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Student Advocacy Center of Michigan Inc

EIN 38-2058667 · Ypsilanti, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE STUDENT ADVOCACY CENTER OF MICHIGAN WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH UNDERSERVED STUDENTS, AND THEIR FAMILIES, TO STAY IN SCHOOL, REALIZE THEIR RIGHTS TO A QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION, GROW AND EXPERIENCE SUCCESS.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 65%
Employees
30
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$129,291, finance manager

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

Financial health

Good: 72 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 June 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 (4)
  1. $1.0 million spent. EDUCATION ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT: SAC PROVIDES NO-COST ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES IN EDUCATIONAL CRISIS (EXPULSION, SUSPENSION, SCHOOL FAILURE, ENROLLMENT DENIAL, DISCRIMINATION). WE ASSESS NEEDS, EXPLORE RIGHTS AND OPTIONS, BUILD SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS, COORDINATE WITH THE SCHOOLS AND COCREATE PLANS THAT RESULT IN IMPROVED ATTENDANCE, BEHAVIOR AND GRADES. WE HAVE A STATEWIDE HELPLINE AND IN-PERSON SUPPORT IN WAYNE, WASHTENAW AND JACKSON COUNTIES.
  2. $488,605 spent. CHECK & CONNECT IS AN INTENSIVE, STRUCTURED, LONG-TERM, AND EVIDENCE-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE DISCONNECTED FROM SCHOOL AND LEARNING. THE PROGRAM, STARTED IN THE 1990S FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, HAS BEEN PROVEN TO INCREASE SCHOOL COMPLETION. SAC FIRST PILOTED CHECK & CONNECT IN 2012 IN YPSILANTI AND NOW PROVIDES THE PROGRAM IN YPSILANTI, ANN ARBOR, AND DETROIT. WE WORK WITH LOW- AND NO-INCOME STUDENTS IMPACTED BY TRAUMA, MENTAL ILLNESS, RACISM, AND BARRIERS SUCH AS HARSH SCHOOL DISCIPLINE, TRUANCY, AND SCHOOL FAILURE. MENTORS AND MENTEES WORK TOGETHER FOR A MINIMUM OF TWO YEARS. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OEVERY WEEK, MENTORS CONNECT WITH EACH YOUTH, CHECK SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT DATA, DESIGN PERSONALIZED INTERVENTIONS BASED ON THAT DATA, ENCOURAGE GOALSETTING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND SERVE AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE STUDENT, SCHOOL, CAREGIVERS, AND COMMUNITY. MENTEES IMPROVE ATTENDANCE, GRADES, AND DISCIPLINE AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO GRADUATE.
  3. $380,427 spent. YOUTH ORGANIZING/COMMUNITY ORGANIZING/POLICY: THE VISION OF SAC FROM THE START WAS TO BOTH PROVIDE MEANINGFUL "SOCIAL SERVICE" TYPE SUPPORT AND INDIVIDUAL CASE ADVOCACY - BUT ALSO TO BUILD POWER OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIIES AND TOGETHER TAKE COLLECTIVE ACTION TO WIN CONCRETE CHANGES TO POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT IMPROVE THE LIVES OF MANY MORE STUDENTS. SAC IS FOCUSED ON CONCRETE WINS THAT INCREASE STUDENT VOICE, CHOICE, SUPPORT AND CARE AND DECREASE HARSH DISCIPLINE AND CARCERAL SYSTEMS. AS PART OF THIS WORK, SAC ENGAGES IN YOUTH ORGANIZING IN A PROGRAM CALLED YOUTH ACTION MICHIGAN (YAM) IN DETROIT AND YPSILANTI. YAM IS AN EDUCATION JUSTICE YOUTH ORGANIZING PROGRAM THAT WORKS TO BUILD YOUTH LEADERSHIP, POWER AND BETTER SCHOOLS. WE COMBAT SCHOOL PUSH-OUT AND WORK TOWARDS HEALTHY AND HEALING SCHOOLS. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O SAC ALSO ENGAGES CAREGIVERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ORGANIZING LOCALLY AND IN STATEWIDE WORK.
  4. $4,984 spent. CLIENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 June 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 1977.

    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.