Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc
The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA) is a public charity based in Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts. It supports Black-led Massachusetts firms through grants, back-office assistance and digital solutions, and advances economic well-being through advocacy, business and leadership development, and strategic partnerships.
Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc at a glance
In short: Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc gave $205K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $204,525
- -33.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- -28.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,226
- -6.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $4,014,086
- -4.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 1234 Columbus Ave Building 3, Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120
Phone: (857) 308-4623
Website: https://becma.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Velasquez Tax & Business Services LLC ($19K). Together the top 10 received $111K.
Grant Size Distribution
78 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 76 grants of 78 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
BECMA’s stated work serves Massachusetts. All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $82K (2022) to $394K (2023). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $205K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Velasquez Tax & Business Services LLC Weston, MA | Back Office Support Services | $19,000 |
| Moonrock Enterprises LLC Boston, MA | Back Office Support Services | $11,962 |
| D'Lightful Beauty Lowell, MA | National Grid Small Business Impact | $10,000 |
| Boston Professional Sound Inc Boston, MA | Back Office Support Services | $10,000 |
| The Bone Sauce Shrewsbury, MA | National Grid Small Business Impact | $10,000 |
| City Sealcoating Lawrence, MA | National Grid Small Business Impact | $10,000 |
| Sage Family Dental Dorchester, MA | National Grid Small Business Impact | $10,000 |
| Nine Winters Bakery Watertown, MA | National Grid Small Business Impact | $10,000 |
| Madhrasi LLC Dorchester, MA | National Grid Small Business Impact | $10,000 |
| The Boston Foundation Boston, MA | Small Business Growth Fund | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,014,086 | $3,951,279 | $3,535,173 | $204,525 | 20 | $15,519 |
| 2024 | $4,202,825 | $5,845,824 | $5,249,760 | $305,384 | 28 | $42,871 |
| 2023 | $3,424,866 | $4,360,772 | $4,850,732 | $394,024 | 28 | $8,125 |
| 2022 | $2,847,852 | $4,157,091 | $3,033,740 | $81,500 | 2 | — |
| 2021 | $1,534,310 | $1,520,645 | $1,553,842 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | $1,365,280 | $1,587,547 | $345,680 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
BECMA’s mission is to advance the economic well-being of Black businesses, organizations and residents in Massachusetts through advocacy, business and leadership development, and strategic partnerships.
Its programs include Back Office Support Services (BOSS), which offers qualified members digital tools, professional services and capital grants to strengthen business operations. BECMA also describes initiatives focused on vendor advisory support, entry into the electric-vehicle charging industry and placing staff and members on boards and commissions. Its 2025 filing says the organization advocates for access to adequate and affordable capital, equitable procurement and inclusive workforce development.
Grantmaking
BECMA’s 2024 filing reported 28 grants totaling $305,384. Grants ranged from $5,208 to $20,000, with a median grant of $10,000; all reported grant dollars went to Massachusetts recipients. Listed purposes include back-office support services, supplier diversity and electric-vehicle programming. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 20 grants totaling $204,525.
The largest reported grants included $20,000 each to Butterfly Falafel and Bar and Kitchen Hospitality Inc. for back-office support services, and $20,000 to Logwood Company LLC S-Corp for supplier diversity. Other grants included $17,000 to Malcolm Contracting Services LLC for back-office support services and $14,000 to Obi Ibeto - Epinec for electric-vehicle programming.
BECMA’s BOSS program is for qualified members, who are directed to the organization’s info hub for participation instructions. Its capital grants may support projects, equipment, materials and working capital. Separately, BECMA’s Cannabis Business Empowerment Program describes grant support for Boston-certified cannabis equity applicants and licensed equity businesses; the stated 2025 application window was September 8 through October 6, 2025.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Nicole Obi as president and CEO; Lamont Clemons as treasurer; Chiderah Okoye as clerk; and Herby Duverne as board chair. It also lists Charran Fisher, Michele Courton Brown, Dalida Rocha, Gary Evee, Keith Chaney and Carole Montgomery as directors. The filing notes that Rocha and Chaney served through July 2024, Evee through December 2024, and Montgomery through March 2024.
Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc is led by Nicole Obi, President & CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2021); 5 of 17 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nicole Obi
President & CEO
CEO → President & CEO, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $281K (2025)
Herby Duverne
Board Chair
Director → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charran Fisher
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lamont Clemons
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michele Courton Brown
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dana Mendenhall
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daren Bascome
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hilina D. Ajakaiye
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Sands
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Brunson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marcita Thompson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Krystal Cummings
Chief of People & Culture
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$125K (2023) → $127K (2025)
Mackenson Charles
Chief of Membership Programs
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$117K (2024) → $117K (2025)
Alyssa Benalfew-Ramos
Chief of Policy
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$131K (2025)
Nancy Rousseau
Chief of Development
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$108K (2025)
Chiderah Okoye
Secretary & Clerk
Clerk → Secretary & Clerk, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eugene Green
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Carole Montgomery (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Dalida Rocha (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Gary Evee (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Keith Chaney (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Tracye Whitfield (2023–2024) — Director of Cee Program
- Former: Xavier Andrews (2024) — Chief of Communications & Marketing
- Former: Farrah Belizaire (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Teri Williams (2020–2023) — Board Chair
- Former: Joccole Burton (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Charles Mackenson (2023) — Chief of Membership Programs
- Former: Reginald Nunnally (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Terryl Calloway (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jc Burton (2022) — Director
- Former: Oluwasegun Idowu (2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Beverley Johnson (2020) — Director
- Former: Darryl Settles (2020) — Director
- Former: Glynn Lloyd (2020) — Director
- Former: Lee Pelton (2020) — Director
- Former: Priscilla Flint-Banks (2020) — Director
- Former: Segun Idowu (2020) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $281K, to Nicole Obi (President and CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc
How much does Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc give each year?
Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc gave $205K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $305K across 28 grants.
What is Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc's typical grant size?
Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,226, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc give grants?
Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (7 grants) and Dorchester, MA (2 grants).
Does Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Back Office Support Services" (12 grants) and "National Grid Small Business Impact" (7 grants).
Who are Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc's largest grantees?
Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Velasquez Tax & Business Services LLC ($19,000), Moonrock Enterprises LLC ($11,962) and D'Lightful Beauty ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc?
Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.0M.
What does Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc fund?
BECMA’s mission is to advance the economic well-being of Black businesses, organizations and residents in Massachusetts through advocacy, business and leadership development, and strategic partnerships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc?
Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check becma.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc's EIN?
Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0687250. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 7, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?