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Detroit Regional Chamber Foundation Inc

EIN 38-2352462 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceWeak47 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DETROIT REGIONAL CHAMBER FOUNDATION, INC. (THE "FOUNDATION") IS DEDICATED TO GROWING PROGRAMS OR INITIATIVES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ENSURING THE DETROIT REGION'S ECONOMY IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING IN THE U.S.

Income
$18.2 million
Spending
$15.3 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
0
Volunteers
52
Highest pay
$684,962, president

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $5.3 million spent. THE DETROIT PROMISE IS THE FOUNDATION'S UMBRELLA SCHOLARSHIP FOR ALL INCOMING COLLEGE STUDENTS, INCLUDING FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FORMALLY ENROLLING THROUGH THE DETROIT COMPACT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. THE DETROIT PROMISE IS A FOUNDATION ADMINISTERED PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE DETROIT PROMISE ZONE AUTHORITY ("DPZA"). THE DETROIT PROMISE'S ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROVIDE A LAST-DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP FOR DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ENTERING AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND PARTICIPATING FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITIES. PER STATE OF MICHIGAN STATUTE, THE DPZA IS ALLOCATED A PORTION OF STATE PROPERTY TAXES COLLECTED IN THE CITY OF DETROIT FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF FUNDING A COLLEGE PROMISE PROGRAM. THE DPZA HAS DESINGATED THE FOUNDATION AS ITS PARTNER TO ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM AND USES THE TAX CAPTURE REVENUE TO ALLOCATE FUNDING TO THE FOUNDATION TO FUND THE PROGRAM WITHIN THE STATUTE GUIDELINES.
  2. $3.6 million spent. MICHAUTO IS MICHIGAN'S ONLY AUTOMOTIVE AND MOBILITY CLUSTER ASSOCIATION TO PROTECT, RETAIN, AND GROW MICHIGAN'S SIGNATURE INDUSTRY WHILE ALSO ENSURING THE STATE'S LEADERSHIP IN ADVANCING THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING OF NEXT-GENERATION MOBILITY TECHNOLOGY.
  3. $2.3 million spent. THE FOUNDATION LEADS A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AND TALENT PORTFOLIO OF PROGRAM AND POLICY WORK IN THE STATE. WITH THE GOAL TO INCREASE POSTSECONDARY DEGREE ATTAINMENT IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN TO 60% BY 2030, THE CHAMBER'S WORK WILL GROW THE TALENT POOL FOR EMPLOYERS.
  4. $1.5 million spent. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:THE FOUNDATION'S ECONOMIC PROSPERITY STRATEGY POSITIONS THE DETROIT REGION FOR LONG-TERM GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS FOR THE NEXT DECADE AND BEYOND. THE WORK IS FUNDED THROUGH CONTRIBUTIONS AND GRANTS FROM CORPORATE DONORS AND PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY. THE STRATEGY IS EXECUTED THROUGH A SERIES OF INITIATIVES ENSURING THE REGION IS EDUCATED, EMPLOYED, HEALTHY, AND LEADING IN NEXT-GENERATION MOBILITY.LEADERSHIP DETROIT:LEADERSHIP DETROIT PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION FOR A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO LEADERSHIP BY CREATING AWARENESS OF KEY ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE DETROIT REGION AND TO CHALLENGE EMERGING AND EXISTING COMMUNITY LEADERS TO BRING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH INFORMED LEADERSHIP.ECONOMIC EQUITY AND INCLUSION:THE FOUNDATION LEVERAGES ITS POSITION AS A COVENER OF BUSINESS TO ENSURE PERVASIVE AND LONG-TERM CHANGE BOTH SOCIETALLY AND ECONOMICALLY. THIS WORK IS ROOTED IN REFLECTIVE FOCUS ON ACCOUNTABILITY INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY THROUGH A COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THE REGION'S EQUITABLE FUTURE.

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 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 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 June 1981.

    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.