Great Lakes Bay Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE GREAT LAKES BAY FOUNDATION IS TO ENCOURAGE, SUPPORT AND CELEBRATE REGIONAL COLLABORATION AND INITIATIVES THAT WILL IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC VITALITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION.
- Income
- $624,671
- Spending
- $715,208
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- -6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 0
- Highest pay
- $169,950, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 232% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2544 of 44 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (5)
- $179,252 spent. STEM IMPACT INITIATIVE - THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A NATIONAL LEADER IN DEVELOPING A PIPELINE OF TALENT IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH THAT DRIVES REGIONAL PROSPERITY. THIS STEM TALENT CAN PROPEL EXISTING BUSINESSES AS WELL AS ATTRACT NEW ORGANIZATIONS THAT NEED PEOPLE WITH STEM SKILLS. THE KEY TO THAT LEADERSHIP IS ENLIGHTENED COOPERATION BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND THE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE DEDICATED TO TRAINING THE WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW. SUCH REGION-WIDE, CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COOPERATION IS VIRTUALLY UNHEARD OF AROUND THE COUNTRY, GIVING THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION THE ABILITY TO TAKE THE LEAD IN THIS GAME CHANGING AREA. A ROADMAP FOR ACHIEVING STEM LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION STEM IMPACT INITIATIVE. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND EXPERT ANALYSIS, THE INITIATIVE IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC STEPS THAT WILL RESULT IN A ROBUST STEM TALENT PIPELINE. STEM IMPACT INITIATIVE - THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A NATIONAL LEADER IN DEVELOPING A PIPELINE OF TALENT IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH THAT DRIVES REGIONAL PROSPERITY. THIS STEM TALENT CAN PROPEL EXISTING BUSINESSES AS WELL AS ATTRACT NEW ORGANIZATIONS THAT NEED PEOPLE WITH STEM SKILLS. THE KEY TO THAT LEADERSHIP IS ENLIGHTENED COOPERATION BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND THE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE DEDICATED TO TRAINING THE WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW. SUCH REGION-WIDE, CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COOPERATION IS VIRTUALLY UNHEARD OF AROUND THE COUNTRY, GIVING THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION THE ABILITY TO TAKE THE LEAD IN THIS GAME CHANGING AREA. A ROADMAP FOR ACHIEVING STEM LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION STEM IMPACT INITIATIVE. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND EXPERT ANALYSIS, THE INITIATIVE IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC STEPS THAT WILL RESULT IN A ROBUST STEM TALENT PIPELINE.
- $163,512 spent. HEALTH & ECONOMIC INITIATIVE - THE GREAT LAKES BAY HEALTH AND ECONOMIC INITIATIVE, COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGIONAL ALLIANCE (GLBRA) AND THE MICHIGAN HEALTH IMPROVEMENT ALLIANCE (MIHIA), HAS PARTNERED TO DELIVER IMPROVED HEALTH AND SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH IN GREAT LAKES BAY. WE'VE CONTRACTED WITH A CONSULTING GROUP THAT IS HELPING US DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN TO IDENTIFY A STRATEGIC PORTFOLIO OF INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE THE REGION'S HEALTH AND ECONOMY.
- $135,748 spent. OPERATION 40K - OPERATION 40K IS AN INITIATIVE INSIDE THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGIONAL ALLIANCE AIMED AT GROWING THE POPULATION OF THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION BY 40,000 PEOPLE BY THE YEAR 2040. THE INITIATIVE HAS TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS. THE FIRST IS TO IDENTIFY PATHS TO POPULATION GROWTH INCLUDING JOB CREATION, RETAINMENT OF STUDENTS FROM 4 YEAR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION, BRINGING TALENT THAT HAS LEFT THE ARE BACK TO THE REGION, AND BUILDING A CULTURE THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO WELCOMING NEW AMERICANS. SECONDLY, OPERATION 40K IS LOOKING TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO POPULATION GROWTH INCLUDING HOUSING, CHILDCARE, REGIONAL TRANSIT, AND ACCESS TO BROADBAND.
- $98,127 spent. SUSTAINABILITY THE GREAT LAKES BAY FOUNDATION WORKS IN A REGIONAL, COLLABORATIVE MANNER TO ADOPT MORE SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS AND TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PARTNERS WHO WILL TAKE UP SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATION. THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO BUILD PILOT PROGRAMS IN SUSTAINABILITY THAT CAN BE REPLICATED ACROSS THE REGION. THE FOUNDATION ALSO WORKS TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES REGIONWIDE WHERE SUSTAINABILITY CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN CONCERT WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION. HEALTH & ECONOMIC INITIATIVE - THE GREAT LAKES BAY HEALTH AND ECONOMIC INITIATIVE, COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGIONAL ALLIANCE (GLBRA) AND THE MICHIGAN HEALTH IMPROVEMENT ALLIANCE (MIHIA), HAS PARTNERED TO DELIVER IMPROVED HEALTH AND SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH IN GREAT LAKES BAY. WE'VE CONTRACTED WITH A CONSULTING GROUP THAT IS HELPING US DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN TO IDENTIFY A STRATEGIC PORTFOLIO OF INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE THE REGION'S HEALTH AND ECONOMY. ART WAVE - ARTWAVE IS A MULTI-YEAR CELEBRATION OF THE HIGH-QUALITY ART AND ENTERTAINMENT CHOICES FOUND IN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION. EACH MONTH, ARTWAVE SPOTLIGHTS EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN ONE OF THE COUNTIES IN OUR REGION, PROMOTING AWARENESS AND ENCOURAGING EVERYONE THAT GREAT ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FROM MUSIC CONCERTS AND MUSEUM EXHIBITS TO SPORTING EVENTS AND FILM FESTIVALS CAN BE FOUND RIGHT HERE. THE ARTWAVE CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON ONE COUNTY AT A TIME, ON A PREDETERMINED SCHEDULE SELECTED TO COINCIDE WITH ALREADY PLANNED ACTIVITIES/EXHIBITIONS. INSTITUTE FOR LEADERS/AMBASSADORS - THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION INCLUDES BAY, ISABELLA, MIDLAND, AND SAGINAW COUNTIES. THESE FOUR COUNTIES ARE NATURAL PARTNERS BY GEOGRAPHY. INCREASINGLY, THAT PARTNERSHIP IS ENHANCED THROUGH EFFORTS FOCUSED ON SPECIFIC ISSUES AND GOALS. COMBINING THIS NATURAL PARTNERSHIP WITH PREPARED LEADERS, WE CAN ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS. OUR REGION CAN ONLY BE STRENGTHENED THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE, INFORMED, AND READY TO ADVOCATE AND BRING RESOURCES TO THE TABLE. DEVELOPING SUCH LEADERS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGIONAL ALLIANCE INSTITUTE FOR LEADERS. THE INSTITUTE FOR LEADERS CURRICULUM EXPANDS PARTICIPANTS' KNOWLEDGE OF THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION, AND INTRODUCES POWERFUL, SUCCESSFUL SCENARIOS AND CONCEPTS FROM OTHER REGIONS OR AT THE STATE LEVEL. THE INSTITUTE FOR LEADERS BEGINS IN JANUARY WITH A CLASS AND ORIENTATION DINNER. THE CLASS MEETS EIGHT TIMES, JANUARY THROUGH JUNE, TAKING JULY AND AUGUST OFF, AND WILL WRAP UP FOR THE YEAR IN OCTOBER. EACH SESSION FOCUSES ON A DIFFERENT TOPIC SUCH AS ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY, SOCIAL ISSUES, GOVERNMENT, AND OFFERS A COMBINATION OF TOP-NOTCH PRESENTERS, TOURS, DISCUSSIONS AND NETWORKING. THROUGHOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR LEADERS, PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPECTED TO APPLY THEIR ADVANCED LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO PLAN CREATIVE APPROACHES TO OPPORTUNITIES EXISTING IN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION; ACCORDINGLY, OUR CURRICULUM INCLUDES A TRAINED FACILITATOR TO AID IN THIS PROCESS. WE NOW BOAST OVER 280 GRADUATES OF THE INSTITUTE FOR LEADERS. THESE AMBASSADORS ARE OUR ALLIES AND ARE THE KEY TO THE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES' EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION ON ANY ISSUE OR OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION. THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGIONAL ALLIANCE INSTITUTE FOR LEADERS REPRESENTS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT IN PROVIDING THE LEADERSHIP ESSENTIAL TO CREATING POSITIVE INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE FUTURES OF BAY, ISABELLA, MIDLAND AND, SAGINAW COUNTIES. ATTRACTION - THE GREAT LAKES BAY FOUNDATION WORKS IN A REGIONAL, COLLABORATIVE MANNER TO IDENTIFY LEADS AND PROSPECTS ACROSS THE GLOBE THAT WOULD CONSIDER OPENING A FACILITY OR BUSINESS IN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION. THIS INCLUDES WORKING WITH SITE SELECTRS, ATTENDING VARIOUS GLOBAL TRADE SHOWS, HOSTING PROSPECTIVE COMPANIES IN THE REGION, AND WORKING WITH COMPANIES/PARTIES TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL LEADS.
- SUSTAINABILITY THE GREAT LAKES BAY FOUNDATION WORKS IN A REGIONAL, COLLABORATIVE MANNER TO ADOPT MORE SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS AND TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PARTNERS WHO WILL TAKE UP SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATION. THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO BUILD PILOT PROGRAMS IN SUSTAINABILITY THAT CAN BE REPLICATED ACROSS THE REGION. THE FOUNDATION ALSO WORKS TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES REGIONWIDE WHERE SUSTAINABILITY CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN CONCERT WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION. HEALTH & ECONOMIC INITIATIVE - THE GREAT LAKES BAY HEALTH AND ECONOMIC INITIATIVE, COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGIONAL ALLIANCE (GLBRA) AND THE MICHIGAN HEALTH IMPROVEMENT ALLIANCE (MIHIA), HAS PARTNERED TO DELIVER IMPROVED HEALTH AND SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH IN GREAT LAKES BAY. WE'VE CONTRACTED WITH A CONSULTING GROUP THAT IS HELPING US DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN TO IDENTIFY A STRATEGIC PORTFOLIO OF INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE THE REGION'S HEALTH AND ECONOMY. ART WAVE - ARTWAVE IS A MULTI-YEAR CELEBRATION OF THE HIGH-QUALITY ART AND ENTERTAINMENT CHOICES FOUND IN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION. EACH MONTH, ARTWAVE SPOTLIGHTS EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN ONE OF THE COUNTIES IN OUR REGION, PROMOTING AWARENESS AND ENCOURAGING EVERYONE THAT GREAT ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FROM MUSIC CONCERTS AND MUSEUM EXHIBITS TO SPORTING EVENTS AND FILM FESTIVALS CAN BE FOUND RIGHT HERE. THE ARTWAVE CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON ONE COUNTY AT A TIME, ON A PREDETERMINED SCHEDULE SELECTED TO COINCIDE WITH ALREADY PLANNED ACTIVITIES/EXHIBITIONS. INSTITUTE FOR LEADERS/AMBASSADORS - THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION INCLUDES BAY, ISABELLA, MIDLAND, AND SAGINAW COUNTIES. THESE FOUR COUNTIES ARE NATURAL PARTNERS BY GEOGRAPHY. INCREASINGLY, THAT PARTNERSHIP IS ENHANCED THROUGH EFFORTS FOCUSED ON SPECIFIC ISSUES AND GOALS. COMBINING THIS NATURAL PARTNERSHIP WITH PREPARED LEADERS, WE CAN ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS. OUR REGION CAN ONLY BE STRENGTHENED THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE, INFORMED, AND READY TO ADVOCATE AND BRING RESOURCES TO THE TABLE. DEVELOPING SUCH LEADERS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGIONAL ALLIANCE INSTITUTE FOR LEADERS. THE INSTITUTE FOR LEADERS CURRICULUM EXPANDS PARTICIPANTS' KNOWLEDGE OF THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION, AND INTRODUCES POWERFUL, SUCCESSFUL SCENARIOS AND CONCEPTS FROM OTHER REGIONS OR AT THE STATE LEVEL. THE INSTITUTE FOR LEADERS BEGINS IN JANUARY WITH A CLASS AND ORIENTATION DINNER. THE CLASS MEETS EIGHT TIMES, JANUARY THROUGH JUNE, TAKING JULY AND AUGUST OFF, AND WILL WRAP UP FOR THE YEAR IN OCTOBER. EACH SESSION FOCUSES ON A DIFFERENT TOPIC SUCH AS ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY, SOCIAL ISSUES, GOVERNMENT, AND OFFERS A COMBINATION OF TOP-NOTCH PRESENTERS, TOURS, DISCUSSIONS AND NETWORKING. THROUGHOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR LEADERS, PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPECTED TO APPLY THEIR ADVANCED LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO PLAN CREATIVE APPROACHES TO OPPORTUNITIES EXISTING IN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION; ACCORDINGLY, OUR CURRICULUM INCLUDES A TRAINED FACILITATOR TO AID IN THIS PROCESS. WE NOW BOAST OVER 280 GRADUATES OF THE INSTITUTE FOR LEADERS. THESE AMBASSADORS ARE OUR ALLIES AND ARE THE KEY TO THE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES' EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION ON ANY ISSUE OR OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION. THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGIONAL ALLIANCE INSTITUTE FOR LEADERS REPRESENTS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT IN PROVIDING THE LEADERSHIP ESSENTIAL TO CREATING POSITIVE INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE FUTURES OF BAY, ISABELLA, MIDLAND AND, SAGINAW COUNTIES. ATTRACTION - THE GREAT LAKES BAY FOUNDATION WORKS IN A REGIONAL, COLLABORATIVE MANNER TO IDENTIFY LEADS AND PROSPECTS ACROSS THE GLOBE THAT WOULD CONSIDER OPENING A FACILITY OR BUSINESS IN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION. THIS INCLUDES WORKING WITH SITE SELECTRS, ATTENDING VARIOUS GLOBAL TRADE SHOWS, HOSTING PROSPECTIVE COMPANIES IN THE REGION, AND WORKING WITH COMPANIES/PARTIES TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL LEADS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.