Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← MORE THAN WORDS INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by MORE THAN WORDS INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$9,712,064
Total expenses
$9,393,123
Contributions and grants received
$8,696,698
Grants paid
$217,425
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$149,322
Other revenue
$866,044
Total assets, end of year
$14,611,209
Total liabilities, end of year
$6,406,640
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$8,204,569
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$7,657,489
Management and general expenses
$1,042,013
Fundraising expenses
$693,621
Program service expenses (Part III)
$7,657,489

Program services were 81.5% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $472,347

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $3,621,251

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $4,603,100

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $494,193

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $151,310 · excluded $151,310

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $11,009,300

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $11,011,288

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities -$1,988

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$1,988 · excluded -$1,988

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $66,800

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $472,347

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $116,650

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$49,850 · excluded -$49,850

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $3,729,612

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $2,817,407

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $912,205 · related or exempt $912,205

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER INCOME

    total $3,689 · related or exempt $3,689

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $3,689

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $217,425 · program services $217,425

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $494,977 · program services $387,033 · management and general $53,972 · fundraising $53,972

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $5,005,567 · program services $4,359,548 · management and general $318,142 · fundraising $327,877

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $52,858 · program services $42,036 · management and general $7,618 · fundraising $3,204

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $337,932 · program services $250,250 · management and general $47,429 · fundraising $40,253

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $470,392 · program services $408,969 · management and general $30,454 · fundraising $30,969

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $1,642 · management and general $1,642

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $182,008 · management and general $182,008

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $182,246 · program services $98,018 · management and general $83,572 · fundraising $656

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $219,322 · program services $137,173 · fundraising $82,149

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $68,260 · program services $57,225 · management and general $5,444 · fundraising $5,591

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,014,822 · program services $850,771 · management and general $80,929 · fundraising $83,122

  • 17 · Travel

    total $11,503 · program services $10,650 · management and general $437 · fundraising $416

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $430,653 · program services $310,736 · management and general $89,559 · fundraising $30,358

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $130,208 · program services $109,159 · management and general $10,384 · fundraising $10,665

  • 24a · Other expenses: SUPPLIES

    total $177,984 · program services $160,605 · management and general $6,503 · fundraising $10,876

  • 24b · Other expenses: VEHICLE EXPENSE

    total $129,311 · program services $128,350 · management and general $961

  • 24c · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $104,531 · program services $35,353 · management and general $55,982 · fundraising $13,196

  • 24d · Other expenses: SUBCONTRACTOR

    total $60,000 · program services $60,000

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $101,482 · program services $34,188 · management and general $66,977 · fundraising $317

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $386,435 · end of year $600,859

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $1,154,967 · end of year $572,793

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,141,246 · end of year $2,278,740

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $74,257 · end of year $132,538

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $206,345 · end of year $196,147

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $151,848 · end of year $154,148

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $4,967,595

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $2,160,856

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $3,072,627 · end of year $2,806,739

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $2,979,996 · end of year $2,818,985

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $4,918,136 · end of year $5,024,824

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $25,436 · end of year $25,436

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $717,107 · end of year $768,932

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $70,628 · end of year $101,463

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $5,437,930 · end of year $5,536,245

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $6,998,627 · end of year $6,587,434

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $887,001 · end of year $1,617,135

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER YOUTH WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE, COURT INVOLVED, HOMELESS OR OUT OF SCHOOL TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR LIVES BY TAKING CHARGE OF A BUSINESS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE ORGANIZATION IS ORGANIZED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES OF PROVIDING EMPOWERING LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORTIVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH WHO ARE IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, COURT INVOLVED, HOMELESS, OUT OF SCHOOL, OR WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES.

  • MTW IS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE THAT EMPOWERS SYSTEM-INVOLVED YOUTH TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR LIVES BY TAKING CHARGE OF A BUSINESS. WE SERVE THE BOSTON AREA'S MOST UNDERSERVED YOUNG PEOPLE WHO FACE COMPOUNDING RISK FACTORS: 50% ARE INVOLVED IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, 25% ARE COURT-INVOLVED, AND 30% ARE HOMELESS. OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, MTW HAS DEVELOPED AND REFINED A MODEL THAT CONSISTENTLY EMPOWERS YOUTH TO ACHIEVE MEASURABLE OUTCOMES IN EDUCATION, WORK, AND LIFE. AT MTW YOUTH BEGIN WITH INTENSIVE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO HELP THEM GET STABILIZED AND READY FOR JOB TRAINING, INCLUDING WORK ON ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS, TRANSPORTATION, FOOD SECURITY, AND HOUSING. THEN YOUTH EARN A JOB MANAGING EVERY FACET OF A $3M+ BUSINESS, DEVELOPING VALUABLE, TRANSFERABLE SKILLS APPROXIMATELY 10-25 HOURS/WEEK. YOUTH SOURCE USED BOOKS AND CLOTHING ITEMS, SELL THEM ONLINE AND IN THREE RETAIL STORES, RUN A FLEXIBLE EVENT SPACE, AND GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY ON A MOBILE BOOKSTORE. THEY ALSO HOLD A SECOND, EQUALLY IMPORTANT YOU JOB, IN WHICH THEY RECEIVE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT TO WORK TOWARDS PERSONAL GOALS. TWO YEARS OF CONTINUED SUPPORT IN THE CAREER SERVICES PROGRAM AND ACCESS TO BRIDGE FUNDING HELP YOUTH TRANSITION TO OTHER JOBS, PERSIST IN EDUCATION, AND GET ON A PATH TO A LIVING WAGE. THROUGH THIS TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAM, WE PROVIDE THE STRUCTURE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO EMPOWER OUR YOUTH TO DO THE HARD WORK OF TRANSFORMING THEIR OWN LIVES. THIS MODEL WORKS BECAUSE WORK WORKS. IN OUR MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED FISCAL YEAR WE SERVED 318 YOUTH. 94% OF GRADUATES WERE PRODUCTIVELY ENGAGED IN SCHOOL AND/OR WORK AND 98% OF YOUTH EITHER HAD EARNED OR WERE ON TRACK TO EARN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR HISET.

    Expenses $7,657,489 · Grants $217,425

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Jodi Rosenbaum

    CEO

    Total calculated
    $155,397
    From this org
    $150,719
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,678
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $150,719
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,678
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $155,397
  • John Chory

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Barbara Berke

    VICE CHAIR AND CLERK

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Mark Touhey

    DIRECTOR (THRU 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Chris Casgar

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Gail Garinger

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Christopher Farrington

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Mike McCullough

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Sam Chambers

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Renee Chan

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Lorna Sabbia

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Juliette Kopecky

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Gordon Doristin

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Chris Anderson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jennifer Herbert

    COO

    Total calculated
    $164,496
    From this org
    $151,630
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,866
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $151,630
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $3,873
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,993
    Filer's total
    $164,496
  • Shaun Newell

    CHIEF OF SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

    Total calculated
    $158,889
    From this org
    $154,327
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,562
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $154,327
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,562
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $158,889
  • Noah Schectman

    CHIEF LEARNING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $150,406
    From this org
    $128,383
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,023
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $128,383
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $3,850
    Nontaxable benefits
    $18,173
    Filer's total
    $150,406
  • Naomi Parker

    CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $159,023
    From this org
    $129,588
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,435
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $129,588
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,012
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,423
    Filer's total
    $159,023
  • Marcella Raines

    CHIEF ADVOC & COM ENG OFF.

    Total calculated
    $146,160
    From this org
    $117,059
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,101
    Hours/week
    40
  • Ian Jude Chio

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $132,196
    From this org
    $110,045
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,151
    Hours/week
    40
  • Leanne Goff

    DIRECTOR OF CAREER SERVICES

    Total calculated
    $108,371
    From this org
    $105,262
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,109
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
13 May 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202541339349305904

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.