Boston Mayor Wu Secures PILOT Payment Deal with Wentworth Institute

Five-year agreement will see tax-exempt college resume cash payments to the city after pandemic pause.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Wu administration has brokered a five-year deal with Wentworth Institute of Technology, a tax-exempt Boston nonprofit, to resume making voluntary PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) payments in cash after years of not paying any money to the city. The deal will see Wentworth commit to paying $5.6 million in cash and community benefits to the City of Boston over the next five years.

Why it matters

The new PILOT agreement with Wentworth represents the first written deal with the tax-exempt college in more than 20 years. It is part of the Wu administration's broader efforts to establish predictable PILOT payment schedules with Boston's largest nonprofits, which have long been a source of contention due to their lack of full compliance with the city's PILOT program.

The details

Under the deal, Wentworth will pay $400,000 in cash over the five-year period, starting with $50,000 this fiscal year and increasing to $125,000 by FY30. The remaining $5.2 million will be in the form of community benefits supporting public education, community organizations, neighborhood development, and housing. The agreement also includes an amendment to Wentworth's institutional master plan that will deliver more student housing, increase public open space, and continue investments in college and career pathways for Boston Public Schools students.

  • The five-year PILOT agreement with Wentworth Institute will run from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2030.
  • Wentworth will begin making cash payments of $50,000 in the current fiscal year, FY26, with the amount increasing to $125,000 by FY30.

The players

Michelle Wu

The mayor of Boston who brokered the five-year PILOT agreement with Wentworth Institute.

Wentworth Institute of Technology

A tax-exempt Boston nonprofit college that has agreed to resume making voluntary PILOT payments to the city after years of not paying any money.

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What they’re saying

“This five-year PILOT agreement builds on our new approach to work with institutions to establish a predictable schedule boosting annual cash payments and community benefits at a time when our Boston taxpayers need relief.”

— Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston (bostonherald.com)

What’s next

The five-year PILOT agreement with Wentworth Institute will need to be renewed upon its expiration on June 30, 2030.

The takeaway

The new PILOT deal with Wentworth Institute is part of the Wu administration's broader efforts to secure long-term payment agreements with Boston's largest tax-exempt nonprofits, which have long been criticized for not paying their 'fair share' to the city. These agreements aim to create a more predictable and reliable schedule of PILOT payments to ease the tax burden on Boston's residents and businesses.