Action
Action reported $191.2 million in revenue and $188.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $97.65 went to program services, $2.16 to management and general costs and $0.19 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 93.9% of the total. Government grants made up 5.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $227,067 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 311% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $188MFor context, the median across 3,614 covered human services charities: $88.27 programs, $11.52 management, $0.21 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $191MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 97.6% | 87.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 2.2% | 11.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 5.8% | 20.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 5.5% | 2.4% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 93.9% | 70.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $227,067 | $274,992 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.12% | 1.18% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 1.9 | 6.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 17 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEnergy management - a law was enacted which required that low-income residential demand-side management and education programs be implemented through the low income weatherization network and coordinated with all electric and gas distribution companies in the state, with the objective of standardizing implemenation. The energy management program, which is mainly the lean program was established among the member agencies of the low income fuel network to provide the services required for implementing the coordination requirements of the statue
Housing - the housing program provides housing to people experiencing homelessness are believed to be housing ready and are provided with permanent housing immediately and with few to no preconditions, behavioral contingencies, or barriers. All participants housed through these housing programs must meet hud's definition of chronically homeless. Rent is assessed for residents with income that is paid directly to action inc
The fuel assistance program provides low-income families with assistance to pay their heating fuel bills. This critical service keeps thousands of families warm each winter, and staff are available to assist clients with the application process
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $225,916 | $0 | $1,151 | $227,067 |
| VP OF ENERGY SERVICES Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $212,875 | $0 | $4,753 | $217,628 |
| CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $167,110 | $0 | $12,774 | $179,884 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/VP Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $154,564 | $0 | $15,292 | $169,856 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $142,831 | $0 | $26,119 | $168,950 |
| DIRECTOR OF ENERGY EFFICIE Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $137,484 | $0 | $15,082 | $152,566 |
| DIRECTOR OF HOUSING SERVIC Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $126,221 | $0 | $18,507 | $144,728 |
| DIRECTOR OF RESIDENTAL ENE Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $123,007 | $0 | $5,404 | $128,411 |
9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Action (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $938K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b17 · 17 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5131
- Volunteers Part I, line 6906
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ACTION FOR BOSTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Energy program services | $37,298,920 |
| HOME WORKS ENERGY INC Energy program services | $16,041,602 |
| SELF HELP INC Energy program services | $12,971,681 |
| WORCESTER COUNTY ACTION COUNCIL Energy program services | $11,728,010 |
| DIPEIETRO HOME ENERGY SOLUTIONS INC Energy program services | $10,155,447 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
11 private foundations reported grants to Action totaling $95,516 on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Action's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Action, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Action spent in FY2025, $97.65 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Family InitiativeEmporia, KS · revenue $191M · programs 97.2% · FY2025
- Child ActionRancho Cordova, CA · revenue $193M · programs 96.1% · FY2025
- Merakey Allegheny Valley SchoolLafayette Hill, PA · revenue $190M · programs 89.0% · FY2025
- Hamaspik of Kings CountyBrooklyn, NY · revenue $196M · programs 94.9% · FY2025
- Lutheran Social Service of MinnesotaSt Paul, MN · revenue $187M · programs 84.0% · FY2025
All human services charities · Largest charities in Massachusetts
Questions people ask
How much of Action's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Action reported that 97.6% of its $188.1 million in expenses went to program services, 2.2% to management and general and 0.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Action pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Action reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $227,067, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Action get its money?
Of $191.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 5.8% came from contributions and grants (including 5.5% from government grants) and 93.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Action a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 04-2389332 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202611619349301151 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202502109349301720 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202400649349300615 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202321579349300737 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202211169349301731 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202120419349301182 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 04-2389332: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.