The Center received no city, state, or federal funding. This was due not because the money wasn't available, but because of limitations. One limitation stated that the center can only serve a certain number of students and, if the center served more than that number, they had to send the students to other East Boston schools. As the Executive Director, Dominic Avellani stated, "Since when does Jordan Marsh send it's customers to Filene's?" The second reason why the school did not seek city funds was because only people from East Boston could attend. The Center had students from Greater Boston and every Boston neighborhood. Part of the Center's mission was to help everyone, regardless of race, religion, creed, origin, or where they may domicile and the use of city, state, or federal funding would impair that mission (at least 70% come from East Boston).
Instead, the school depended on Foundations, Corporations, contributions from individuals, and a low cost to the students for its funding. Some notable foundations were the Polaroid Foundation, Bank of Boston, the Lotus Foundation, The Lenny Fund, IBM, the Bank of America Foundation, etc. Most students paid what they could afford while many others attended free. The center preferred quantity of students over amount of money. The Center had the biggest GED Spanish Preparation program in Massachusetts with over 50 individuals attending every month.