Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Eastern Market Corporatioin

EIN 32-0030432 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EASTERN MARKET IS ORGANIZED TO COMBAT COMMUNITY DETERIORATION AND TO LESSEN THE BURDENS OF GOVERNMENT IN MANAGING ITS PUBLIC MARKET THAT HAS SERVED DETROIT SINCE 1891. EASTERN MARKET OPERATES THE MARKET UNDER AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF DETROIT, WHICH OWNS THE FACILITY. EASTERN MARKET HAS DEVELOPED A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND IS IMPLEMENTING A SERIES OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO IMPROVE THE MARKET'S ABILITY TO SERVE AS A FOOD CENTER FOR DETROIT AND AS A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE STAKEHOLDERS' VISION FOR THE EASTERN MARKET DISTRICT (THE "MARKET") IS TO LEVERAGE THE ATTRACTION AND LEGACY OF THE MARKET, TO BUILD A DYNAMIC, DIVERSE, AND UNIQUE URBAN DISTRICT, AND TO STRENGTHEN THE IDENTITY OF THE MARKET AS A FOOD-RELATED DISTRICT BY ENHANCING THE OPERATIONS OF THE EXISTING PUBLIC MARKET AND BY DEVELOPING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECIALTY FOOD RETAILERS, FOOD WHOLESALE OPERATIONS, RESTAURANTS, FOOD DISTRIBUTORS, AND FOOD PROCESSORS.

Income
$6.8 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
67
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$198,160, ceo (term 12/2024)

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 (2)
  1. $3.9 million spent. PUBLIC MARKET ACTIVITIES: FEES FOR THE USE OF MARKET FACILITIES AND LOTS, AS WELL AS SHED STALL LEASES TO PROVIDE MARKET VENDORS ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC IN A CENTRALIZED LOCATION INCLUDING 52 SATURDAY MARKETS, NUMEROUS SUNDAY AND TUESDAY MARKETS, AND SEVERAL PRIVATE FACILITY RENTALS.
  2. $670,475 spent. FOOD ACCESS SUPPORT PROGRAM: COMMUNITY BASED POP-UP MOBILE MARKET THAT IMPROVES ACCESS TO FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD AND PROVIDES NUTRITION EDUCATION.

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 March 2003.

    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.