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The Center for Michigan Inc

EIN 32-0167398 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOR ALL STATE RESIDENTS, DIVERSE CIVIC STAKEHOLDERS AND PHILANTHROPY, THE CENTER FOR MICHIGAN (THE CENTER) AND ITS NONPROFIT NEWSROOMS - BRIDGE MICHIGAN AND BRIDGEDETROIT - MAKE MICHIGAN BETTER THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY, NONPARTISAN JOURNALISM AND ENGAGEMENT. THE CENTER FOCUSES ON IN-DEPTH EXPLANATORY AND WATCHDOG REPORTING WHILE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH VARIOUS MEDIA TO DEEPEN AND WIDEN PUBLIC CONSUMPTION OF IN-DEPTH REPORTING. THIS WORK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CHARITABLE DONATIONS RANGING FROM FOUNDATION GRANTS TO READER DONATIONS.

Income
$5.3 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
10.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
38
Highest pay
$271,828, 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 98% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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. $2.7 million spent. BRIDGE MICHIGAN: THE CENTERS MISSION IS TO MAKE MICHIGAN BETTER THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY, NONPARTISAN JOURNALISM AND ENGAGEMENT. THE CENTER ALSO WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH VARIOUS MEDIA TO PROVIDE IN-DEPTH REPORTING TO OUR PARTNERS, IN SO DOING, BUILDING JOURNALISM CAPACITY IN WAYS THAT SUPPORT MICHIGAN NEWS MEDIA, CITIZENS, BUSINESS AND PHILANTHROPY. THE CENTERS MAJOR FOCUS IS BRIDGE MICHIGAN, A FREE, ONLINE, NONPARTISAN NEWS MAGAZINE HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 104,000 SUBSCRIBERS. BRIDGE MICHIGAN HAS GROWN INTO ONE OF THE NATIONS LEADING EXAMPLES OF NONPROFIT JOURNALISM AS MAINSTREAM NEWSPAPERS HAVE DRAMATICALLY DECLINED, EARNING OVER THREE MILLION READERS IN 2024.
  2. $1.1 million spent. BRIDGEDETROIT LAUNCHED IN MAY 2020 AS AN EDITORIALLY INDEPENDENT NEWSROOM. BRIDGEDETROIT PROVIDES DETROIT WITH CREDIBLE, HIGHLY RELEVANT NEWS AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION - DRIVEN BY AUTHENTIC AND DIVERSE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND RESIDENT PRIORITIES - TO HELP CITY RESIDENTS. BRIDGEDETROIT HAS GROWN TO OVER 735,000 READERS IN 2024.

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 October 2006.

    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.