Autism Alliance of Michigan
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE LEAD EFFORTS TO RAISE EXPECTATIONS AND EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TOUCHED BY AUTISM ACROSS THE LIFESPAN.
- Income
- $5.0 million
- Spending
- $4.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 56%
- Employees
- 48
- Volunteers
- 155
- Highest pay
- $249,440, president/ceo
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
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave 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 (4)
- $2.8 million spent. AAOM'S PILLAR 1 PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO REDUCE THE AGE OF DIAGNOSIS AND ACCESS TO SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDES THE MINAVIGATOR PROGRAM. BEGINNING IN 2014, AUTISM ALLIANCE OF MICHIGAN (AAOM) LAUNCHED THE MI NAVIGATOR SERVICE, WHICH IS A DYNAMIC NAVIGATION PROGRAM FOR CAREGIVERS, PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBER OFFERED AT NO COST TO ANY FAMILY IMPACTED BY AUTISM IN MICHIGAN. NAVIGATORS PROVIDE RESOURCE IDENTIFICATION, PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION, CONNECTIONS TO SERVICES AND SUPPORT, AND ONLINE RESOURCES TO GUIDE FAMILIES THROUGH LIFESPAN BARRIERS TO CARE, SUCH AS THOSE RELATED TO DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND/OR HEALTH CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AND THEIR FAMILIES. AUTISM ALLIANCE NAVIGATORS WORK DIRECTLY WITH FAMILIES NAVIGATING THE AUTISM ROADMAPS THAT ARE OFTEN CONFUSING TO FAMILIES AND CAUSE DELAYS TO NEEDED DIAGNOSIS AND IMPORTANT TREATMENTS.3,026 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED BY MINAVIGATOR. 413 TRAININGS, CONSULTATIONS, AND/OR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED BY OUTREACH.
- $245,419 spent. PILLAR 2 CONSISTS OF AAOM'S STATEWIDE EDUCATIONAL INITIAVES WHICH HAVE ADDRESSED THE CHRONIC SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO QUALITY, INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES SINCE 2020. MAJOR ADVOCACY INITIATIVES INCLUDE SPECIAL EDUCATION FINANCE REFORM, INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, AND IMPROVED ACCOUNTABIITY ACROSS ALL LEVELS OF MICHIGAN'S EDUCATION SYSTEM. THE OBJECTIVE OF AAOM'S EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES IS TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC AND POST SECONDARY OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES BY EMPOWERING PARENTS TO BETTER ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CHILD WHILE ALSO LEADING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF THIS POPULATION. ULTIMATELY, IMPROVED GRADUATION RATES, REDUCED SECLUSION AND RESTRAINT, AND GREATER READINESS FOR EMPLOYMENT AND COMMUNITY LIVING ARE OUTCOMES WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE OVER MULTIPLE YEARS.THE PRIMARY FORUM FOR ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES IN THE MI PARENT, ADVOCATES, AND ATTORNEYS (MIPAAC) GRASSROOTS COALITION. IN 2024, 400 TOTAL MEMBERS JOINED THIS EFFORT. ADVOCACY WINS INCLUDED PASSAGE OF THE DYSLEXIA BILLS AND AAOM'S LEGISLATIVE ALLOCATION TO DEVELOP A SPECIAL EDUCATION FINANCE MODEL TO EQUITABLY AND ADEQUATELY FUND SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
- $330,476 spent. AAOM'S PILLAR 3 INITIATIVES ARE AIMED AT ADULT LIVING CHALLENGES AND INCLUDE PROGRAMS TO CONNECT JOB SEEKERS TO EMPLOYMENT, PROVIDE JOB READINESS RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY LIVING SKILLS TO THIS SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION. AAOM HAS ALSO LAUNCHED PROGRAMMATIC AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS OF HOUSING AND LONG TERM CARE NEEDS FOR INDIVIDUAL WITH AUTISM. IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE INTO ADULTHOOD IS THE OBJECTIVE OF PILLAR 3 INITIATIVES - ACCESS TO QUALITY HOUSING OPTIONS, BENEFIT MANAGEMENT, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF NEEDS IS THE PRIMARY GOAL OF OUR WORK IN THIS AREA.AAOM HAS PARTNERED WITH YOLDBE/MILIFE - THE JOB CONNECTION PLATFORM/APP BEING POWERED BY AI TECHNOLOGY AND AAOM EMPLOYMENT SPECIALISTS. 50 CANDIDATES HAVE BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAM. 10 EMPLOYER EDUCATION/CONSULTATION SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO INCREASE DISABILITY HIRING IN SMALL TO LARGE MICHIGAN COMPANIES. STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMENCED IN FALL OF 2024 TO EXPAND THE ADULT LIVING PILLAR TO ADDRESS NEEDS ADDRESSED ABOVE.
- $174,089 spent. AAOM HAS MULTIPLE, DIVERSE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES TO INCREASE AUTISM AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE, INCLUSION AND GENERAL SUPPORT OF PERSONS WITH AUTISM IN MICHIGAN. THESE INCLUDE; FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING, AUTISM 101, PROFESSIONAL SERIES TO INCREASE IDENTIFICATION OF EARLY SIGNS OF AUTISM, EMPLOYER TRAININGS, AND PARENT EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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