Whaley Memorial Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Whaley Children's Center provides tools to children and families who have experienced trauma to reach their full potential.
- Income
- $9.7 million
- Spending
- $8.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 72%
- Employees
- 191
- Volunteers
- 183
- Highest pay
- $227,719, 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
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 (1)
- $6.1 million spent. See Schedule OEstablished in 1926, Whaley Children's Center is a private residential treatment facility serving children from all over Michigan. Whaley cares for and provides treatment for young children who have survived moderate to extreme neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. In addition, children have survived domestic violence, substance abuse, and witnessed extreme violence. With the average age of children being 11 years old, Whaley is one of the few facilities that takes children as young as 5 years old. Our services include residential care, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, life skills, social skills, educational services, after care support and mentoring. Whaley provides evidence based treatment including Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the Sanctuary Model, Collaborative Problem Solving, and the Circle of Courage. Through the intensive 3:1 support that Whaley provides, which is amongst the highest in the State of Michigan, Whaley has a 75 percent success rate of children leaving to families, armed with the tools and skills to become principled young adults. In 2023, Whaley provided 9,942 days of care to our resident children.
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 1942.
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.
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.