2025-11-14T09:12:38-06:00 2025-06-30 042571780 AAFCPAS INC 50 WASHINGTON STREET WESTBOROUGH MA 01581 990 2024-07-01 273660369 BOSTON'S HIGHER GROUND INC BOST 6176528014 384 WARREN STREET ROXBURY MA 02119 BRANDY BROOKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6176528014 2025-11-13 1 1 CAITLIN LIMOGES CPA P01633588 5083669100 2025-11-13 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z BRANDY BROOKS 384 WARREN STREET ROXBURY MA 02119 1561830 0 X WWW.HIGHERGROUNDBOSTON.ORG X 2010 MA 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. 14 14 55 18 0 0 2230512 1284879 175313 276936 14 15 37579 0 2443418 1561830 0 0 0 0 1029950 969779 0 0 55529 822615 674419 1852565 1644198 590853 -82368 1905753 1723205 333280 233100 1572473 1490105 X 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. 0 0 844300 276936 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. 352850 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. 25614 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. 1222764 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 11 0 1 55 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 14 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 MA X BRANDY BROOKS 6176528014 384 WARREN STREET ROXBURY MA 02119 CHARLIE TITUS CHAIR 2.50 X X 0 0 0 WAYNE YSAGUIRRE VICE CHAIR 2.50 X X 0 0 0 CLARA ARROYO TREASURER 2.50 X X 0 0 0 JEFFREY EDWARDS CLERK 2.50 X X 0 0 0 MATTHEW CAMMACK CHAIR, GOVERANCE COMMITTEE (UNTIL 11/24) 2.50 X X 0 0 0 ERICKA FLORENCE COMMITTEE CHAIR 2.50 X 0 0 0 JOSE LOPEZ COMMITTEE CHAIR 2.50 X 0 0 0 RON BELL DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 RICHARD CHANG DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 SYLVIA CROSS DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 DARIEN JOHNSON DIRECTOR (UNTIL 1/2025) 0.50 X 0 0 0 CAROL MIRANDA DIRECTOR (UNTIL 1/2025) 0.50 X 0 0 0 JASON PERRY COMMITTEE CHAIR 0.50 X 0 0 0 RENEE SIMMONS DIRECTOR (UNTIL 4/2025) 0.50 X 0 0 0 COLIN ROSE DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 LASHAUNDA WATSON DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 JANET BARRY DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 EARL J EDWARDS DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 BRANDY BROOKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 167966 0 702 167966 0 702 1 0 1 0 0 9999 1274880 1284879 CONTRACT SERVICES 541611 229448 229448 LICENSE FEES 541611 47488 47488 276936 15 15 1561830 276936 0 15 X 168676 120702 27871 20103 665126 508327 134354 22445 54597 30701 21692 2204 81380 45920 32093 3367 74531 74531 405759 311079 94680 45281 29150 15194 937 77913 54604 17114 6195 13834 13495 320 19 17425 16999 403 23 13446 13446 MEALS 10386 8067 2217 102 MISCELLANEOUS 8983 8087 896 EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENAN 6861 1102 5625 134 1644198 1222764 365905 55529 148374 57693 1652962 1616856 14277 9289 90140 39367 1905753 1723205 241573 192548 91707 40552 333280 233100 X -79989 -158491 1652462 1648596 1572473 1490105 1905753 1723205 -82368 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 1453536 2488457 548730 2230512 1284879 8006114 1453536 2488457 548730 2230512 1284879 8006114 1125463 6880651 19 880 3876 35911 15 40701 12130 12130 8058945 761471 0.85380 0.91970 X SCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME: LICENSING FEES - 2020 AMOUNT: $ 12,130. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 PART II-B, LINE 1: DURING FY 2025 HIGHER GROUND'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ADVISOR, AND ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS WERE IN CONTACT WITH TWO STATE SENATORS TO INQUIRE ABOUT POTENTIAL STATE SUPPORT FOR A REGIONAL EFFORT TO ADDRESS STUDENT HOMELESSNESS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE TWO STATE SENATORS FILED AN AMENDMENT THAT WAS NOT ADOPTED BUT WE EXPECT THAT THE LEGISLATORS WILL TRY AGAIN. AS THIS EFFORT IS BASED ON BUILDING ON THE FLSI EXPERIENCE TO ADDRESS STUDENT HOMELESSNESS ON A REGIONAL LEVEL, WE CONSIDER IT PART OF HIGHER GROUND ADVOCACY TO ADDRESS STUDENT HOMELESSNESS AND IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES. THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT BY STAFF AND ONE BOARD MEMBER WAS MINIMAL AND GIVEN THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ADVISOR ROUTINELY WORK MORE HOURS THAN THE HOURS FOR WHICH THEY ARE COMPENSATED, IT IS REASONABLE TO INFER THAT NO HIGHER GROUND FUNDS WERE EXPENDED FOR THIS EFFORT. 0 OPERATING LEASE LIABILITY 40552 40552 X 1561830 0 1561830 0 1561830 1644198 0 1644198 0 1644198 PART X, LINE 2: HIGHER GROUND ACCOUNTS FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES IN ACCORDANCE WITH ASC TOPIC, INCOME TAXES. THIS STANDARD CLARIFIES THE ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN TAX POSITIONS AND PRESCRIBES A RECOGNITION THRESHOLD AND MEASUREMENT ATTRIBUTE FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REGARDING A TAX POSITION TAKEN OR EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN IN A TAX RETURN. HIGHER GROUND HAS DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS WHICH QUALIFY FOR EITHER RECOGNITION OR DISCLOSURE IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AT JUNE 30, 2025. HIGHER GROUND'S INFORMATION RETURNS ARE SUBJECT TO EXAMINATION BY THE FEDERAL AND STATE JURISDICTIONS. X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BRANDY BROOKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 167966 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 702 0 168668 0 0 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE FINAL DRAFT OF THE 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND TREASURER AND PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL AND A COPY IS MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS VIA EMAIL AND INCLUSION IN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PORTAL ON OUR WEBSITE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C ALL NEW BOARD MEMBERS RECEIVE A COPY OF THE HIGHER GROUND CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, REVIEW IT AS PART OF THEIR ORIENTATION, CERTIFY TO HAVING READ AND COMMIT TO COMPLIANCE WITH THE POLICY, AND ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ANY FUTURE CONFLICTS AS THEY ARISE. IT IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA FOR THE ANNUAL BOARD AND STAFF RETREATS. FINALLY, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND BOARD CHAIR CONFER AS NEEDED TO ENSURE ALL BOARD AND STAFF ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE POLICY. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A HIGHER GROUND'S CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONFERS WITH BOARD MEMBERS AS NEEDED AND NEGOTIATES THE SALARY OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BASED ON REVIEW OF SALARY LEVELS AND BENEFITS FOR THE POSITION IN COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS. NO OTHER OFFICERS OR KEY EMPLOYEES ARE COMPENSATED BY THE ORGANIZATION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 ALL HIGHER GROUND GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G OTHER PROFESSIONAL FEES: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 288,124. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 94,459. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 382,583. CONSULTING: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 22,955. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 221. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 23,176. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: HIGHER GROUND HAS A COMMITTEE THAT ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT OF ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT.