Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Underground Railroad Inc

EIN 38-2241312 · Saginaw, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER SURVIVORS AND CREATE A CULTURE OF SAFETY AND RESPECT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 68%
Employees
75
Volunteers
404
Highest pay
$103,716, president/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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 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 (4)
  1. $1.7 million spent. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMMING: THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD (URR) IS SAGINAW COUNTY'S ONLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM SERVICE AGENCY. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY VICTIMS FREE OF CHARGE. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE 24 HOUR HELPLINE (4,610 CALLS); 46 BED EMERGENCY SHELTER (14,011 NIGHTS OF SHELTER); INDIVIDUAL CRISIS/SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING (19,629 UNITS); GROUP COUNSELING (1,050 UNITS); LEGAL ADVOCACY (2,672 COURT CASES ACCOMPANIED); PERSONAL PROTECTION ORDER ADVOCACY (631 PPO'S); AND SUPERVISED VISITATION (117 FAMILIES SERVED).
  2. $1.1 million spent. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD (URR) OFFERS THREE TYPES OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT WHO NEED RELOCATION ASSISTANCE. RAPID REHOUSING IS A SIX MONTH SCATTERED SITE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS VICTIMS TO TRANSITION FROM SHELTER/FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTO A NEW HOUSING SITUATION (11 FAMILIES SERVED). TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IS A 24-MONTH HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SURVIVORS LEAVING SHELTER/FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO NEED LONGER TERM ASSISTANCE GAINING FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. HOUSING IS PROVIDED IN ONSITE OR IN SCATTERED SITE RENTAL UNITS (60 FAMILIES HOUSED). PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS A LONG-TERM HOUSING PROGRAM FOR SURVIVORS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES. THE PARTICIPANTS ARE HOUSED IN SCATTER-SITE HOUSING WITHIN SAGINAW COUNTY. (7 FAMILIES HOUSED).
  3. $380,650 spent. SEXUAL ASSAULT INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION: THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD (URR) PROVIDES ADVOCACY, COUNSELING AND PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAMMING. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY VICTIMS FREE OF CHARGE. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE 24 HOUR HELPLINE (92 CALLS); AND INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING (794 UNITS). VICTIM'S SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE CITY OF SAGINAW. PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAMMING IS OFFERED AT K-12 SCHOOLS AND SUMMER CAMPS THROUGHOUT SAGINAW COUNTY. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES BULLYING PREVENTION AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP CURRICULUMS (3853 PARTICIPANTS). RESALE STORE: THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD (URR) OPERATES A RESALE STORE AS A REVENUE SOURCE TO SUPPORT ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND TO PROVIDE CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS FREE OF CHARGE TO CLIENTS. A TOTAL OF $66,507 WERE REDEEMED IN CLIENT VOUCHERS.
  4. $133,453 spent. CHILDREN'S SERVICES: THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD (URR) OFFERS THREE PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN. GIRLS ON THE RUN (GOTR) GREAT LAKES BAY IS A LOCAL COUNCIL OF GOTR INTERNATIONAL, WHICH IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS. URR'S PROGRAM IS OFFERED IN THE FALL AND SPRING AT SCHOOLS IN SAGINAW, BAY, ARENAC, TUSCOLA, HURON, MIDLAND, GLADWIN, AND CLARE COUNTIES. GIRLS LEARN TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES AND BE JOYFUL IN A PROGRAM THAT INCORPORATES RUNNING AND WALKING TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM. THE 2025 SPRING PROGRAM CONCLUDED WITH 207 GIRLS PARTICIPATING IN THE GIRLS ON THE RUN 5K AT THE DOW RUN WALK. THE 2025 FALL PROGRAM CONCLUDED WITH 165 GIRLS PARTICIPATING THE GIRLS ON THE RUN GREAT LAKES BAY 5K.URR OPERATES A STATE LICENSED CHILDCARE FOR RESIDENTS OF OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS AND FOR NON-RESIDENT VICTIMS WHO ARE ATTENDING GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS (8,046.85 UNITS PROVIDED). INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING IS AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (276 CHILDREN SERVED). COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD'S (URR) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PROVIDES COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND SYSTEMS CHANGE ACTIVITIES TO INFORM AND TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITY TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN SAGINAW COUNTY. THE PROGRAM IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR RAISING COMMUNITY DONATIONS TO SUPPORT PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

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 November 6, 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 February 1979.

    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 November 4, 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.