a letter from our ceo

Dear friends,

There’s a lot to fear right now: Funding cuts. Rising costs. Attacks on identity. Chaos in our systems of care. Many of our community and peers have been hit hard this year, shaking the foundations of our sector.

Meanwhile, we push forward. When things get tough, we lock in. We speak up. We push back against injustice and push forward in our mission, adapting and innovating so we can continue to deliver on our commitment to youth who’ve been abandoned by our public systems.

It’s not a choice.

We demand a similar commitment from our youth, asking them to rise to our high expectations, overcome obstacles that they didn’t create or deserve, and develop the skills and resilience to create the life they want.

Right now, we’re in a strong position at More Than Words. Our businesses are thriving, our revenue remains steady, and our youth are achieving milestones at a higher rate than ever before. But while we’re strong, we are not overconfident. Thriving through hard times requires persistence, planning, risks, a safety net, and some luck.

A lot of smart decisions set us up for this moment. We leaned into a new thrift business two years ago so earned revenue could grow. We worked through complex changes to our service model to go farther for youth. We took good risks, adapted where necessary, and stuck to our truth. We built a foundation from which we continue to grow.

We’re so grateful to all of you who’ve locked in and had our backs this year and every year. We are lucky to have you.

In deep gratitude,

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THANK YOU - You’ve helped us remain strong andresilient in uncertain times.

LOCKED IN on thrift

this was a year of revolutionary growth in our social enterprise

It was scary to transition from “the book people” to running thrift stores, but the decision paid off. Now with three Boomerangs by More Than Words thrift stores opened over the last two years – in Cambridge, Boston, and Waltham – we have more customers, more sales, and more skill-building opportunities for youth.

Thrift offers higher margins and exciting, unique work: selecting items, choosing prices, creating displays, working with customers. It is helping us navigate a period of funding uncertainty, putting us in a position of strength and growth.

higher sales + better margin = more mission

Brief youth testimonial about experience in thrift store

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readiness

THE RAMP-UP

A 6-12 week paid on-ramp prepares youth to fully participate in our core social enterprise. Youth complete comprehensive readiness assessments across 10 domains and get support to met immediate needs such as housing transportation, and food security, while begining to work plans for long-term areas of support

DATA CASE STUDY

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YOUTH PROFILE

core social enterprise

THE BUSINESS JOB & THE YOU JOB

THE BUSINESS JOB

Young people work approximately 10-20 hours per week, acquiring skills and resume-building experience as they process orders, sort books and clothing, manage the warehouse, lead shifts, run events, and serve customers.

THE YOU JOB

Youth participate in our life skills curriculum and comprehensive case management as they continue to set and achieve goals across the 10 domains. Milestones include opening a back account, securing health care, crafting a resume, and preparing for interviews.

DATA CASE STUDY

YOUTH PROFILE

career services

BRIDGE TO A LIVING WAGE

CAREER SERVICES

We continue to provide case management, and youth gain more independence across the 10 domains. We support graduates with next steps in work and education via regular check-ins, curated job postings, post-secondary tours, career exploration, resume writing, interview prep, and more.

DOOR-OPENING FUNDS

Alumni can access bridge funding through two-way contracts to cover tuition, rent childcare, and other expenses while they pursue postsecondary education and training.

DATA CASE STUDY

YOUTH PROFILE

  • locked in on learning

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  • locked in on earning

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Want to go deeper into our domain and data model? Read the full report

2026 Annual Report

Gastley, Alumnus

When I was 16, I was sleeping in and not going to school, chilling with the guys, going on side quests. The Department of Children and Families had just moved me from my mom’s to my dad’s, along with my brothers. I kept applying for random jobs but I didn’t even get an interview. I didn’t have a resume or my ID. There was a lot I didn’t know about hiring and work. I needed a “life essentials starter pack.” That’s when some friends told me about More Than Words.

When I started, I said, bet, this is real work. I got my bank account and set up direct deposit. I worked in our thrift clothing business, taking photos and listing for sale. I saw my hard work and efficiency – those are personality traits. And I was on point with time management: I would be catching that train to make sure I was more early than late!

It wasn’t the job training that hard for me, it was the You Job. At More Than Words I had to achieve certain things in my personal life to get a promotion. I used to make things hard on myself. When I had a setback, like getting to an appointment and not having all my paperwork, I would get stuck. And eventually More Than Words told me I couldn’t work the job side unless I moved on the life side.

I heard some harsh motivation talk. I decided I wanted to work here and I wanted the community.

I came back and locked in. Whenever I had youth development, I’d be doing my homework so I could get back on track to graduate High School. With my friends I would turn off the TV and say, dude, we’re going to school! I got my brother to More Than Words. I didn’t want to do something with myself and see him rot. We’re supposed to build together.

When I told More Than Words I had a court date, they went with me and helped get diversion into probation. If I had skipped who knows what would have happened.

I graduated from High School and More Than Words in the same month. I held down a job in security, but it wasn’t for me – I like to move around and get my hands dirty. I always wanted to do construction. I went to a green jobs training program called PowerCorps, then my Career Services Manager got me a Bridge Contract to cover tools, union dues, and food so I could use those skills with Iron Workers Local 7.

Now I’m a third-year apprentice, about to be a journeyman in the union next year. I’ve done work at South Station and now am part of the repair team on the Tobin Bridge. Mentally, I am different. If I have a bad day in the morning, I make myself happy the rest of the day. I don’t get mad at mistakes, just find a solution.

youth profile

WE’RE LOCKED IN ON unapologetic advocacy

Our youth are speaking up—and securing wins—to change the systems that fail Massachusetts youth.

More Than Words youth-led advocacy team, the Power is Yours, is gaining traction in two policy areas of high importance to our youth: a child welfare system that discharges youth without a real transition plan and an overly punitive criminal justice system that pulls too many emergent adults off course. The team studies research and legislation, gathers input from peers and staff, and prepares personal testimony to raise awareness and drive change across the state. They’ve successfully secured support from state leaders, forged powerful state-wide partnerships, and achieved significant legislative victories.

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  • Housing Vouchers to End the Child Welfare Cliff

    We’ve expanded our partnership with HopeWell and Bridge Over Troubled Waters with support from Liberty Mutual Insurance, launching a three-year statewide plan to improve access to federal Foster Youth to Independence vouchers. The voucher provides 3-5 years of deeply subsidized housing, but is vastly underused in Massachusetts due to lack of knowledge and difficulty of administration.

    30-50% of homeless youth in Boston have come straight out of foster care
    70% of youth who age out of foster care are arrested at least once by age 26

    Learn More 

  • Raising the Age on Emerging Adult Justice

    Our Power is Yours team collaborates with
    Citizens for Juvenile Justice and other partners to advance Raise the Age, a
    legislative proposal to move youth ages 18-20 out of the adult criminal justice system and
    into the juvenile system where they belong. The move aligns with brain development
    and would help young people avoid an adult record and access a high school
    education.

     

    55% reconviction rate for youth leaving
    adult prisons in Massachusetts

    47% of people in adult jails have not
    completed high school

    Learn More 

Our successful new thrift business and generous philanthropic support kept us strong in FY26.

Our successful new thrift business and generous philanthropic support kept us strong in FY26.

In an uncertain year, we ended strong. Earned revenue from our two newly launched thrift stores far exceeded our expectations, and our philanthropic partners showed up for us in a big way. We turned that support around, investing it directly in youth via wages, grants, and emergency support. Looking ahead, we remain in a strong position, well prepared to weather ongoing uncertainty in the nonprofit sector.


$X.XM WENT DIRECTLY TO YOUTH IN THE FORM OF WAGES, RENT, BRIDGE GRANTS, OR EMERGENCY FUNDS

you locked in too

It takes a village to surround youth with the resourcesthey need to achieve stability and success. You are our village. In this yearof uncertainty, you showed up with generous support that allowed us to continueinvesting in youth with the comprehensive services they need and deserve. Weare truly grateful for every gift.

you stood with us, providing essential
support in an uncertain time

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