Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← PIONEER INSTITUTE INC

Form 990 for tax year 2022

Filed by PIONEER INSTITUTE INC.

This return was superseded by a later amendment. matched by us It is kept because history is preserved rather than replaced.

What the amendment changed

Compared with the latest return for 2022 , filed 29 October 2025. matched by us Only the return's totals, a 990-PF's accounting method and the names listed in Part VII (Part VIII on a 990-PF) are compared. We relate returns by organization, tax year and form, and order them by each return's own timestamp; the filer's own "amended return" checkbox is a separate fact.

Those are the same on the two returns, so the amendment changed something else.

Totals

Total revenue
$4,549,833
Total expenses
$4,064,353
Contributions and grants received
$2,885,768
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$1,549,362
Investment income
$114,703
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$7,478,638
Total liabilities, end of year
$207,863
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$7,270,775
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$3,039,836
Management and general expenses
$329,731
Fundraising expenses
$694,786
Program service expenses (Part III)
$3,039,836

Program services were 74.8% 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.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $2,885,768

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $358,624

  • 2a · Program service revenue: PIONEER EDUCATION

    total $492,725 · related or exempt $492,725

  • 2b · Program service revenue: PIONEER HEALTH

    total $374,000 · related or exempt $374,000

  • 2c · Program service revenue: PIONEER LEGAL LLC

    total $333,275 · related or exempt $333,275

  • 2d · Program service revenue: PIONEER OPPORTUNITY

    total $234,000 · related or exempt $234,000

  • 2e · Program service revenue: OUTREACH & PUBLIC COMM

    total $93,121 · related or exempt $93,121

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $22,241 · related or exempt $22,241

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $114,703 · excluded $114,703

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,143,241 · program services $947,203 · management and general $145,043 · fundraising $50,995

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $905,418 · program services $597,101 · management and general $10,603 · fundraising $297,714

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $65,078 · program services $49,946 · management and general $4,429 · fundraising $10,703

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $179,475 · program services $129,712 · management and general $14,565 · fundraising $35,198

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $135,969 · program services $105,647 · management and general $8,875 · fundraising $21,447

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $22,500 · management and general $22,500

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $216,862 · program services $208,131 · management and general $1,934 · fundraising $6,797

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $190,212 · program services $121,328 · management and general $30,231 · fundraising $38,653

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $4,468 · program services $3,229 · management and general $363 · fundraising $876

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $30,684 · program services $22,176 · management and general $2,490 · fundraising $6,018

  • 17 · Travel

    total $34,844 · program services $23,535 · management and general $404 · fundraising $10,905

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $25,460 · program services $18,401 · management and general $2,066 · fundraising $4,993

  • 24a · Other expenses: CONSULTANTS

    total $455,277 · program services $277,299 · management and general $7,179 · fundraising $170,799

  • 24b · Other expenses: RESEARCH

    total $341,922 · program services $341,922

  • 24c · Other expenses: EVENTS & MEETINGS

    total $189,740 · program services $120,515 · management and general $47,426 · fundraising $21,799

  • 24d · Other expenses: PRINTING & PUBLICATIONS

    total $83,616 · program services $73,691 · management and general $1,329 · fundraising $8,596

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $39,587 · management and general $30,294 · fundraising $9,293

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,427,677 · end of year $772,417

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $370,507 · end of year $1,008,050

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $360,025 · end of year $191,750

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $26,916 · end of year $76,127

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

    $1,228,679

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

    $484,325

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $769,814 · end of year $744,354

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $3,575,283 · end of year $4,685,940

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $153,243 · end of year $207,863

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,705,831 · end of year $5,255,979

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,671,148 · end of year $2,014,796

Mission and programs · 2022

Mission

PIONEER INSTITUTE DEVELOPS AND COMMUNICATES DYNAMIC IDEAS THAT ADVANCE PROSPERITY AND A VIBRANT CIVIC LIFE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND BEYOND. PIONEER BELIEVES THAT AMERICA IS AT ITS BEST WHEN OUR CITIZENRY IS WELL-EDUCATED, COMMITTED TO LIBERTY, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND FREE ENTERPRISE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

PIONEER INSTITUTE DEVELOPS AND COMMUNICATES DYNAMIC IDEAS THAT ADVANCE PROPSERITY AND A VIBRANT CIVIC LIFE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND BEYOND.

  • PIONEER EDUCATION & CIVICS BUILDS ON PIONEER'S LEGACY AS A LEADER IN THE CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL MOVEMENT AND A CHAMPION OF GREATER ACADEMIC RIGOR IN MASSACHUSETTS' SCHOOLS TO PROMOTE EDUCATION REFORM THROUGH DATA-DRIVEN RESEARCH, LIVELY FORUMS, OPINION PIECES AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY.PIONEER PROMOTES HIGH-QUALITY ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND A PORTFOLIO OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS INCLUDING CHARTER SCHOOLS, REGIONAL VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOLS. INTER-DISTRICT SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS, TAX CREDIT STRATEGIES TO INCREASE ACCESS TO PRIVATE AND PAROCHIAL EDUCATION FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUTH AND EXPANDED VIRTUAL LEARNING PROGRAMS. THROUGH MASSWATCH, PIONEER' S SUITE OF TRANSPARENCY TOOLS, PARENTS CAN LEARN ABOUT THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICT, REVIEW THEIR PERFORMANCE, AND COMPARE THEM WITH OTHER SCHOOLS FROM ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS.

    Expenses $818,875 · Revenue $447,487

  • PIONEERHEALTH AIMS TO REFOCUS THE MASSACHUSETTS CONVERSATION ABOUT HEALTH CARE COASTS AWAY FROM GOVERNMENT-IMPOSED SOLUTIONS TOWARD MARKET-BASED STATE REFORMS. THE CENTER'S RESEARCH AND PROGRAMS AIM TO MAKE HEALTHCARE PRICING MORE TRANSPARENT. UNDER ITS LIFE SCIENCES INITIATIVE, PIONEER EXPLORES INNOVATIVE DRUG PRICING MECHANISMS AND THE IMPACT OF ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACHES TO HEALTHCARE VALUE ASSESSMENTS AND REVIEWS WAYS TO ENSURE A ROBUST PIPELINE OF THERAPIES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO PATIENTS.

    Expenses $621,980 · Revenue $404,000

  • PIONEER OPPORTUNITY SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN MASSACHUSETTS' ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC MOBILITY THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE BUSINESS CLIMATE, TAX COMPETITIVENESS AND REGULATIONS, SUPPORT BUSINESS AND JOB GROWTH (ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS) AND ADVANCE THE QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. PIONEER ORIGINATED IRS DATA DISCOVERY AND LABOR ANALYTICS, PUBLIC FACING ON-LINE TOOLS THAT PROVIDES POLICY-MAKERS, THE MEDIA, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TIMELY AND ACCURATE ECONOMIC INFORMATION AND ANALYSES. PIONEER ALSO DOES RESEARCH ON THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEURS.

    Expenses $454,385 · Revenue $500

  • PIONEER LEGAL IS A NONPARTISAN PUBLIC INTEREST LAW ORGANIZATION WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO UNDERTAKE LEGAL & EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS, INCLUDING LITIGATION AND POLICY ADVOCACY TO ENABLE PEOPLE TO PROSPER AND SOCIETY TO THRIVE, IN CONNECTION WITH DEFENDING AND PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT, HUMANE AND ECONOMICALLY BENEFICIAL IMMIGRATION POLICIES, INCLUSIVE & EFFECTIVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, AND GENERALLY PROMOTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ACROSS NEW ENGLAND.

    Expenses $424,874 · Revenue $463,275

  • PIONEERPUBLIC PROMOTES MBTA & GOVERNMENTAL PENSION REFORMS THAT PROVIDE FAIR AND SUSTAINABLE RETIREMENT SUPPORT, FULL TRANSPARENCY OF PUBLIC INFORMATION AND PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT AND THE ADOPTION OF BEST PRACTICES IN STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WITH A CURRENT FOCUS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE STATE'S TRANSPORTATION BUREAUCRACY, AND COMPETITIVE CONTRACTING OF PUBLIC SERVICES, WHEN THE QUALITY OF THE SERVICE CAN BE IMPROVED AND THE COST LOWERED. USING ONLINE TRANSPARENCY AND DATA ANALYSIS TOOLS. PIONEER HAS GIVEN CITIZENS ACCESS TO PUBLIC DATA THROUGH VARIOUS DATA TOOLS UNDER THE NAME OF MASSWATCH ON ITS WEBSITE.

    Expenses $139,493 · Revenue $100

  • Withheld by Nonprofiteer: this text may name a private individual.

    Expenses $92,270 · Revenue $234,000

  • PIONEER PUBLIC OUTREACH INCLUDES ALL COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES RELATED TO SHARING OUR RESEARCH AND PROGRAMS WITH THE PUBLIC.

    Expenses $487,959

As filed on the 2022 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here. A text marked withheld matched a screen for wording that may name a private individual, such as an honorific or "in memory of". Most of what it withholds names no one; it is withheld so that what does is never shown.

Listed in Part VII

  • James Stergios

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $408,671
    From this org
    $376,998
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $31,673
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $364,998
    Bonus
    $12,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $31,673
    Filer's total
    $408,671

  • Mary Z Conaughton

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $268,168
    From this org
    $229,994
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $38,174
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $229,994
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $38,174
    Filer's total
    $268,168

  • William Smith

    DIRECTOR LIFE SCIENCES

    Total calculated
    $217,870
    From this org
    $209,983
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,887
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $209,983
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,887
    Filer's total
    $217,870

  • Jamie Gass

    DIRECTOR OF PIONEEREDUCATION

    Total calculated
    $204,324
    From this org
    $168,012
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $36,312
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $168,012
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $36,312
    Filer's total
    $204,324

  • Frank Bailey

    PRESIDENT OF PIONEERLEGAL

    Total calculated
    $154,500
    From this org
    $150,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,500
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $150,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $4,500
    Filer's total
    $154,500

  • Adam Portnoy

    DIRECTOR - CHAIRPERSON

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jim Joslin

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Pamela Layton

    DIRECTOR - CLERK

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Brian Broderick

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Michael Brown

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Gary Campbell

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Frederick Clifford

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Drew Davis

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Andrew Davis

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Brackett Denniston

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Chris Dibonaventura

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Charles Hewitt III

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Ed Glaeser

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Ellen Roy Herzfelder

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Sara Johnson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • C Bruce Johnstone

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Michael Kennealy

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mary Myers Kauppila

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • M Holt Massey

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mark Rickabaugh

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Roger Servison

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Brian Shortsleeve

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Peter Wilde

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

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 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

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
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 7
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S ANNUAL COMPENSATION IS SUBJECT TO THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD, WHICH IS SUBJECT TO THE FINAL APPROVAL OF THE ENTIRE BOARD. THE COMMITTEE CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION RELATIVE TO CERTAIN GOALS AND KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS WHILE ALSO CONDUCTING A MARKET STUDY OF COMPENSATION DATA FOR COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS. BASED UPON THE ABOVE CRITERIA: THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECEIVED A BONUS OF $12,000 FOR THE TAX YEAR 12/31/22.
FORM AND LINE REFERENCE: PART - I LINE 3
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S ANNUAL COMPENSATION IS SUBJECT TO THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD, WHICH IS SUBJECT TO THE FINAL APPROVAL OF THE ENTIRE BOARD. THE COMMITTEE CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION RELATIVE TO CERTAIN GOALS AND KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS WHILE ALSO CONDUCTING A MARKET STUDY OF COMPENSATION DATA FOR COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS. DOCUMENTATION OF THE PROCESS AND THE RESULTS ARE RECORDED IN THE MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE AND BOARD MEETINGS.

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.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

  • PIONEERLEGAL LLC

    PUBLIC INTEREST LAW · MA · income $0 · assets $259,564

    Directly controlled by PIONEER INSTITUTE

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2022
Filed
21 October 2025
IRS schema version
2022v5.0
Source object
202512949349301406

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.