Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE BCBSM FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF MICHIGAN RESIDENTS. OUR VISION IS THAT MICHIGAN'S POPULATION WILL ENJOY IMPROVED HEALTH AND ACCESS TO QUALITY HIGH-VALUE CARE. THE FOUNDATION WILL BE A LEADER IN FOSTERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO CRITICAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE HEALTH OF MICHIGAN RESIDENTS. WE ACCOMPLISH OUR WORK BY VALUING: COMMITMENT TO QUALITY PERFORMANCE; HONESTY, INTEGRITY, COLLABORATION, AND TEAMWORK; EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES; EXCELLENCE IN PROGRAMS, GRANTS, AND COMMUNICATIONS; AT THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATION, OUR TEAM IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY INNOVATION THAT WILL ENSURE MICHIGANDERS CAN ENJOY BOTH ADVANCING BALANCED HEALTH CARE TREATMENT WITH UNIFORMITY IN HEALTHY OUTCOMES; INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE AND INCREASING THE VALUE OF HEALTH CARE.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $7.9 million, former officer/director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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, 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)
- $1.5 million spent. THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM, WE COLLABORATED WITH HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP POPULATION LED, COMMUNITY INSPIRED INITIATIVES OR IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS COMMUNITY-IDENTIFIED NEEDS. BY RESPONDING TO COMMUNITY VOICES AND FOCUSING ON PROGRAM IN THEIR COMMUNITIES ON CORE TOPIC AREAS, SUCH AS MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, SENIOR AND CAREGIVER SUPPORT, AND NUTRITION AND FOOD ACCESS, THE BCBSM FOUNDATION SUPPORTED PROGRAMS WITH MEASURABLE OUTCOMES, SCALABLE SOLUTIONS AND EXPANDED ACCESS TO RESOURCES IN TARGETED ZIP CODES. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: SUPPORT TO GROWING HOPE IN WASHTENAW COUNTY, WHICH EXPANDED A GARDEN LEADER TRAINING PILOT TO EQUIP PARTICIPANTS WITH ADVANCED GARDENING, MENTORSHIP AND FACILITATION SKILLS, STRENGTHENING THE HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN PROGRAM; A GRANT TO THE REVIVE AND THRIVE PROJECT TO FUND A REGISTERED DIETITIAN PROVIDING NUTRITION EDUCATION FOR ADULTS WITH CANCER, HEART DISEASE OR DIABETES; AND SUPPORT FOR THE MANNA PROJECT INC. TO EXPAND A MOBILE FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM THAT SERVES HOMEBOUND RESIDENTS LACKING TRANSPORTATION. IN 2025, THE BCBSM FOUNDATION, WITH OUR FUNDING PARTNERS, SUPPORTED 22 ORGANIZATIONS WITH FUNDING IN GRANT INVESTMENTS THROUGHOUT MICHIGAN TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY-IDENTIFIED NEEDS. THE FOUNDATION'S REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROGRAM IS GUIDED BY LISTENING AND LEARNING SESSIONS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THROUGH GATHERING DATA. WE SOLICIT REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS THAT ARE POPULATION LED AND COMMUNITY INSPIRED. IN 2025, THE BCBSM FOUNDATION, WITH OUR FUNDING PARTNERS, SUPPORTED 15 ORGANIZATIONS WITH GRANT INVESTMENTS THROUGHOUT MICHIGAN TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY-IDENTIFIED NEEDS.
- $767,741 spent. RESEARCH GRANT AWARDS ARE MADE TO ADDRESS THE COST AND QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE. THESE AWARDS ARE MADE TO MICHIGAN RESEARCHERS, PHYSICIANS AND STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITIES, AND HOSPITALS. BEFORE AN INNOVATIVE IDEA CAN BE IMPLEMENTED, IT MUST FIRST BE TESTED. THE INVESTIGATOR-INITIATED RESEARCH PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR MICHIGAN RESEARCHERS, ENABLING THEM TO TURN THEORY INTO DATA AND DATA INTO KNOWLEDGE. THESE GRANT PARTNERS OFTEN INCREASE THEIR INFLUENCE IN ACADEMIC CIRCLES AND COMMUNITY PLATFORMS TO INFORM AND SHAPE FUTURE THOUGHT AND IMPROVEMENT. THE BCBSM FOUNDATION'S INVESTIGATOR INITIATED RESEARCH AWARD PROGRAM EMPOWERS SCHOLARS TO FILL CRITICAL GAPS IN MICHIGAN'S HEALTH CARE KNOWLEDGE. BY FUNDING RIGOROUS PILOTS, SECONDARY DATA ANALYSES AND FEASIBILITY STUDIES TO TEST THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INNOVATIVE INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, THIS RESEARCH PROGRAM ACCELERATES EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS THAT CAN BE SCALED ACROSS THE STATE'S MANY UNIQUE COMMUNITIES. IN 2025, NINE RESEARCHERS RECEIVED FUNDING TO EXPLORE EVERYTHING FROM EARLY LIFE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND IMPROVING EARLY DETECTION OF EXPOSURE TO POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES, TO MEASURING MATERNAL WELL-BEING AND HOW GEOGRAPHY AND PROGRAM TIMING SHAPE OUTCOMES FOR THE RX KIDS PROGRAM EXPANSION IN THE EASTERN UPPER PENINSULA. THESE INNOVATIVE STUDIES CAN GENERATE ACTIONABLE DATA THAT HEALTH SYSTEMS, POLICYMAKERS AND PROVIDERS CAN ADOPT QUICKLY, WHILE SUPPORTING A ROBUST, STATEWIDE RESEARCH ECOSYSTEM. THE PHYSICIAN INVESTIGATOR RESEARCH AWARD PROGRAM EMPOWERS MICHIGAN PHYSICIANS TO TRANSLATE THE INSIGHTS THEY GATHER IN DAILY PRACTICE INTO RIGOROUS RESEARCH THAT ADVANCES HEALTH CARE ACCESS, VALUE AND QUALITY. BY PROVIDING DEDICATED FUNDING FOR PHYSICIAN-LED INVESTIGATIONS, THE PROGRAM BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN FRONTLINE OBSERVATIONS AND EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS, ENABLING CLINICIANS TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC BARRIERS, IMPROVE PATIENT OUTCOMES, AND INFORM POLICY AND PRACTICE IMPROVEMENTS. IN 2025, TWO PHYSICIANS WERE AWARDED FUNDING TO SUPPORT PROJECTS THAT DIRECTLY RESPONDED TO THE PRESSING NEEDS OF THEIR PATIENT POPULATIONS AND SET THE STAGE FOR BROADER IMPACT ACROSS THE STATE'S HEALTH SYSTEM. THE STUDENT AWARD PROGRAM FUELS THE NEXT GENERATION OF MICHIGAN HEALTH CARE RESEARCH BY PROVIDING AWARDS FOR STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT TACKLE HEALTH-RELATED CHALLENGES. IN 2025, THE PROGRAM MADE AWARDS TO 23 MEDICAL, PHARMACY, NURSING, PSYCHOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH DOCTORAL STUDENTS FROM SEVEN UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE STATE. GRANTS ENABLE SCHOLARS TO GENERATE DATA, TOOLS AND PUBLISHABLE RESULTS THAT CAN DELIVER EARLY EVIDENCE TO INFORM PRACTICE AND POLICY THE IMPACT IS TWOFOLD. FIRST, STUDENTS GAIN RESEARCH EXPERIENCE THAT DISTINGUISHES THEM IN A COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET, POSITIONING THEM AS FUTURE LEADERS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, POLICY AND TECHNOLOGY. SECOND, THE RESEARCH PROPOSALS ADDRESS PRESSING GAPS IN HEALTH CARE UNDERSTANDING AND OUTCOMES. RESEARCH PROJECTS SUPPORTED IN 2025 INCLUDE AN INTERDISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATION OF HOW MICRO AND NANO PLASTICS PERVASIVE IN THE GREAT LAKES AFFECT THE HUMAN GUT MICROBIOME, THE EXPLORATION OF CANCER MEDICATION SELF MANAGEMENT, TELEHEALTH-DELIVERED THERAPY FOR PSYCHOGENIC SEIZURES AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS FOR COGNITIVE CHANGE DURING PERIMENOPAUSE. BY TURNING INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND HEALTH-RELATED QUESTIONS INTO ACTIONABLE RESEARCH, THE STUDENT AWARD PROGRAM BUILDS A PIPELINE OF SKILLED, COMMUNITY-FOCUSED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS READY TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR ALL MICHIGANIANS.
- $12,096 spent. THE PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD EMPOWERS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO SECURE PROFESSIONAL GRANT WRITING SUPPORT, ENABLING THEM TO CRAFT COMPELLING, HEALTH FOCUSED PROPOSALS FOR PUBLIC AGENCIES, PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND CORPORATE FUNDERS. IN 2025, FOUR ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED GRANTS TO CONTRACT EXPERIENCED GRANT WRITERS WHO HELPED THEM DEVELOP, WRITE AND SUBMIT HIGH-QUALITY PROPOSALS AIMED AT EXPANDING THEIR PROGRAMS AND REACHING NEW FUNDING SOURCES. BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE INFUSION OF WRITING ASSISTANCE, THE AWARD BUILDS LONG TERM CAPACITY BY STRENGTHENING EACH ORGANIZATION'S INTERNAL GRANT DEVELOPMENT SKILLS, STRATEGIC PLANNING AND DATA-DRIVEN STORYTELLING. AS GRANTEES BECOME MORE ADEPT AT ARTICULATING IMPACT AND ALIGNING WITH FUNDER PRIORITIES, THEY ARE BETTER POSITIONED TO COMPETE FOR LARGER GRANTS THAT SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, DEEPEN SERVICE DELIVERY AND ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF VITAL HEALTH INITIATIVES IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1981.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.
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