Community Improvement (S200) IRS Verified DX Registered 990 on File

JUST A START INC

EIN: 23-7121174 · CAMBRIDGE, MA 02140-2088 · United States · FY 2024 Data

3 out of 5 55 / 100 Based on 2+ years of filings

Financial strength (30%) 73/100

Reliability (20%) 55/100

Effectiveness (25%) 88/100

Impact (25%) No data yet

Financial data: FY 2024 · Scored 9/13/2026

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Mission Statement

YouthBuild Just-A-Start is a full-time alternative educational and vocational training program for young adults between the ages of 17-24 who did not complete high school. Students spend half their time in the classroom as they work towards earning their high school diploma or GED, while the other half is spent receiving vocational training in construction. Students use their construction skills to provide community service in Chelsea and Cambridge by rehabilitating low income housing units. To support long term success, students also receive leadership development and life skills curricula. The overall goal of the program is on long term career attainment, which includes intensive follow-up to support graduates in the transition to post-secondary education and employment.

Financial Overview — FY 2024

$10.3M

Total Revenue

$12.8M

Total Expenses

$18.2M

Net Assets

Employees

Revenue Sources

Expense Breakdown

Program Expense Ratio 82.1%

Fundraising Efficiency N/A

Operating Reserve 17.06x

Liability-to-Asset 77.9%

Revenue Diversification 57.0%

Executive Compensation $376K

Compared with Peers

FY 2024

Compared with 285 similar organizations (United States, Community Improvement, $10M–$100M in expenses), FY 2024.

This organization Middle half of peers (P25–P75) Peer median

Ratio	This org	Peer median	Position (P10 → P90)
Program expense ratio Program expenses / total expenses · higher is better	82.1%	90.2%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Admin expense ratio Management and general / total expenses · lower is better	13.1%	8.3%	P10P90	Below median
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expenses / total expenses · lower is better	4.9%	0.2%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Operating reserve Months of expenses covered by net assets · higher is better	17.1 mo	5.5 mo	P10P90	Top quarter
Liabilities to assets Total liabilities / total assets · lower is better	77.9%	40.6%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Revenue concentration Share of revenue from the largest source · lower is better	57.0%	91.4%	P10P90	Top quarter
Revenue growth Year over year revenue growth	-23.7%	5.8%	P10P90
Expense growth Year over year expense growth	46.2%	7.4%	P10P90
Surplus margin Surplus as a share of revenue	-24.9%	1.3%	P10P90

Financial History

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Net Assets	Program %	Staff
2024	$10.3M	$12.8M	$18.2M	82.1%	74
2023	$13.4M	$8.8M	$20.5M	77.9%	61
2022	$11.4M	$13.6M	$15.5M	86.9%	62
2021	$7.4M	$6.8M	N/A	—	59

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Organization Details

EIN: 23-7121174
State: MA
City: CAMBRIDGE
ZIP: 02140-2088
Classification: S200
Category: Community Improvement
Rating: 3★
Coverage: A
Last Updated: Aug 2026
IRS Ruling Year: 1994
Foundation Code: 15
Form 990: On File

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CharityAI™ rates charities from 0 to 100 using public filings (IRS Form 990 and the equivalent registries outside the US) together with the information the charity itself provides on DonationX. Ratings are recalculated every quarter, without human bias, and shown as stars.

Four pillars

Financial strength30%

Program expense ratio, fundraising efficiency, operating reserves, liabilities and revenue diversification, compared with similar organizations.

Reliability20%

Standing with the registry, filing history, verification and how complete the profile is.

Effectiveness25%

How much goes to programs and how consistently the organization delivers them.

Impact25%

The outcomes the charity reports on DonationX: people served, cost per service and results.

Stars

★★★★★ 80–100 ★★★★☆ 60–79 ★★★☆☆ 40–59 ★★☆☆☆ 20–39 ★☆☆☆☆ 1–19

A pillar with no data counts as zero. Without impact metrics the score is capped at 59 (three stars): only the charity can supply that data.
The coverage grade (A to D) says how much filing data the score rests on; NONE means there is not enough to rate.
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