Boston Building Materials Coop Charitable & Educational Fund
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Affordable housing continues to be a critical need in the Boston area. Housing is a key factor in economic mobility and closing the racial wealth gap. Successful homeownership plays an important part in people’s ability to enjoy stable and prosperous lives as they invest themselves in their communities and maintain a firm foundation for their children to prosper. Approximately 85% of Reuse Center materials are sold to low- and moderate-income customers and grassroots nonprofit organizations. Our customers are homeowners who, although they have managed to purchase a home, struggle to keep up with the maintenance and repairs due to escalating real estate taxes, insurance, and utility costs. Having a source of affordable building materials makes it possible for them to complete more projects within the same limited budget, preventing homes from falling into disrepair and helping homeowners to stay in their homes over the long term.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Reuse Center
The Reuse Center at Boston Building Resources provides lower-income homeowners with the materials and assistance they need to be successful, long-term homeowners, which will enable them to achieve a higher level of economic independence, build their wealth, and improve their lives; and at the same time prevents the needless disposal of perfectly good building materials into landfills and deliver them into the hands of needy homeowners and nonprofits.
Where we work
Awards
Best of Boston Home 2010
Boston Magazine
Mayor's Greenovate Award 2017
City of Boston
External reviews
Photos
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
To allow low- and moderate-income homeowners and nonprofit organizations to maintain and repair their homes and buildings affordably, while keeping reusable materials out of the waste stream.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Accept donations of good-quality, reusable building materials and make them available at affordable prices.Provide home improvement workshops so homeowners can learn to do the work themselves and to work effectively with contractors.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We operate a Reuse Center where good-quality used and new building supplies are available at affordable prices. The Reuse Center is open six days per week.Customers who meet our income guidelines receive a substantial discount on prices -- generally 33% off all materials from the Reuse Center.Between 30 and 40 workshops are offered each year, teaching hands-on skills as well as knowledge of how a building's systems work (heating, electrical, plumbing) and how to work with a contractor.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In 2020, we served 1,462 income-qualified homeowners and nonprofit customers. This number is atypically low due both to the covid-19 pandemic and also to a major renovation project that limited sales while we were housed in a small, temporary facility. Materials valued at more than $1.1 million were diverted from disposal in 2020, and donations of materials were received from 1,063 donors. A major building renovation, completed in March 2021, has expanded our capacity to receive donated materials and to sell them affordably.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Boston Building Materials Coop Charitable & Educational Fund
Board of directorsas of 10/24/2022
Mr. Rick Ames
Next Phase Studios Architects
Term: 2012 - 2022
Marcia Peters
Attorney, Private Practice
Marsha Smith
Boston Public Schools
Rick Ames
Next Phase Studios
Ann Finnerty
Architect
Deanne Dupont
Food Link
Rashmi Ramaswamy
Architect
Sonia Allon-Singh
US General Services Admin
Abner Bonilla
US Postal Service
John Douglass
Mechanical Solutions
Nick Pieri
Thoughtforms
Robert Dickerson
Woodchuck's Building & Home Center
Michael Orbank
Commodore Builders
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data