Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center Inc. (MassBudget)
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15 Court Square, Suite 700 Boston, MA 02108 |
[P] (617) 426-1228 [F] (617) 695-1295 |
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http://www.massbudget.org nberger@massbudget.org Noah Berger |
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INCORPORATED: 1987
Printable Profile (Summary / Full) EIN 04-2967537 |
LAST UPDATED: 06/19/2017 |
| Organization DBA |
MassBudget |
|---|---|
| Former Names | -- |
| Organization received a competitive grant from the Boston Foundation in the past five years | No |
Summary
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Mission StatementMORE »MassBudget produces non-partisan policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state’s economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. Our work addresses how our Commonwealth can achieve these objectives while also maintaining fiscal stability through an adequate, fair, and efficient tax system. We recognize that accomplishing these goals depends on an effective government in which everyone is empowered to participate. Toward this end, MassBudget works towards government transparency and makes our research as accessible as possible, particularly to those who have been left on the sidelines of past policy debates. |
Mission StatementMassBudget produces non-partisan policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state’s economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. Our work addresses how our Commonwealth can achieve these objectives while also maintaining fiscal stability through an adequate, fair, and efficient tax system. We recognize that accomplishing these goals depends on an effective government in which everyone is empowered to participate. Toward this end, MassBudget works towards government transparency and makes our research as accessible as possible, particularly to those who have been left on the sidelines of past policy debates. |
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Financials
| Fiscal Year | Jan 01, 2017 to Dec 31, 2017 |
|---|---|
| Projected Income | $1,300,283.00 |
| Projected Expense | $1,300,283.00 |
Programs
- Budget Monitor
Revenue vs. Expense ($000s)
Expense Breakdown 2016 (%)
Expense Breakdown 2015 (%)
Expense Breakdown 2014 (%)
For more details regarding the organization's financial information, select the financial tab and review available comments.
Overview
Mission Statement
MassBudget produces non-partisan policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state’s economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. Our work addresses how our Commonwealth can achieve these objectives while also maintaining fiscal stability through an adequate, fair, and efficient tax system. We recognize that accomplishing these goals depends on an effective government in which everyone is empowered to participate. Toward this end, MassBudget works towards government transparency and makes our research as accessible as possible, particularly to those who have been left on the sidelines of past policy debates.
Background Statement
For over two decades, MassBudget has been the go-to source for state nonprofits, issue advocates, members of the media, policymakers and residents for accessible, rigorous analysis of the impact of policy choices on low- and moderate- income people. Grassroots groups, policymakers, and other leaders have credited us with providing the non-partisan research and analysis necessary for the achievement of critical policy advances, from raising the Massachusetts minimum wage and achieving Earned Paid Sick Time, to tax fairness improvements that have netted substantial revenue for vital state programs, and boosted take-home pay for low-income families through EITC increases. Our work addresses a wide range of other issues as well, including education, economic development, health care, and children’s programs – as well as the linkages between these policy areas (e.g., investing in kids for our state's economic future). MassBudget is significantly shaping and informing ongoing conversations about improving education in Massachusetts.
MassBudget has also made essential contributions to improving the inclusivity and transparency of state budget and policy debates. Our presentations around the state, and useful online tools – including our Budget Browser, Children’s Budget, and Jobs & Workforce Budget – help ensure that all residents have the information they need to participate in critical policy discussions. Our work has also spurred some improvements in the budget information provided by state government. In addition, MassBudget is widely cited in the media, increasing public understanding of key issues. MassBudget is affiliated with D.C.’s Center on Budget and Policy Priorities as a member of its State Priorities Partnership. We are also a member of the Economic Analysis and Research Network and are the state’s Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count group.
Impact Statement
Grassroots groups, leaders both inside and outside of state government, and many others consistently turn to MassBudget to understand the impact of public policies on the Commonwealth’s economy, quality of life, and on low- and moderate-income people in particular. They have relied on our work as they have achieved critical advances for lower income residents, from raising the Massachusetts minimum wage and achieving Earned Paid Sick Time, to tax fairness improvements that have netted substantial revenue for vital state programs, and boosted take-home pay for low-income families through EITC increases. MassBudget has also been increasingly used as a resource by Massachusetts leaders engaged in national debates on federal budget and policy changes and their impact on the Commonwealth. Our scores of presentations around Massachusetts, and valuable multimedia resources, help ensure that all residents have the information they need to participate in key policy debates. We have also improved debates’ inclusivity and transparency by prompting the provision of more extensive budget and programmatic information by the state. MassBudget’s data, ideas, and policy resources are widely cited and circulated in a variety of media forums, from leading editorial pages, to news publications across the state and beyond, to social media, local television, and more.
Needs Statement
MassBudget relies on the generous support of foundations, individuals, and organizations to sustain our work widening and informing the public debate. Without us, many debates would lack important perspectives and information. We seek and welcome new contributions for both general operating support and specific projects.
CEO Statement
Board Chair Statement
Geographic Area Served
In a specific U.S. city, cities, state(s) and/or region.
STATEWIDE
Organization Categories
- Public & Societal Benefit - Research Institutes and/or Public Policy Analysis
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- -
Independent research has been conducted on this organization's theory of change or on the effectiveness of this organization's program(s)
No
Programs
Budget Monitor
MassBudget’s work helps everyone who wants to participate in public debates on the state budget, taxes and related policy issues to be able to do so effectively. Among the dozens of publications we produce each year, our widely-read Budget Monitors provide detailed, timely information about how programs and services fare at each stage of the state’s budget debate, as well as discussions of revenue patterns and other big-picture fiscal issues. Groups find them very useful, along with our accessible Budget Browser tool, and other budget resources on our site. |
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| Budget | $80,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Category | None of the above |
| Population Served | Other Economic Level |
| Program Short-Term Success | The Budget Monitor and our other budget tools are successful because they provide grassroots advocates, nonprofits, community groups, the media, policymakers and others with the information they need to participate actively and effectively in state budget debates – one of the key ways we make public policy decisions as a Commonwealth. |
| Program Long-Term Success | Over the long term, the Budget Monitor– and MassBudget’s other budget resources – help increase the transparency of state budget decisions, and facilitate citizen involvement in those choices, giving more people and groups the information they need to join debates. This, in turn, leads to better decisions that represent the needs and wishes of the people of the Commonwealth. |
| Program Success Monitored By | MassBudget monitors the number of people who read our Budget Monitor emails (and click on the links in them), and who use Budget Monitors and other resources on our website; all of these are widely used. People on our lists – from grassroots groups and nonprofit leaders, to policymakers and the media – consistently reply about the helpfulness of this information to their work. We often ask the audiences at our presentations (offered dozens of times across the state each year) whether they use our resources, and many respond then about the value of our budget tools. In addition, we periodically seek more formal feedback from those who rely on our work about the Monitor. We recently did this as part of our 2015 strategic planning process, surveying 100 users (including grassroots and advocacy groups, researchers, people in the executive and legislative branch, and others) about the tool. Most responded that they found the Monitor a valuable resource, and that they use it and our online budget tools to improve their knowledge of the budget, and to share that knowledge with others. The majority reported that they used the Monitor a lot and found it “highly valuable” or “valuable.” |
| Examples of Program Success | Many leaders and groups testify about the helpfulness of MassBudget’s Budget Monitors. For example, three legislative offices recently reported to MassBudget about how valuable these tools are, with one saying, “Whenever constituents call about a line item or budget activity, we find the state budget impossible to use, or impossible to interpret [once we find the numbers], so we constantly use MassBudget’s data and love being able to compare to past years.” We also often see charts from our Monitors, or generated from our Budget Browser, in the media and in other groups’ communications (emails, blog posts). |
CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments
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Management
| CEO/Executive Director | Mr. Noah Berger |
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| CEO Term Start | Feb 2003 |
| CEO Email | nberger@massbudget.org |
| CEO Experience | Noah Berger is president of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, an independent research organization that produces non-partisan policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state’s economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. Prior to joining the center, Berger served as counsel and policy director for the Massachusetts Senate Committee on Ways and Means from 1993 to 1996 and as policy director for the Massachusetts Senate President from 1996 to 2002. Berger's leadership extends to the national arena, where he serves on the advisory boards of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, the Economic Analysis Research Network, and the Tax Alliance for Economic Mobility. Berger graduated from Harvard College and has a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
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| Co-CEO | -- |
| Co-CEO Term Start | -- |
| Co-CEO Email | -- |
| Co-CEO Experience | -- |
Former CEOs and Terms
| Name | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | -- |
Senior Staff
| Name | Title | Experience/Biography |
|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | -- |
Awards
| Award | Awarding Organization | Year |
|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | -- |
Affiliations
| Affiliation | Year |
|---|---|
| -- | -- |
| Member of state association of nonprofits? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Name of state association | Massachusetts Nonprofit Network |
External Assessments and Accreditations
| External Assessment or Accreditation | Year |
|---|---|
| -- | -- |
Collaborations
--
CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments
--
Foundation Comments
--
Staff Information
| Number of Full Time Staff | 6 |
|---|---|
| Number of Part Time Staff | 5 |
| Number of Volunteers | 0 |
| Number of Contract Staff | 0 |
| Staff Retention Rate % | 100% |
Staff Demographics
| Ethnicity | African American/Black: 1 Asian American/Pacific Islander: 0 Caucasian: 8 Hispanic/Latino: 2 Native American/American Indian: 0 Other: 0 Other (if specified): -- |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female: 6 Male: 5 Not Specified 0 |
Plans & Policies
| Organization has Fundraising Plan? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Organization has Strategic Plan? | Yes |
| Years Strategic Plan Considers | -- |
| Management Succession Plan | No |
| Business Continuity of Operations Plan | No |
| Organization Policies And Procedures | Yes |
| Nondiscrimination Policy | Yes |
| Whistle Blower Policy | Yes |
| Document Destruction Policy | Yes |
| Directors and Officers Insurance Policy | Yes |
| State Charitable Solicitations Permit | Yes |
| State Registration | Yes |
Risk Management Provisions
| -- |
Reporting and Evaluations
| Management Reports to Board? | Yes |
|---|---|
| CEO Formal Evaluation and Frequency | Yes Annually |
| Senior Management Formal Evaluation and Frequency | Yes Annually |
| Non Management Formal Evaluation and Frequency | Yes Annually |
Governance
| Board Chair | Ms. Carol Kamin |
|---|---|
| Board Chair Company Affiliation | Carol Kamin Consulting |
| Board Chair Term | Jan 2015 - |
| Board Co-Chair | -- |
|---|---|
| Board Co-Chair Company Affiliation | -- |
| Board Co-Chair Term | - |
Board Members
| Name | Company Affiliations | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Edward Augustus | City of Worcester | Voting |
| Kalila Barnett | Alternatives for Community and Environment | Voting |
| Jack Buckley | Corporate Realty Associates | Voting |
| Karilyn Crockett | Mayor's Office of Economic Development, City of Boston | Voting |
| Michael Curry | Mass League of Community Health Centers | Voting |
| Michael Dukakis | Northeastern University | Voting |
| Phil Edmundson | William Gallagher Associates | Voting |
| Peter Enrich | Northeastern University School of Law | Voting |
| Tom Gosnell | AFT Massachusetts | Voting |
| Clare Higgins | Mayor of Northampton, MA | Voting |
| Carol Kamin | Carol Kamin Consulting | Voting |
| Tyrek Lee | 1199 SEIU United Health Care Workers East, Massachusetts Division | Voting |
| Maria Elena Letona | Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts | Voting |
| Myron Miller | MDS/Miller Dyer Spears | Voting |
| Glenn Parker | Community Volunteer | Voting |
| Nicholas Puleo | Massachusetts Teachers Association | Voting |
| Rob Restuccia | Community Catalyst | Voting |
| Carolyn Villers | Massachusetts Senior Action Council | Voting |
Constituent Board Members
| Name | Company Affiliations | Status |
|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | -- |
Youth Board Members
| Name | Company Affiliations | Status |
|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | -- |
Advisory Board Members
| Name | Company Affiliations | Status |
|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | -- |
Board Demographics
| Ethnicity | African American/Black: 4 Asian American/Pacific Islander: 0 Caucasian: 13 Hispanic/Latino: 1 Native American/American Indian: 0 Other: 0 Other (if specified): -- |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female: 6 Male: 12 Not Specified 0 |
Board Information
| Board Term Lengths | 3 |
|---|---|
| Board Term Limits | -- |
| Board Meeting Attendance % | 79% |
| Written Board Selection Criteria | No |
| Written Conflict Of Interest Policy | Yes |
| Percentage of Monetary Contributions | 100% |
| Percentage of In-Kind Contributions | -- |
| Constituency Includes Client Representation | No |
Standing Committees
- Administration
- Development / Fund Development / Fund Raising / Grant Writing / Major Gifts
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Finance
- Strategic Planning / Strategic Direction
CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments
--
Foundation Comments
--
Financials
Revenue vs. Expense ($000s)
Expense Breakdown 2016 (%)
Expense Breakdown 2015 (%)
Expense Breakdown 2014 (%)
| Fiscal Year | Jan 01, 2017 to Dec 31, 2017 |
|---|---|
| Projected Income | $1,300,283.00 |
| Projected Expense | $1,300,283.00 |
| Form 990s | |
| Audit Documents | |
| IRS Letter of Exemption |
Prior Three Years Total Revenue and Expense Totals
| Fiscal Year | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $1,110,744 | $1,329,041 | $1,404,711 |
| Total Expenses | $1,207,027 | $1,214,423 | $1,029,069 |
Prior Three Years Revenue Sources
| Fiscal Year | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation and Corporation Contributions |
-- | -- | -- |
| Government Contributions | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Federal | -- | -- | -- |
| State | -- | -- | -- |
| Local | -- | -- | -- |
| Unspecified | -- | -- | -- |
| Individual Contributions | $1,105,101 | $1,303,876 | $1,303,546 |
| Indirect Public Support | -- | -- | -- |
| Earned Revenue | $2,000 | $22,500 | $100,000 |
| Investment Income, Net of Losses | $3,643 | $2,665 | $1,165 |
| Membership Dues | -- | -- | -- |
| Special Events | -- | -- | -- |
| Revenue In-Kind | -- | -- | -- |
| Other | -- | -- | -- |
Prior Three Years Expense Allocations
| Fiscal Year | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program Expense | $1,024,361 | $1,035,896 | $888,061 |
| Administration Expense | $79,187 | $67,431 | $55,628 |
| Fundraising Expense | $103,479 | $111,096 | $85,380 |
| Payments to Affiliates | -- | -- | -- |
| Total Revenue/Total Expenses | 0.92 | 1.09 | 1.37 |
| Program Expense/Total Expenses | 85% | 85% | 86% |
| Fundraising Expense/Contributed Revenue | 9% | 9% | 7% |
Prior Three Years Assets and Liabilities
| Fiscal Year | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,194,690 | $1,286,389 | $1,168,326 |
| Current Assets | $863,940 | $1,006,800 | $932,654 |
| Long-Term Liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Current Liabilities | $56,446 | $51,862 | $48,417 |
| Total Net Assets | $1,138,244 | $1,234,527 | $1,119,909 |
Prior Three Years Top Three Funding Sources
| Fiscal Year | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (Source and Amount) |
-- -- |
-- -- |
-- -- |
| 2nd (Source and Amount) |
-- -- |
-- -- |
-- -- |
| 3rd (Source and Amount) |
-- -- |
-- -- |
-- -- |
Financial Planning
| Endowment Value | -- |
|---|---|
| Spending Policy | -- |
| Percentage(If selected) | -- |
| Credit Line | Yes |
| Reserve Fund | Yes |
| How many months does reserve cover? | 3.00 |
Capital Campaign
| Are you currently in a Capital Campaign? | No |
|---|---|
| Capital Campaign Purpose | -- |
| Campaign Goal | -- |
| Capital Campaign Dates | - |
| Capital Campaign Raised-to-Date Amount | -- |
| Capital Campaign Anticipated in Next 5 Years? | No |
Short Term Solvency
| Fiscal Year | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current Liabilities | 15.31 | 19.41 | 19.26 |
Long Term Solvency
| Fiscal Year | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term Liabilities/Total Assets | 0% | 0% | 0% |
CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments
Foundation Comments
Documents
Other Documents
| No Other Documents currently available. |
Impact
The Impact tab is a section on the Giving Common added in October 2013; as such the majority of nonprofits have not yet had the chance to complete this voluntary section. The purpose of the Impact section is to ask five deceptively simple questions that require reflection and promote communication about what really matters – results. The goal is to encourage strategic thinking about how a nonprofit will achieve its goals. The following Impact questions are being completed by nonprofits slowly, thoughtfully and at the right time for their respective organizations to ensure the most accurate information possible.