Bridge Over Troubled Waters provides effective and innovative services to homeless, at-risk, and runaway youth, helps youth avoid a lifetime of dependency on social services, guides youth towards self-sufficiency, and enables youth to transform their lives and build fulfilling, meaningful futures.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
75¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 39 volunteers and 122 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.5M a year · 12% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
75%
of spending
Fine: 75% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.2M
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
8 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 8.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $55K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.3M
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 16 voting members
Looks good: 15 of 16 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$11.7M
-6% vs prior year
Spent
$12.4M
To programs
75%
Net assets
$19.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$11.7M
FY2025▼ -6%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$7.2M
FY2021$16.8M
FY2022$12.4M
FY2023$11.3M
FY2024$12.4M
FY2025$11.7M
Expenses
$12.4M
FY2025▲ +0.6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$6.7M
FY2021$9.2M
FY2022$9.7M
FY2023$12.6M
FY2024$12.3M
FY2025$12.4M
Net assets
$19.4M
FY2025▼ -0.7%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$9.1M
FY2021$17.6M
FY2022$20.1M
FY2023$19.0M
FY2024$19.6M
FY2025$19.4M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Aug 1972.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

75 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 75% · $9.3M Management & general 16% · $2.0M Fundraising 9% · $1.1M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

22 people listed on the 990; $1.2M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
President & CEO
$274,451Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Finance & Administration
$182,399Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Development
$181,167Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Program Services
$179,447Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Special Projects
$145,053Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Learning/Clinical Supervisor
$119,211Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Program Operations
$117,178Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Elisabeth Jackson’s $274K as President & CEO is at the 55th percentile of top reported officer pay among 746 $10–100M mental health nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Elisabeth Jackson$274,451$245,238$242,187$170,645$187,440$152,357
Patricia Williams$182,399$161,305$143,857$130,840$129,976$111,483
Melissa Cording$181,167$161,282————
Peter Ducharme$179,447$155,635$139,274$135,437$123,081$105,656
Melissa Zangari Cording——$146,463$131,098$122,699$111,307
Stefani Lee Harvey$145,053$112,549————
Arlene Synder——$136,229$128,639$118,696$120,502
Brian Miller$119,211$110,059$108,613———

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Bridge Over Troubled Waters INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Helps homeless, at-risk, and runaway youth achieve self-sufficiency and build fulfilling futures.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $9.2M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Residential Services Programs

Housing - bridge provides both supportive housing and independent housing options, depending on each individual youth's level of independence and needs. Bridge also helps youth in new housing, setting them up with community support and providing them with ongoing assistance as they make the transition to stable HOUSING.THE transitional…

$3.8Mprogram expense
02

Prevention and Intervention; and Emergency Services

Bridge's prevention and intervention services reach the largest number of boston's homeless, at-risk, and runaway youth possible, providing safe access points for youth to connect with help, and preventing runaways and homelessness whenever possible.

$3.0Mprogram expense
03

Outreach and Support Programs

Pathways to self-sufficiency - preparing youth for adulthood includes helping each individual learn to manage their physical and mental wellbeing, to handle their finances, and to maintain consistency at school or at a job. These skills are foundational for their future success as independent, functioning adults.

$2.4Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$55K
Grants paid · 40 grants · $10.3M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$754,274
Justice Resource Institute INCMA · FY2024$188,258
Y2y Network INCMA · FY2024$65,000
More Than Words INCMA · FY2024$56,000
Wsk House INCMA · FY2024$46,596
Beat the Odds INCMA · FY2024$25,000
Brunson House INCMA · FY2024$10,477
Unitemized GrantFY2023$987,563
Brunson House INCMA · FY2023$932,093
Justice Resource Institute INCMA · FY2023$195,200
Y2y Network INCMA · FY2023$64,999
More Than Words INCMA · FY2023$56,000
Brunson House INCMA · FY2022$1,825,000
Unitemized GrantFY2022$1,217,328
See all 40 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$11.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$399K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$33K
Money outPt IX
$12.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$9.3M
Managementcol C$2.0M
Fundraisingcol D$1.1M
Owns and owesPt X
$19.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$8.3M
Total assetsLn 16$20.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
22
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$6.0M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$183K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$1.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$33K
Investment incomeLn 3$399K
Gains on assetsLn 7$813
Total revenueLn 12$11.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.0M
SavingsLn 2$7.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$8.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$6.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.4M
Other assetsLn 15$176K
Total assetsLn 16$20.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$19.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5122
VolunteersI 639
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$7.3M$8.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$5.3M$6.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.2M$3.4M
Total assetsLn 16$21.0M$20.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$19.6M$19.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$1.4M$1.4M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$754K$754K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$493K$362K$85K$45K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$5.3M$3.9M$857K$492K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$96K$58K$30K$7K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$694K$508K$124K$63K
Payroll taxesLn 10$482K$363K$74K$45K
Legal feesLn 11b$18K$18K
Accounting feesLn 11c$332K$332K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$618K$458K$66K$95K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$53K$2K$23K$28K
Office expensesLn 13$288K$118K$96K$73K
OccupancyLn 16$844K$617K$114K$113K
TravelLn 17$68K$64K$4K$683
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$106K$21K$77K$8K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$253K$222K$20K$12K
InsuranceLn 23$41K$17K$22K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$451K$306K$32K$113K
All other expensesLn 24e$80K$19K$20K$40K
Total functional expensesLn 25$12.4M$9.3M$2.0M$1.1M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $11.7M$12.4M−$710K$19.4M 990 PDF
FY2024 $12.4M$12.3M$111K$19.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $11.3M$12.6M−$1.4M$19.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $12.4M$9.7M$2.7M$20.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $16.8M$9.2M$7.5M$17.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $7.2M$6.7M$468K$9.1M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $11,674,800 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $12,112,819$11,324,091
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $20,506$33,118
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $380,318$398,590
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$94,003−$80,999
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $12,419,640$11,674,800
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $3,116,855$2,176,607
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $6,208,130$7,056,208
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,984,096$3,152,207
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $12,309,081$12,385,022
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $110,559−$710,222
Part VI · Governance 15 of 16 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body16
VI-1b Independent voting members15
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $11,674,800 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $59,391 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$55,127
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,552,572
VIII-1e Government grants$6,046,662
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,669,730
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$183,444
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$11,324,091
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $33,118$33,118
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $397,777$397,777
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $74,077$74,077
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $813$813
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$214,467−$214,467
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $33,118 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $317,591$11,674,800
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $12,385,022 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $1,422,333$1,422,333
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $754,274$754,274
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $362,357 · Management $85,160 · Fundraising $45,214$492,731
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $3,942,803 · Management $857,185 · Fundraising $491,942$5,291,930
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $58,240 · Management $30,126 · Fundraising $7,276$95,642
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $507,527 · Management $123,769 · Fundraising $63,074$694,370
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $362,686 · Management $73,602 · Fundraising $45,247$481,535
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $17,557$17,557
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $332,064$332,064
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $457,667 · Management $65,694 · Fundraising $95,069$618,430
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $2,091 · Management $23,019 · Fundraising $28,231$53,341
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $117,863 · Management $96,436 · Fundraising $73,493$287,792
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $617,148 · Management $113,987 · Fundraising $112,707$843,842
IX-17 TravelPrograms $63,567 · Management $3,785 · Fundraising $683$68,035
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $20,905 · Management $77,031 · Fundraising $7,997$105,933
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $221,987 · Management $19,810 · Fundraising $11,507$253,304
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $16,645 · Management $21,697 · Fundraising $3,032$41,374
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $305,756 · Management $31,889 · Fundraising $113,214$450,859
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $18,890 · Management $20,440 · Fundraising $40,346$79,676
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $9,252,739 · Management $1,993,251 · Fundraising $1,139,032$12,385,022
Part X · Balance sheet $20,796,899 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $860,419$1,030,073
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $6,393,690$7,229,809
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $3,216,519$1,705,457
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,345,869$865,062
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $343,880$304,957
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,165,959$3,396,108
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $5,303,792$6,089,055
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $337,396$176,378
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $20,967,524$20,796,899
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $862,255$1,045,286
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $511,167$303,777
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,373,422$1,349,063
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $15,159,104$16,015,308
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $4,434,998$3,432,528
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $19,594,102$19,447,836
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $20,967,524$20,796,899
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $19,447,836 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$11,674,800
XI-2 Total expenses$12,385,022
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$710,222
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$19,594,102
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$683,867
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$119,911
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$19,447,836

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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