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BOSTONS HIGHER GROUND

EIN 27-3660369 ROXBURY, MA

Revenue 2024
$1,561,830
Expenses 2024
$1,644,198

Program services were 74.4% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
S20
Classification
1000
Street
384 WARREN ST

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

TO CONNECT CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES IN BOSTON'S UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO EXISTING SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES THAT CONTINUE TO IMPROVE, AVOID DUPLICATION, AND EMPOWER AND TRANSFORM LIVES FROM CRADLE TO CAREER BY ENGAGING COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN AN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL.

  • EDUCATION, SUPPORT FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS: IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, BOSTON'S HIGHER GROUND (HIGHER GROUND) CONTINUED WITH ITS AGREEMENT WITH BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TO COORDINATE THE 14-MEMBER SURROUND CARE COALITION AND SUPPORTED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVED BY TWO LOCAL SCHOOLS, DAVID A. ELLIS K-5, AND HIGGINSON LEWIS INCLUSION, AND THE NEARBY CRISPUS ATTUCKS CHILDREN'S CENER (CACC). COALITION MEMBERS INCLUDED THE BOSTON CHILDREN'S CHORUS, BOSTON PARTNERS IN EDUCATION, CATHLEEN STONE ISLAND OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL (FORMERLY THOMPSON ISLAND OUTWARD BOUND EDUCATION CENTER), CENTER FOR TEEN EMPOWERMENT, DOCWAYNE, FAMILIES FIRST PARENTING PROGRAMS, FILM MAKERS COLLABORATIVE, JFYNETWORKS, KEYSTEPS, MASS. ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN, ONEBEAD, PROGRAM FOR EDUCATION & RESILIENCE (PEAR), UNION CAPITAL BOSTON. IN ADDITION, HIGHER GROUND PLACED SOCIAL WORK GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM LOCAL UNIVERSITIES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. WE LAUNCHED THE FIRST YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SURROUND CARE COALITION WORK SUPPORTED BY THE SECOND 3-YEAR $1 MILLION GRANT FROM BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. HIGHER GROUND, WITH SUPPORT OF LOCAL SCHOOL LEADERS AND SURROUND CARE COALITION PARTNERS, SECURED FUNDS FROM BPS AND BOSTON AFTER SCHOOL AND BEYOND (BASB) AND IMPLEMENTED ITS FIFTH SUMMER LEARNING ACADEMY (SLA) AGAIN IN-PERSON AND HOSTED AT THE HIGGINSON LEWIS SCHOOL SCHOOL AND CONTINUED ITS IN-PERSON AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS HOSTED AT THE DAVID A. ELLIS SCHOOL. TOGETHER THE SUMMER LEARNING ACADEMY AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM SERVE AS EXTENDED DAY AND EXTENDED YEAR LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE IN MOST NEED OF SUCH SUPPORT. WE CONTINUED TO PRIORITIZE STUDENTS WHO ARE HOMELESS OR WERE RECENTLY HOUSED.IN FY 2025, HIGHER GROUND CONTINUED ITS MENTORING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO IN TURN SUPPORTED YOUNGER STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IN THEIR ACADEMIC ENDEAVORS.

    Expenses $844,300 · Revenue $276,936

  • FAMILY-LED STABILITY INITIATIVE: IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, HIGHER GROUND CONTINUED TO PLAY A LEAD ROLE IN THE FAMILY-LED STABILITY INITIATIVE (FLSI) TO ADDRESS STUDENT HOMELESSNESS IN BOSTON SCHOOLS. HIGHER GROUND COORDINATED THE PROGRAM WITH AN AGREEMENT WITH BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS (BPS) ON BEHALF OF FOUR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND IN COLLABORATIONS WITH THE BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY (BHA) AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING (MOH) SUPPORTING FAMILIES SERVED BY 16 SCHOOLS IN BOSTON'S ROXBURY, DORCHESTER AND MATTAPAN NEIGHBORHOODS. THE NONPROFIT PARTNERS IN ADDITION TO HIGHER GROUND ARE DUDLEY STREET NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE (DSNI), PROJECT HOPE, AND NEW LEASE FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES. THE 16 PARTNER SCHOOLS INCLUDE THE BOSTON DAY AND EVENING ACADEMY, DAVID A. ELLIS, DUDLEY STREET NEIGHBORHOOD CHARTER SCHOOL, DEARBORN STEM ACADEMY, ELLISON PARKS EARLY EDUCATION CENTER, HAYNES EARLY EDUCATION CENTER, HENRY L. HIGGINSON INCLUSION, HIGGINSON LEWIS INCLUSION, MADISON PARK TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, O'BRYANT SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND MATH, ORCHARD GARDENS, RAFAEL HERNANDEZ, WILLIAM MONROE TROTTER, BOSTON INTERNATIONAL NEWCOMER ACADEMY, LILLA FREDRICK PILOT SCHOOL, AND FENWAY HIGH SCHOOL. DURING FISCAL 2025, WE CONTINUED DISCUSSIONS WITH NETWORKS OF ORGANIZATIONS IN BOSTON AND GATEWAY COMMUNITIES IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS THAT HAD EXPRESSED INTEREST IN LAUNCHING THEIR OWN INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS STUDENT HOMELESSNESS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

    Expenses $352,850

  • OTHER PROGRAMS: WHILE MAINTAINING FOCUS ON ITS PRIMARY EFFORTS TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN ITS COMMUNITY, HIGHER GROUND ENGAGED IN ACTIVITIES COMPLEMENTARY ITS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THESE INCLUDED COLLABORATING WITH NAAACP BOSTON, THE COMMONWEALTH SEMINAR, AND ADL NEW ENGLAND IN HOSTING QUARTERLY COMMUNITY CROSSOVER DIALOGUES THAT ENGAGED COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS IN A LEARNING JOURNEY ABOUT THE EXPERIENCES OF GREATER BOSTON'S DIVERSE POPULATIONS, RESPONDING TO REQUESTS FROM COMMUNITY RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT THEM IN ADDRESSING CONCERNS IN THEIR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, AND PARTICIPATING IN CITYWIDE AND REGIONAL CONVENINGS ON EDUCATION, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, AND GENERAL PUBLIC POLICY DISCUSSIONS IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY.

    Expenses $25,614

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • CHARLIE TITUS

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • WAYNE YSAGUIRRE

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • CLARA ARROYO

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • JEFFREY EDWARDS

    CLERK

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • MATTHEW CAMMACK

    CHAIR, GOVERANCE COMMITTEE (UNTIL 11/24)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • ERICKA FLORENCE

    COMMITTEE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • JOSE LOPEZ

    COMMITTEE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • RON BELL

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • RICHARD CHANG

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • SYLVIA CROSS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • DARIEN JOHNSON

    DIRECTOR (UNTIL 1/2025)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • CAROL MIRANDA

    DIRECTOR (UNTIL 1/2025)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • JASON PERRY

    COMMITTEE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • RENEE SIMMONS

    DIRECTOR (UNTIL 4/2025)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • COLIN ROSE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • LASHAUNDA WATSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • JANET BARRY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • EARL J EDWARDS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • BRANDY BROOKS

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $168,668
    From this org
    $167,966
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $702
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $167,966
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $702
    Filer's total
    $168,668

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $1,561,830
    Expenses
    $1,644,198
    Contributions
    $1,284,879
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $2,443,418
    Expenses
    $1,852,565
    Contributions
    $2,230,512
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $625,567
    Expenses
    $1,637,167
    Contributions
    $548,730
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,587,997
    Expenses
    $1,302,318
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,219,486

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,650,061
    Expenses
    $1,121,903
    Assets (EOY)
    $977,985

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $697,522
    Expenses
    $453,052
    Assets (EOY)
    $343,993

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $330,985
    Expenses
    $273,760
    Assets (EOY)
    $108,563

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $302,970
    Expenses
    $337,539
    Assets (EOY)
    $32,681

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $264,061
    Expenses
    $245,079
    Assets (EOY)
    $73,405

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $315,726
    Expenses
    $335,131
    Assets (EOY)
    $26,909

  • 2012 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $402,238
    Assets (EOY)
    $27,915

  • 2011 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $379,936
    Assets (EOY)
    $189,752

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.