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Phoenix Society Inc

EIN 23-2062352 · Kentwood, MI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION WAS FORMED IN 1977 TO CONNECT WITH BURN SURVIVORS, FAMILIES, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, BURN CENTERS, THE FIRE INDUSTRY, AND DONORS TO PROVIDE BURN RECOVERY SUPPORT, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF BURN CARE AND PREVENT BURN INJURY. THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS: BUILDING A COMMUNITY FOR TRANSFORMATION HEALING. FOR OVER 4 DECADES, THOUSANDS OF BURN SURVIVORS HAVE FOUND COMFORT, SUPPORT, GUIDANCE, AND COMMUNITY IN THE SAME PLACE; THE PHOENIX SOCIETY FOR BURN SURVIVORS.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
15
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$190,445, chief exec o

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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $1.7 million spent. SUPPORT SERVICES THE PHOENIX SOCIETY IS THE LEADING SOURCE FOR LONG TERM RECOVERY SERVICES FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY BURN INJURIES. THE FOUNDATION OF OUR WORK IS PEER SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND WORKING TO ADVOCATE FOR QUALITY CARE AND PREVENTION. PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES SUPPORT LONG TERM SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALING, BUILD AWARENESS FOR BURN SURVIVORS, AND PREVENT BURN INJURY THROUGH LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY. THE FOCUS IS ON ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL ASPECTS OF BURN RECOVERY AND PROVIDING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR PEER SUPPORT AND EDUCATION OF THOSE IMPACTED BY BURN INJURIES. ALL AGE GROUPS ARE SERVED. VIRTUAL ACCESS IS EXPANDING WITH ONLINE COURSES, VIRTUAL PEER SUPPORTER TRAINING, AND A DIGITAL RESOURCE LIBRARY. THE PHOENIX SOAR (SURVIVORS OFFERING ASSISTANCE IN RECOVERY) PROGRAM IS A FOUNDATIONAL ACTIVITY AND IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FORMAL TRAINING WITHIN THE HOSPITAL SETTING FOR SURVIVORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO OFFER ONE ON ONE PEER SUPPORT TO OTHER BURN SURVIVORS AND THEIR LOVED ONES AFFECTED BY A BURN INJURY. TRAINING IS ALSO PROVIDED TO HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT AND SUSTAIN THE PROGRAM IN THE HOSPITAL SETTING. THE PROGRAM IS NOW AVAILABLE IN OVER 75 BURN CENTERS ACROSS THE USA. PEER SUPPORT IS OFFERED TO THOSE IN NEED THROUGH 1500+ TRAINED VOLUNTEERS HOLDING IN-PERSON MEETINGS, ONLINE CHAT, PHONE SUPPORT AND VIRTUAL MEETINGS. OUR SUPPORT LINE PROVIDES REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES AND CONNECTS CALLERS WITH THE LIBRARY OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES VIA OUR WEBSITE. VIRTUAL PROGRAMS AND TRAININGS ARE PROVIDED TO ASSIST IN RETURNING TO WORK, SCHOOL, AND LIFE AS WELL AS INFORMATION ON HOW TO BECOME AN ADVOCATE FOR BURN PREVENTION. BEGINNING IN QUARTER 4 OF 2023, PHOENIX SOCIETY IS EMBARKING ON A JOURNEY FORWARD WITH A BOLD PLAN TO CREATE A BETTER, HOPE-FILLED FUTURE WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR HEALTHCARE PARTNERS TO CONNECT MORE SURVIVORS EARLIER IN THEIR RECOVERY. OUR GOALS ARE: 1) BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN HOSPITAL AND HOME BY BUILDING DELIVERING OUR JOURNEY FORWARD PROGRAM AND ITS COMPREHENSIVE, INTEGRATED PACKAGE OF SERVICES TO ALL 120 BURN CENTERS ACROSS THE NATION. 2) REACHING SURVIVORS LIVING WITH UNCERTAINTY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES BY SCALING COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIPS TO DELIVER PHOENIX PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES BEYOND THE BURN CENTER TO SURVIVORS BEING TREATED IN EMERGENCY ROOMS, OUTPATIENT CLINICS, AFTERCARE PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY NETWORKS. 3) REMOVING BARRIERS TO HEALING AND AUTOMATE ACCESS TO PEER SUPPORT WITH A PHOENIX SOCIETY WEB-BASED PLATFORM THAT SCHEDULES AND FACILITATES FACE-TO- FACE SUPPORT VISITS, PROVIDES A DIRECT LINK TO PHOENIX SOCIETY TOOLS AND RESOURCES FROM THE HOSPITAL, AND OFFERS MATERIALS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. 4) PROVIDING A MORE SEAMLESS TRANSITION FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVING BY HELPING PEOPLE FIND AND DEEPLY ENGAGE WITH PHOENIX SOCIETY THROUGH ENHANCED BRAND IDENTITY, DIGITAL CONTENT AND DATA USE THAT HAS TARGETED MARKETING STRATEGIES PROVIDING INTERACTIVE AND PERSONALIZED SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES. ADVOCACY THE PHOENIX SOCIETY IS THE ONLY NATIONAL BURN SURVIVOR BASED NON-PROFIT AND OUR EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING AND PROVIDING EDUCATION TO THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, THE PUBLIC, AND SURVIVORS REGARDING BURN RECOVERY ISSUES, THE NEEDS OF THE BURN SURVIVOR AND THE FAMILY FOR LONG TERM HEALING, AND BURN INJURY PREVENTION THROUGH ADOPTION OF LIFE SAFETY CODES AND STANDARDS. JOURNEY MAGAZINE IS CREATED AND PROVIDED TWO TIMES A YEAR BY THE PHOENIX SOCIETY AND IS THE NATION'S LARGEST PUBLICATION FOCUSING ON BURN RECOVERY ISSUES, LONG TERM RECOVERY NEEDS, AND PREVENTION DISSEMINATED BOTH IN PRINT AND DIGITALLY. OUR ADVOCACY TRAINING IS PROVIDED FACE TO FACE AND THROUGH ONLINE TRAINING TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW TO BECOME AN ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF AND THE SURVIVOR TO VOICE PREVENTION IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR STAFF AND ADVOCATES PROVIDE TRAINING TO BUILD AWARENESS OF THE BURN COMMUNITY AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF THOSE LIVING WITH BURN INJURIES. PHOENIX PARTNERS WITH UNIVERSITIES AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO RESEARCH THE LONG-TERM NEEDS OF THE BURN SURVIVOR POPULATION AND DEVELOP TOOLS THAT CAN SUPPORT HEALING. SUPPORT SERVICES THE PHOENIX SOCIETY IS THE LEADING SOURCE FOR LONG TERM RECOVERY SERVICES FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY BURN INJURIES. THE FOUNDATION OF OUR WORK IS PEER SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND WORKING TO ADVOCATE FOR QUALITY CARE AND PREVENTION. PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES SUPPORT LONG TERM SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALING, BUILD AWARENESS FOR BURN SURVIVORS, AND PREVENT BURN INJURY THROUGH LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY. THE FOCUS IS ON ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL ASPECTS OF BURN RECOVERY AND PROVIDING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR PEER SUPPORT AND EDUCATION OF THOSE IMPACTED BY BURN INJURIES. ALL AGE GROUPS ARE SERVED. VIRTUAL ACCESS IS EXPANDING WITH ONLINE COURSES, VIRTUAL PEER SUPPORTER TRAINING, AND A DIGITAL RESOURCE LIBRARY. THE PHOENIX SOAR (SURVIVORS OFFERING ASSISTANCE IN RECOVERY) PROGRAM IS A FOUNDATIONAL ACTIVITY AND IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FORMAL TRAINING WITHIN THE HOSPITAL SETTING FOR SURVIVORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO OFFER ONE ON ONE PEER SUPPORT TO OTHER BURN SURVIVORS AND THEIR LOVED ONES AFFECTED BY A BURN INJURY. TRAINING IS ALSO PROVIDED TO HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT AND SUSTAIN THE PROGRAM IN THE HOSPITAL SETTING. THE PROGRAM IS NOW AVAILABLE IN OVER 75 BURN CENTERS ACROSS THE USA. PEER SUPPORT IS OFFERED TO THOSE IN NEED THROUGH 1500+ TRAINED VOLUNTEERS HOLDING IN-PERSON MEETINGS, ONLINE CHAT, PHONE SUPPORT AND VIRTUAL MEETINGS. OUR SUPPORT LINE PROVIDES REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES AND CONNECTS CALLERS WITH THE LIBRARY OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES VIA OUR WEBSITE. VIRTUAL PROGRAMS AND TRAININGS ARE PROVIDED TO ASSIST IN RETURNING TO WORK, SCHOOL, AND LIFE AS WELL AS INFORMATION ON HOW TO BECOME AN ADVOCATE FOR BURN PREVENTION. BEGINNING IN QUARTER 4 OF 2023, PHOENIX SOCIETY IS EMBARKING ON A JOURNEY FORWARD WITH A BOLD PLAN TO CREATE A BETTER, HOPE-FILLED FUTURE WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR HEALTHCARE PARTNERS TO CONNECT MORE SURVIVORS EARLIER IN THEIR RECOVERY.

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

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1978.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 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.