Kaboom
Also known as Kaboom
Kaboom reported $21.5 million in revenue and $25.1 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $90.29 went to program services, $5.69 to management and general costs and $4.02 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 55.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $426,539 (CEO). 30 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 19% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $25MFor context, the median across 237 covered recreation & sports charities: $88.05 programs, $10.89 management, $1.06 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $22MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 90.3% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 5.7% | 10.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.0% | 1.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 55.6% | 25.2% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 39.6% | 61.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $426,539 | $365,322 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.70% | 2.14% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 30 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 7.3 | 14.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 12 of 12 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseDirect impact offerings - kaboom! Seeks to end playspace inequity by addressing disparities in access to and quality of places to play. Kaboom! Playspaces include playspace projects (playgrounds, multisport courts, and adventure courses) and play everywhere grants, each designed to meet the unique needs and desires of the communities kaboom! Works alongside
Thought leadership - through media opportunities, conference attendance and developing relationships with funders, city leaders, community advocates, and other key stakeholder. Kaboom! Seeks to lead the conversation and drive communications to raise the awareness of playspaces as an equity issue and to educate and inspire stakeholders and communities to take action to ensure kids have the opportunities to thrive
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $408,590 | $0 | $17,949 | $426,539 |
| CFO Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $245,855 | $0 | $39,848 | $285,703 |
| SENIOR FELLOW Highest compensated employee, 41.00 hrs/week | $231,884 | $0 | $45,575 | $277,459 |
| VP FINANCE & OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 48.00 hrs/week | $218,009 | $0 | $48,466 | $266,475 |
| SENIOR STRATEGIST Highest compensated employee, 44.00 hrs/week | $201,306 | $0 | $46,112 | $247,418 |
| CHIEF OF STAFF Highest compensated employee, 44.00 hrs/week | $205,543 | $0 | $22,660 | $228,203 |
| VP REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $194,721 | $0 | $21,711 | $216,432 |
30 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Kaboom (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $712K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b12 · 12 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 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 576
- Volunteers Part I, line 68,627
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| INTEGRATED LAND DESIGN LLC Beautification & design services | $179,835 |
| BRUMIDI GROUP LLC Lobbying services | $120,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
19 private foundations reported grants to Kaboom totaling $4.2M 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 Kaboom's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Kaboom, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Kaboom spent in 2025, $90.29 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All recreation & sports charities · Largest charities in Maryland
Questions people ask
How much of Kaboom's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Kaboom reported that 90.3% of its $25.1 million in expenses went to program services, 5.7% to management and general and 4.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Kaboom pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Kaboom reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $426,539, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Kaboom get its money?
Of $21.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 55.6% came from contributions and grants and 39.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Kaboom a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1970904 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202641339349306729 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202521349349308857 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202431359349312328 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202311299349303621 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202241369349305404 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202111239349300631 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202031259349300513 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1970904: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.