Massachusetts
‘A whole ripple effect’: Mass. nonprofits fear drop in donations under proposed charitable deduction cap – The Boston Globe
“[Losing donations] would mean we would have to not see as many young people,” said Elisabeth Jackson, CEO of Bridge Over Troubled Waters, which supports homeless and at-risk teens and young adults. “It might also mean [we have] to close programs.”
Of Bridge Over Troubled Waters’ $12 million budget last year, $2 million came from individual donors. If the cap takes effect, Jackson fears that segment of funding could decline.
“It’s not just a cap on the deductions given to individuals that give to a nonprofit. It’s the whole ecosystem of how that money gets used to service young people, to pay for staff and their livelihood,” said Jackson. “It would be just a whole ripple effect.”
The concerns are adding to what Jackson called a “double hit,” as many nonprofits face a climate of uncertainty amid the threat of federal funding freezes.
Healey has acknowledged the “evolving situation” of cutbacks in federal funding for nonprofits since she first filed her budget proposal. The governor said in a budget hearing March 6 she was open to revisiting the proposed cap.
“With what’s happened in the last few weeks, there’s been concern from not-for-profit organizations, which we know are going to probably be facing even greater strain than ever,” said Healey.
The Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, which represents more than 700 of the state’s charities, opposes the cap and worries that it will threaten a substantial income source for vital community organizations, said CEO Jim Klocke.
“The state charitable deduction matters,” said Klocke. “It’s an important, significant, positive tool that promotes giving in Massachusetts, and we should not be cutting back on it in any way right now.”
Nonprofits’ funding often comes from a few different sources, such as government grants and foundation contributions, Klocke said, but individual donations are something nearly every nonprofit relies on.
“When one type of funding comes under attack, it can have very direct, very significant effects right away,” said Klocke.
In order to hit the maximum deduction, a person would need to donate $5,000 in a year – so the proposed cap would not impact many middle-class donors, experts said.
The “everyday American” is the target for the current state deduction, said Ray Madoff, a professor at Boston College Law.
The federal deduction more benefits the ultra wealthy, she said. Under the federal charitable deduction, 90 percent of Americans do not receive any tax benefits for what they donate because they claim the standard deduction, Madoff said. Meanwhile, she said, the wealthiest Americans can deduct up to 74 percent of what they donate in tax savings.
“For federal purposes, a wealthy donor who makes a well-planned donation can save income taxes, capital gains taxes, and estate and gift taxes. And that’s how it gets to be such a high number,” said Madoff.

The state charitable deduction was originally approved by 72 percent of voters in 2000, but Massachusetts lawmakers suspended it in 2002 and put its implementation on pause again in 2021 after rejecting a veto from former governor Charlie Baker. Massachusetts taxpayers have been able to claim the deduction in three years since the 2000 vote — 2001, 2023, and 2024.
The cap is a “sensible compromise,” said Phineas Baxandall, policy director at the left-leaning Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, as it would free up a large portion of the state’s budget for other initiatives and make the state tax system more equitable by limiting how much the wealthy can use the deduction to grow their wealth further.
More than half the people who take the state charitable deduction have incomes over $1 million, according to Baxandall. By placing a cap, he said, it allows the deduction to benefit middle-class donors most.
There is also no guarantee that people who take the deduction donated to a Massachusetts charity, a factor Baxandall said makes the costly deduction not directly benefit the state in many cases.
“For the state, the deduction is really a lose-lose with half the promise of a win,” said Baxandall.
With the heavy reliance on donations for many nonprofits, any loss of income can have long-lasting impacts. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals depends on individual donors to fund many of its programs, said Mike Keiley, vice president of the MSPCA’s Animal Protection Division.
“Anything that runs a potential risk on limiting that is worrisome,” said Keiley.

In 2023, close to a third of the MSPCA’s budget came from donations, according to a spokesperson. Keiley said he’s optimistic state leaders will consider the stability of nonprofits, as he believes they have in recent years.
“We’re hoping for the best but are preparing for challenges ahead,” said Keiley.
Capping the state deduction could cause changes in how people plan out their giving. Financial planners often advise their clients on how to best time donations to claim maximum deductions, often leading to larger sums being shelled out to nonprofits. With the cap, this strategy would only go so far, lessening an incentive to donate big, said Jack Heintzelman, a financial planner at Boston Wealth Strategies.
“We might not need to accelerate or make a large, significant contribution, and we can just do it over several years if there’s not really much benefit in doing either,” said Heintzelman, who added his clients are passionate about their charitable causes and want to make donations in the most beneficial manner for both the organizations and themselves.
The Legislature will review the budget and vote on a final version that will take effect July 1. The Senate Ways and Means committee is reviewing the governor’s proposal now, said a spokesman for committee chair and Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, a Fall River Democrat, who added the budget should be one that “uplifts residents and increases opportunity while maintaining our fiscal discipline.”
Maren Halpin can be reached at maren.halpin@globe.com.
Massachusetts
Election Day is Tuesday for 55 cities and towns in Massachusetts. Here’s what’s on the ballot.
Tuesday, Nov. 4 is Election Day for 55 cities and towns across Massachusetts.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at most locations. Click here to find your polling place.
Here’s a look at what’s on the ballot in some notable municipal elections.
Boston election
Mayor Michelle Wu is unopposed in her bid for a second term after winning big in the preliminary election over Josh Kraft, who then dropped out of the race
Incumbent city councilors-at-large Erin Murphy, Henry Santana, Ruthzee Louijeune and Julia Mejia are running for re-election, while former City Council Frank Baker is trying to make a comeback.
In District 7, Rev. Miniard Culpepper and Said “Coach” Ahmed are running for the seat vacated by former Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, who pleaded guilty to public corruption charges.
Somerville mayor’s race
Incumbent Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne ran for re-election, but did not advance past the preliminary stage. Two city councilors, Democratic socialist Willie Burnley Jr. and Jake Wilson are facing off. According to Axios Boston, Burnley Jr. would be Somerville’s first Black, openly queer and polyamorous mayor.
Everett mayoral election
Carlo DeMaria has been the mayor of Everett since 2008. He is running against City Councilor Robert Van Campen, who has highlighted an Inspector General report that said DeMaria was improperly paid $180,000 in “longevity payments.” DeMaria has said he was entitled to receive annual salary adjustments.
Lawrence election
Incumbent Brian De Pena is facing off against Juan “Manny” Gonzalez in the mayor’s race.
Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin’s office said it will be monitoring the election after “numerous complaints” about absentee ballot applications.
Brockton race for mayor
Brockton voters will make history by electing City Councilor Jean Bradley Derenoncourt or City Councilor Moises Rodrigues as the city’s first mayor of color.
Melrose override
Melrose residents are voting on three override options to fund city and school services, ranging between $9.3 million and $13.5 million. Property taxes would increase on average between $948 and $1,374 for homeowners. The highest dollar amount that receives a majority of votes would take effect.
Where elections are happening in Massachusetts
Below are the cities and towns holding elections on Tuesday, according to the secretary of the Commonwealth:
- Agawam (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
- Amesbury
- Amherst
- Attleboro
- Barnstable
- Beverly
- Boston
- Braintree
- Brockton
- Cambridge
- Chelsea
- Chicopee (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.)
- Easthampton
- Everett
- Fall River
- Fitchburg
- Framingham
- Franklin (6 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
- Gardner
- Gloucester
- Greenfield
- Haverhill
- Holyoke
- Lawrence
- Leominster
- Lowell
- Lynn
- Malden
- Marlborough
- Medford
- Melrose
- Methuen (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.)
- New Bedford
- Newburyport
- Newton
- North Adams
- Northampton
- Peabody
- Pittsfield (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
- Quincy
- Randolph
- Revere
- Salem
- Saugus
- Somerville
- Springfield
- Taunton
- Waltham
- Watertown
- West Springfield
- Westfield (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.)
- Weymouth
- Winthrop
- Woburn
- Worcester
Massachusetts
Massachusetts High School Football 2025 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (MIAA) – November 2, 2025
The 2025 Massachusetts high school football playoffs begin on Friday, November 7, and go into Saturday, November 8, with 64 games in the round of 16.
High School On SI has brackets division in the Massachusetts high school playoffs.
Round of 16
No. 1 Nashoba Valley Tech vs. No. 16 Sabis International – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 8 Frontier Regional vs. No. 9 KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 4 Randolph vs. No. 13 Oxford – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 5 Hoosac Valley vs. No. 12 Blackstone-Millville – 11/08 at 12:00 p.m.
No. 2 Lee vs. No. 15 Narragansett Regional – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 7 Cathedral vs. No. 10 Prouty – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 3 West Boylston vs. No. 14 Bartlett – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 6 Bourne vs. No. 11 Lynn Vo-Tech – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
Round of 16
No. 1 Cohasset vs. No. 16 Leicester – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 8 Rockland vs. No. 9 Tyngsborough – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 4 Northbridge vs. No. 13 Seekonk – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 5 Manchester Essex vs. No. 12 Millbury – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 2 Amesbury vs. No. 15 South Hadley – 11/07 at 6:30 p.m.
No. 7 Uxbridge vs. No. 10 Blue Hills RVT – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 3 West Bridgewater vs. No. 14 St. Bernard’s Central Catholic – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 6 Clinton vs. No. 11 Mashpee – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
Round of 16
No. 1 Norwell vs. No. 16 Case – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 8 Pentucket Regional vs. No. 9 Nantucket – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 4 Wilmington vs. No. 13 Old Rochester Regional – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 5 Hudson vs. No. 12 Bellingham – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 2 Abington vs. No. 15 Triton Regional – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 7 Bishop Fenwick vs. No. 10 Medway – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 3 Fairhaven vs. No. 14 East Bridgewater – 11/07 at 6:30 p.m.
No. 6 Stoneham vs. No. 11 Winthrop – 11/07 at 6:30 p.m.
Round of 16
No. 1 Shawsheen Valley Tech vs. No. 16 Salem – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 8 St. Mary’s vs. No. 9 Greater Lawrence Tech – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 4 Medfield vs. No. 13 Northeast Metro RVT – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 5 North Reading vs. No. 12 Marlborough – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 2 Foxborough vs. No. 15 Norton – 11/07 at 6:30 p.m.
No. 7 Gloucester vs. No. 10 Auburn – 11/07 at 6:30 p.m.
No. 3 Hanover vs. No. 14 Weston – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 6 Archbishop Williams vs. No. 11 Swampscott – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
Round of 16
No. 1 Scituate vs. No. 16 Tantasqua Regional – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 8 Bedford vs. No. 9 Walpole – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 4 Duxbury vs. No. 13 Holliston – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 5 Burlington vs. No. 12 Dartmouth – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 2 Tewksbury Memorial vs. No. 15 Middleborough – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 7 Ashland vs. No. 10 Danvers – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 3 Canton vs. No. 14 Wakefield Memorial – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 6 Marblehead vs. No. 11 Shepherd Hill Regional – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
Round of 16
No. 1 King Philip Regional vs. No. 16 Chicopee Comp – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 8 Mansfield vs. No. 9 Plymouth South – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 4 Hingham vs. No. 13 Minnechaug Regional – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 5 Marshfield vs. No. 12 Malden Catholic – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 2 Barnstable vs. No. 15 Doherty Memorial – 11/07 at 6:30 p.m.
No. 7 North Attleborough vs. No. 10 Milford – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 3 Milton vs. No. 14 Reading Memorial – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 6 Masconomet Regional vs. No. 11 Melrose – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
Round of 16
No. 1 Catholic Memorial — BYE
No. 8 Wellesley vs. No. 9 Plymouth North – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 4 Winchester vs. No. 13 North Quincy – 11/07 at 6:30 p.m.
No. 5 Lincoln-Sudbury vs. No. 12 Concord-Carlisle – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 2 Bishop Feehan — BYE
No. 7 Quincy vs. No. 10 Chelmsford – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 3 Bridgewater-Raynham vs. No. 14 Woburn Memorial – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 6 Billerica Memorial vs. No. 11 Beverly – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
Round of 16
No. 1 St. John’s Prep vs. No. 16 Framingham – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 8 Leominster vs. No. 9 Franklin – 11/07 at 7:00 p.m.
No. 4 Natick vs. No. 13 Weymouth – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 5 Central Catholic vs. No. 12 St. John’s – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 2 Central vs. No. 15 Taunton – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 7 Methuen vs. No. 10 Lowell – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 3 Xaverian Brothers vs. No. 14 Brockton – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
No. 6 Wachusett Regional vs. No. 11 Andover – 11/07 at 6:00 p.m.
Massachusetts
Seven high school sports takeaways from the final day of the MIAA football regular season – The Boston Globe
Find all the scores here. Final football conference standings live here. We also have final boys’ and girls’ soccer standings. Today’s headlines:
▪ It was the biggest win of the day, and a monumental one for St. John’s Prep coach Brian St. Pierre, who notched his 100th career win with a 43-28 defeat of No. 3 Catholic Memorial. St. Pierre is in his 12th season at the helm of his alma mater, where he was named Gatorade Player of the Year and quarterbacked the Eagles to a 1997 Super Bowl title before going on to play at Boston College and earn a fifth-round draft selection to the NFL, where he played for four teams in an eight-year career.
He is the third coach in Prep history to reach 100 wins, joining Fred Glatz and Jim O’Leary.
▪ Andover senior Naomi Vajda recorded her 100th career block among three rejections in a 3-0 Division 1 first-round girls’ volleyball win over Boston Latin. Vajda added six kills and four aces.
▪ Despite an 0-5 start, Brockton rallied to win the Big Three Conference with a 23-0 blanking of Durfee, which came a week after they destroyed New Bedford, 41-0. Casey Rhodes, Marcio Semedo, and Jarred Mighty scored Saturday as the Boxers (3-5, 2-0) also punched their ticket to the Division 1 tournament.
▪ With a 31-28 win over Loomis Chaffee, Avon Old Farms (Conn.) wrapped up an undefeated season (8-0) and captured the Founders League title.
▪ Nobles boys’ soccer defeated Brooks, 3-1, to secure the Independent School League crown.
▪ Minuteman boys’ soccer dispensed with McCann Tech, 5-1, to win the State Vocational Small School championship. The Greater New Bedford boys defeated Greater Lowell, 3-0, for the Large School title.
Congratulations to our Boys ⚽️ Team for reclaiming the seat a top Vocational Boys Soccer with the 2025 State Vocational Championship. The team defeated Gr Lowell 3-0 pic.twitter.com/8atj06V8kp
— GNBVT Athletics (@GNBVTathletics) November 2, 2025
Ellis Barnes, BB&N — The senior defensive back, who is committed to Columbia, came up big for the Knights in a 17-7 NEPSAC win over St. Paul’s (N.H.), picking off two passes and making seven tackles.
Peter Bourque, Tabor — A regular in this space, the Michigan-bound quarterback showed off his legwork in the second half, rushing for three touchdowns in a come-from-behind 39-21 NEPSAC win over St. Sebastian’s. The junior QB finished with 232 passing yards and five total touchdowns.
Andrew Kiricoples, Bishop Fenwick — The sophomore threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for a third score in a 34-6 Catholic Central League road win.
Elai Machado, KIPP — The 6-foot-4-inch junior quarterback ran for touchdowns of 15, 45, and 40 yards, and tossed a 20-yard scoring strike for the Panthers in a 41-6 Commonwealth Conference win over Lowell Catholic.
Jalen Morris, Rivers — The biggest rushing performance of the day belonged to the junior, who took 23 carries for 259 yards and four scores in a 47-6 NEPSAC win over Governor’s.
Brady Shuffain, Sharon — The junior had himself a day, throwing for 381 yards and four touchdowns in a 46-6 win over Fitchburg that featured several big performances, including Matt Khrakovsky’s 207 rushing yards and three scores and Joseph Seaman’s 119 receiving yards and two TDs.
Jake Strojny, Roxbury Latin — The senior quarterback combined three passing TDs with one on the ground to beat St. George’s, 30-0, in NEPSAC action.
Here’s betting Classical (R.I.) senior Bam Adebayo had quite the interesting Saturday morning.
The 6-foot, 160-pound cornerback/safety posted that he got his first preferred walk-on offer from URI. No doubt a big moment. A chance to play Division 1 football in his homestate.
Then Cavaliers All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell took notice, quote-tweeting the post and tagging Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo, who ironically, uses the X handle @Bam1of1.
“Congrats bro!! Keep working” Mitchell wrote.
Brady Shuffain, Sharon, 381
Chris Vargas, St. John’s Prep, 268
Peter Bourque, Tabor, 232
Andrew Kiricoples, Bishop Fenwick, 192
Brady Shuffain, Sharon, 4
Chris Vargas, St. John’s Prep, 4
Jake Strojny, Roxbury Latin, 3
Peter Bourque, Tabor, 2
Andrew Kiricoples, Bishop Fenwick, 2
Jalen Morris, Rivers, 259
Matt Khrakovsky, Sharon, 207
Dylan Patturelli, Bishop Fenwick, 142
Aavian Peña, KIPP, 116
Zack Deschenes, Nashoba Valley Tech, 4
Jalen Morris, Rivers, 4
Peter Bourque, Tabor, 3
Matt Khrakovsky, Sharon, 3
Elia Machado, KIPP, 3
Ryan Beede, Northeast, 2
Xavier Hairston, Taft, 2
Ziah Herring, Greater Lawrence, 2
Joel LaChapelle, Northbridge, 2
Dylan Patturelli, Bishop Fenwick, 2
Nikki Santos, Cambridge, 130
Riley Selvais, St. John’s Prep, 130
Joseph Seaman, Sharon, 119
Riley Selvais, St. John’s Prep, 2
6. Field hockey leaderboard
Jordi Higgins, Bishop Feehan, 4
Alexa Heller, Wellesley, 2
Sydney Kim, Wellesley, 2
Annie Liebhoff, Rivers, 2
Ciara Maloney, Medway, 2
Lauren Mattia, Lynnfield, 2
Olivia McCormick, Hanover, 2
Natalie McMenamy, Medway, 2
Effie Parsons, St. Mary’s, 2
Caroline Vaughan, Andover, 2
Jordi Higgins, Bishop Feehan, 4
Bridgette McGinnis, Bishop Feehan, 3
7. Volleyball leaderboard
Julie Hall, Central Catholic, 25
Tess Madden, Hanover, 22
Erin Root, Old Rochester, 14
Mia Milani, Bellingham, 13
Lila Arkinstall, Wakefield, 12
Victoria Reposa, Reading, 12
Mia Kenny, Wakefield, 11
Lila Moniz, Marblehead, 11
Anna Fernandez, Westford, 10
Bonnie Politzer, Chelmsford, 10
Sadie Stants, Needham, 10
Jessie Wang, Andover, 10
Kyra Ward, Chelmsford, 10
Elizabeth Willis, East Bridgewater, 10
Madison Blanchet, Central Catholic, 38
Maya Morrison, Old Rochester, 37
Sadie Chadwick, Hanover, 35
Eva Burke, Marblehead, 29
Bella Lee, Needham, 27
Ellen Griswold, Chelmsford, 25
Erin Bigham, Canton, 24
Tori Grace, Wakefield, 18
Gianna Miceli, Reading, 16
Addison Parent, Somerset Berkley, 14
Cara Carangelo, Wakefield, 33
Julie Hall, Central Catholic, 20
Soley Rodriguez Martinez, Canton, 7
Sophia Soto, Bellingham, 14
Sydney Faris, Marblehead, 13
Olivia Lesswing, Haverhill, 10
Ryleigh Brown, Somerset Berkley, 9
Erin Bigham, Canton, 8
Addison Parent, Somerset Berkley, 8
Kaitlyn Pepin, Westford, 6
Kaely Dos Santos, Somerset Berkley, 5
Piper Newell, Old Rochester, 4
Katie Ferrara, Somerset Berkley, 3
Mary Furey, Reading, 3
Norah Schweitzer, Westford, 3
Naomi Vajda, Andover, 3
Ellen Griswold, Chelmsford, 7
Bella Lee, Needham, 7
Bonnie Politzer, Chelmsford, 7
Faith Najem, Whitinsville Christian, 6
Claire Zhang, Andover, 6
Brie Cairns, Chelmsford, 5
Alicia Marcal, Chelmsford, 5
Kaitlyn Pepin, Westford, 5
Dylan Poirier, Hanover, 5
Sophia Soto, Bellingham, 5
Kyra Ward, Chelmsford, 5
Brendan Kurie can be reached at brendan.kurie@globe.com. Follow him on X @BrendanKurie.
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