Citizens Research Council of Michigan Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE GOAL OF THE CITIZENS RESEARCH COUNCIL IS TO SECURE GOOD GOVERNMENT FOR THE CITIZENS OF MICHIGAN-GOVERNMENT THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF AND RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC; EFFECTIVE IN CARRYING OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES AND PROVIDING SERVICES; AND EFFICIENT IN THE USE OF ITS RESOURCES. RESEARCH COUNCIL ACTIVITIES FOCUS ON FOUR AREAS:MONITORING TRENDS IN STATE AND LOCAL FINANCES; ANALYZING THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF GOVERNMENT; CONDUCTING IN-DEPTH STUDIES OF MAJOR PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES; AND ASSISTING PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS TO PROMOTE EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 11.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 42
- Highest pay
- $187,837, president/secretary
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: 72 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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: 92 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2532 of 32 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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 (1)
- $967,262 spent. THE CITIZENS RESEARCH COUNCIL PUBLISHED A PAPER THAT ADDRESSED PUBLIC FUNDING OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RELATED TO INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES. THE RESEARCH DOCUMENTED THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT, QUANTIFIED MICHIGAN'S INVESTMENTS RELATIVE TO SEVERAL SURROUNDING STATES, AND IDENTIFIED POTENTIAL SOURCES OF FUNDING IF POLICY MAKERS PRIORITIZE THESE ACTIVITIES. THE CITIZENS RESEARCH COUNCIL ANALYZED DETROIT'S ECONOMIC WELLBEING AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS IT EMPLOYS TO FACILITATE FUTURE GROWTH. THREE PAPERS WERE PUBLISHED THAT 1) ESTABLISHED THAT THE CITY IS ON THE UPSWING BUT STILL LAGS BEHIND IN ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND THE WEALTH OF ITS RESIDENTS; 2) CRITIQUED THE PRACTICES OF THE DETROIT DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF THE CITY, COUNTY, AND OTHER OVERLAPPING JURISDICTIONS; AND 3) CRITIQUED THE CITY'S USE OF TAX ABATEMENTS TO FACILITATE JOB CREATION AND RETURN ABANDONED OR UNDER-UTILIZED BUILDINGS TO PRODUCTIVE USE. THE RESEARCH COUNCIL DOCUMENTED INEQUITIES AND FAILINGS IN GETTING FEDERAL AND STATE AT-RISK FUNDING TO THE BUILDINGS AND CLASSROOMS WHERE AT-RISK STUDENTS ATTEND SCHOOLS. IT IDENTIFIED THE CAUSES OF THE SHORTCOMINGS AND RECOMMENDED POLICIES TO REMEDIATE THE PROBLEMS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1952.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.