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Just-A-Start Corporation
Just-A-Start Corporation reported $10.3 million in revenue and $12.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $82.08 went to program services, $13.06 to management and general costs and $4.86 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 57.0% of the total. Government grants made up 26.6%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $205,735 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 16% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $13MFor context, the median across 479 covered community improvement & capacity building charities: $90.45 programs, $9.31 management, $0.24 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $10MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.1% | 89.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.1% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.9% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.11 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 57.0% | 80.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 26.6% | 14.9% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 39.4% | 11.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $205,735 | $291,103 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.61% | 1.49% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 17.1 | 9.2 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 16 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseReal estate development - just a start has developed and continues to own and operate 645 affordable apartments throughout cambridge and somerville, housing approximately 1,500 people who would otherwise be unlikely to be able to afford apartments in these expensive and high-opportunity cities. We have an additional 350 new affordable apartments in our development pipeline, which we expect to develop in the coming 5-6 years. To make first-time homeownership a reality for households with moderate incomes, just a start has also developed 130 homeownership units. We also manage the preservation…
Education and training - just a start's education and training programs provide tuition-free pathways to careers in the region's growing employment sectors. Our adult career training program is an intensive, nine-month education and training program for adults with low incomes to develop the knowledge and critical problem-solving skills needed to enter family-sustaining and fulfilling careers in the growing biomedical and information technology (it) fields. Approximately 85% of graduates of the program gain employment within 6-12 months of graduation and increase their annual income by an…
Housing resources and services - just a start provides housing resources and services to its 1,500 residents and approximately 1,000 community members each year. Through financial assistance, mediation, and follow-up services, our housing stabilization program allows families threatened with homelessness to remain in their homes or helps them find new affordable housing. Our economic mobility programs provide financial education, one-on-one coaching, and free tax services to people with low incomes seeking to improve their financial status and prospects
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 35.50 hrs/week | $178,596 | $0 | $27,139 | $205,735 |
| DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE Highest compensated employee, 36.50 hrs/week | $152,021 | $0 | $26,319 | $178,340 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMIN Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $145,096 | $0 | $25,609 | $170,705 |
| DIRECTOR OF RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $131,814 | $0 | $12,372 | $144,186 |
| DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & TRAINING Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $131,423 | $0 | $5,347 | $136,770 |
| DIRECTOR OF HOUSING Highest compensated employee, 36.50 hrs/week | $129,646 | $0 | $5,347 | $134,993 |
| CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $111,968 | $0 | $11,640 | $123,608 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Just-A-Start Corporation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $376K (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
2024 · 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–1b16 · 16 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 574
- Volunteers Part I, line 699
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| KTM EXTERIORS & RECYCLING LLC Construction contractors | $215,027 |
| CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP Financial consulting services | $172,761 |
| COHNREZNICK Audit/tax services | $155,028 |
| SNOWCAP TECHNOLOGIES LLC It consulting services | $132,152 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
12 private foundations reported grants to Just-A-Start Corporation totaling $565K 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 Just-A-Start Corporation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Just-A-Start Corporation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Just-A-Start Corporation spent in 2024, $82.08 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Virginia OrganizingCharlottesville, VA · revenue $10M · programs 95.8% · 2025
- Minneapolis Saint Paul Regional Economic Development PartnershipSaint Paul, MN · revenue $10M · programs 77.4% · 2024
- Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber FoundationCincinnati, OH · revenue $10M · programs 90.0% · 2024
- Invest Newark a New Jersey Nonprofit CorpNewark, NJ · revenue $10M · programs 72.4% · 2024
- Maryland Rural Development CorporationGreensboro, MD · revenue $10M · programs 97.3% · 2024
All community improvement & capacity building charities · Largest charities in Massachusetts
Questions people ask
How much of Just-A-Start Corporation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Just-A-Start Corporation reported that 82.1% of its $12.8 million in expenses went to program services, 13.1% to management and general and 4.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Just-A-Start Corporation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Just-A-Start Corporation reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $205,735, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Just-A-Start Corporation get its money?
Of $10.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 57.0% came from contributions and grants (including 26.6% from government grants) and 39.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Just-A-Start Corporation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7121174 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
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202532909349301303 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423109349303467 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202312979349300321 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233189349311638 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202143069349302314 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202023169349304827 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7121174: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.