Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center

What Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center does

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) is a non-partisan, nonprofit public policy research and advocacy organization headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, operating with approximately 12 staff. Founded in 1987 (per firmographic records; the organization's own materials reference 2009), MassBudget produces rigorous research and targeted policy analysis on the Massachusetts state budget and related fiscal topics including education, health, housing, taxes, transportation, jobs and the economy, and child well-being. The organization serves Massachusetts state legislators, advocacy coalitions, grassroots organizations, media, and the general public, providing legislative testimony during the annual budget cycle, policy briefs, and data-driven reports on fiscal and equity matters.

MassBudget's core products are research publications (reports, policy briefs, testimonies), the interactive Budget Browser tool for exploring Massachusetts state budget data, and curated access to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT Data Center for child well-being indicators. Underlying technology is limited to standard web publishing and data visualization — there is no proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capability, or software product. The organization distributes all content freely under a Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0 license via its website (massbudget.org), email newsletter, social media (X, Bluesky, LinkedIn, YouTube), and earned media placements in outlets such as the Boston Globe, GBH, and Stateline.

The business model is donation-funded nonprofit operations: revenue is generated through individual contributions, foundation grants (including a Share Our Strength grant in 2024), and fundraising events such as 'Celebrating Possibility.' MassBudget charges nothing for its research or services. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors with Viviana M. Abreu-Hernández, Ph.D. serving as President (appointed in 2026 following Phineas Baxandall's interim presidency after Marie-Frances Rivera's September 2023 departure). MassBudget is embedded in multiple advocacy coalitions, including Raise Up Massachusetts, the Delivering on Equity Collective (with MCAN and MVT), and national networks EARN and State Priorities Partnership.

Name

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center

Legal name

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center

Website

https://massbudget.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center is a nonprofit, non-partisan research and advocacy organization that produces data-driven analysis of Massachusetts state budget and fiscal policy. It serves legislators, advocacy coalitions, media, and the public through free research publications and legislative testimony.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Research and Advocacy

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Budgeting & Fiscal Planning (BPAIAEAA), State/Provincial Treasury, Budget & Fiscal Management (BPAIABAC)

Keywords

• Public policy research
• Budget analysis
• Policy advocacy
• Fiscal policy
• Economic justice research

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: MassBudget operates as a non-profit organization funded through donations and contributions from individuals, foundations, and partners. The organization accepts donations through its website and hosts fundraising events such as 'Celebrating Possibility' to support operations.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) is a non-partisan, nonprofit public policy research and advocacy organization that conducts rigorous research, budget analysis, and policy advocacy focused on advancing racial and economic justice in Massachusetts. It produces research publications, state budget analyses, legislative testimonies, and coalition-driven advocacy campaigns, and operates interactive data tools such as the Budget Browser for state fiscal data and serves as the Massachusetts partner for the KIDS COUNT Data Center.

Product overview

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) is a non-partisan, nonprofit research and advocacy organization focused on public policy research and advocacy for racial and economic justice. The organization does not offer a technology product platform but provides research publications, budget analysis services, policy advocacy, and data tools including the Budget Browser for exploring state budget data, along with the externally-hosted Kids Count Data Center for child well-being data. Their offerings consist of research reports across topics (education, health, housing, taxes, transportation), budget analysis and commentary, legislative testimony, and participation in the Delivering on Equity Collective coalition program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Budget Browser

Quantifiable outcome

• Research directly influenced SJC decision to block income tax ballot initiative, preventing ~$5 billion in annual state revenue cuts
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SEIU 32BJcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026MassBudget partnered with SEIU 32BJ to co-produce the 'Healthcare – Who Can Afford It?' report examining racialized inequality and healthcare access for Massachusetts workers, particularly security officers and airport workers.
• Annie E. Casey Foundation (KIDS COUNT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMassBudget is the Massachusetts member of the Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT network. This partnership enables them to contribute to and utilize the national KIDS COUNT Data Book and Data Center, which tracks child well-being indicators across 16 indicators in four domains.
• EARN (Economic Analysis and Research Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with EARN network shown as part of organizational affiliations. EARN is a national network of state-level research organizations focused on economic policy.
• State Priorities PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with State Priorities Partnership (SPP) shown as part of organizational affiliations. SPP is a network focused on state budget and fiscal policy.
• Raise Up MassachusettscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMassBudget is part of the Raise Up Massachusetts progressive coalition, which successfully championed the Fair Share Amendment and continues to advocate for economic justice policies. MassBudget provides research support for coalition campaigns.
• Delivering on Equity CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMassBudget is an anchor organization in the Delivering on Equity (DOE) Collective, a partnership with Massachusetts Communities Action Network (MCAN) and Massachusetts Voter Table (MVT), plus 20+ grassroots organizations, focused on community engagement in public budget processes.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Urban Institute: National nonprofit research organization focused on economic and social policy, including state and federal budget analysis, taxes, and programs affecting low-income households. Comparable in research-driven evidence-based policy work on budget and tax issues.
• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: National progressive think tank focused on budget, tax, and anti-poverty policy. Comparable in mission (research-driven budget/fiscal policy advocacy for low-income households) and serves as the umbrella organization for the State Priorities Partnership network of which MassBudget is a member.
• Economic Policy Institute: National nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on the economic well-being of low- and middle-income workers. Comparable in progressive economic policy research methodology, focus on racial and economic equity, and use of budget/tax analysis as core advocacy tools.

Direct peers

• The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis: Virginia-based state budget and fiscal policy research organization focused on low- and moderate-income households. Highly comparable in service to MassBudget's mission, methodology (state budget analysis, tax policy research), and progressive orientation.
• Citizens Budget Commission: New York-based nonpartisan fiscal policy research organization focused on state and city budget analysis. Directly comparable in core activity (independent state budget analysis), target audience (policymakers and press), and nonprofit research model.
• Maine Center for Economic Policy: State-level progressive economic policy research organization in Maine. Closely comparable as a fellow EARN/State Priorities Partnership member doing state budget and tax analysis; MassBudget Senior Policy Analyst Kurt Wise previously worked there.
• Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation: Massachusetts-based nonprofit fiscal policy research organization that analyzes state budget and tax issues. Directly comparable in geography, topic focus, and target audience (policymakers, media), though with a more business-friendly perspective.
• Connecticut Voices for Children: Connecticut-based nonprofit policy research organization focused on child and family well-being, fiscal policy, and racial equity. Comparable as a state-level policy research nonprofit tackling overlapping topics (kids, budget, equity) with similar advocacy orientation.
• Massachusetts Law Reform Institute: Massachusetts-based nonprofit legal advocacy and policy research organization focused on economic justice, housing, and benefits access. Comparable in same geography, progressive policy mission, and similar team size serving low-income communities in Massachusetts.

Others

• State Priorities Partnership: Network of 43 state-level policy research organizations (coordinated by CBPP) that MassBudget is affiliated with. Related as an ecosystem/network entity that hosts and amplifies MassBudget's research within a national peer infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/massbudget
• YouTubeyoutube.com/massbudget
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/massachusetts-budget-and-policy-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center