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Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore

EIN 38-1366924 · Grand Rapids, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BUILD GIRLS OF COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CHARACTER, WHO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$4.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
16.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 62%
Employees
52
Volunteers
2,254
Highest pay
$138,449, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% 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 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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 September 30, 2025, 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. $3.4 million spent. GIRL SCOUTS' MISSION IS TO BUILD GIRLS OF COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CHARACTER, WHO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. GUIDED BY SUPPORTIVE ADULTS AND PEERS, GIRLS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE DEVELOP THEIR LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL THROUGH AGE-APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES THAT ENABLE THEM TO DISCOVER THEIR VALUES, SKILLS, AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM; CONNECT WITH OTHERS IN A MULTICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT; AND TAKE ACTION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR WORLD. AS A RESULT, ALL GIRL SCOUT ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO BE GIRL LED, COOPERATIVE, AND HANDS-ON PROCESSES THAT CREATE HIGH-QUALITY EXPERIENCES CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING. THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE, THE FRAMEWORK FOR DEFINING WHAT GIRLS DO IN GIRL SCOUTING AND HOW THEY DO IT, WAS BORNE OUT OF YEARS OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGES GIRLS IN FOUR CATEGORIES OF LEARNING: 1) STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS); 2) OUTDOORS (INCLUDING ADVENTURE AND TRAVEL); 3) LIFE SKILLS (GOAL SETTING, MAKING HEALTHY DECISIONS, DEALING WITH BULLIES, ETC.) AND 4) ENTREPRENEURSHIP (INCLUDING THE GIRL SCOUT COOKIE PROGRAM). GIRLS PROGRESS THROUGH AGE APPROPRIATE PROGRAMMING IN THESE AREAS THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF GIRL SCOUT JOURNEYS AND BADGES. GIRL SCOUTS' MISSION IS TO BUILD GIRLS OF COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CHARACTER, WHO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. GUIDED BY SUPPORTIVE ADULTS AND PEERS, GIRLS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE DEVELOP THEIR LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL THROUGH AGE-APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES THAT ENABLE THEM TO DISCOVER THEIR VALUES, SKILLS, AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM; CONNECT WITH OTHERS IN A MULTICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT; AND TAKE ACTION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR WORLD. AS A RESULT, ALL GIRL SCOUT ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO BE GIRL LED, COOPERATIVE, AND HANDS-ON PROCESSES THAT CREATE HIGH-QUALITY EXPERIENCES CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING. THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE, THE FRAMEWORK FOR DEFINING WHAT GIRLS DO IN GIRL SCOUTING AND HOW THEY DO IT, WAS BORNE OUT OF YEARS OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGES GIRLS IN FOUR CATEGORIES OF LEARNING: 1) STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS); 2) OUTDOORS (INCLUDING ADVENTURE AND TRAVEL); 3) LIFE SKILLS (GOAL SETTING, MAKING HEALTHY DECISIONS, DEALING WITH BULLIES, ETC.) AND 4) ENTREPRENEURSHIP (INCLUDING THE GIRL SCOUT COOKIE PROGRAM). GIRLS PROGRESS THROUGH AGE APPROPRIATE PROGRAMMING IN THESE AREAS THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF GIRL SCOUT JOURNEYS AND BADGES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 2025.

    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 September 1947.

    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.