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Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan

EIN 38-1598947 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GIRL SCOUTS BUILDS GIRLS OF COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CHARACTER, WHO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

Income
$10.1 million
Spending
$11.4 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
11.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 79%
Employees
133
Volunteers
7,603
Highest pay
$248,029, 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 43 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 29% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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 (3)
  1. $6.8 million spent. GIRL SCOUTS GIVES GIRLS UNMATCHED OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCOVER NEW INTERESTS, BUILD MEANINGFUL FRIENDSHIPS AND HONE LEADERSHIP SKILLS WHILE HAVING FUN IN A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE SPACE MADE JUST FOR THEM. GIRLS GROW COURAGEOUS AND STRONG THROUGH A WIDE VARIETY OF ENRICHING EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND STEM ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIPS. IN MY24/25 GSSEM AND MISSION ALIGNED PARTNERS PROVIDED GIRL SCOUTS MORE THAN 130 ENGAGING PROGRAMS TO CHOOSE FROM WITH PROGRAMS RANGING FROM STEAM/STEM EDUCATION AND ACCESS, ENTERPRENEURSHIP/FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING, LIFE SKILLS AND BADGE EARNING AND HIGHEST AWARD ACTIVITIES.
  2. $2.0 million spent. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN UNIQUE TO THE GIRL SCOUT EXPERIENCE SINCE OUR BEGINNING IN 1912. CAMP PROGRAMS GIVE GIRLS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE LEADERSHIP, BUILD SKILLS, AND DEVELOP A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR NATURE, WHETHER FOR A DAY, A WEEK, OR LONGER. GIRL SCOUT CAMP AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION GIVES GIRLS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW, EXPLORE, AND HAVE FUN UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF CARING, TRAINED ADULTS. IN MY24/25 NEARLY 3,330 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN GSSEM AND PARTNER PRESENTED OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS.OUR PROGRAM OFFERINGS INCLUDE: WEEKEND CAMPS, OUTDOOR EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND TRAVEL EXCURSIONS.
  3. $1.0 million spent. WHEN GIRLS PARTICIPATE IN THE GIRL SCOUTS FALL PRODUCT AND/OR THE COOKIE PROGRAM THEY GET MORE THAN NEW ADVENTURES. THEY DEVELOP IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS, SUCH AS GOAL-SETTING, DECISION-MAKING, MONEY MANAGEMENT, PEOPLE SKILLS, AND BUSINESS ETHICS - ALL SKILLS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND THAT HELP THEM LEARN TO ENGAGE MORE WITH THEIR COMMUNITY AND DISCOVER AND BUILD SKILLS FOR FUTURE CAREERS. GSSEM AND PARTNERS PRESENTED NEARLY 20 ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMS IN MY24/25, WITH 300 PARTICIPANTS. NEARLY 90% OF PARTICIPANTS INDICATED THEY ENJOYED THE PROGRAM THEY ATTENDED AND NEARLY 80% SAID THEY KNEW MORE OR BECAME BETTER AT THE PROGRAM ACTIVITY.

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 November 1958.

    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.

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