanced a sustainable business model for family childcare entrepreneurs through Shared Services MA, training and licensing 62 educators, creating 372 new childcare slots, and expanding culturally responsive care in the Merrimack Valley. - Deployed state funding and resources to expand summer learning and after-school programs through the Summer Step Up program, reaching 1,863 children in partnership with 53 organizations across 28 communities. - Mobilized capital and expertise to strengthen 66 early education community-based partners across the region, providing thousands of young children with high-quality learning environments to address gaps in access and affordability.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 87.2%; rating input score 87
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.74 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.7%; rating input score 95; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 6 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 86.5%; rating input score 86; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 97.6%; rating input score 98; 31st 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: -12%; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.31; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.18; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.4%; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0.7% per year; rating input score 100; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 0.2% per year; rating input score 100; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -0.5% per year; rating input score 0; 9th percentile among comparable filings