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Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

EIN 38-2530980 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE BUILD THE RESOURCES, RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPERTISE REQUIRED TO EXPAND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES. OUR MISSION IS TO MAKE SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN A DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY FOR ALL RESIDENTS, TODAY AND TOMORROW.

Income
$246.1 million
Spending
$131.2 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
100.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 61%
Employees
83
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$719,647, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 100.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 92% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    42 of 42 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $7.1 million spent. A COLLABORATION OF FOUNDATIONS LAUNCHED THE NEW ECONOMY INITIATIVE (NEI) AT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IN 2007. NEI IS WORKING TO DIVERSIFY THE REGIONAL ECONOMY OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN AND STIMULATE ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT. IN 2024, NEI FUNDED GRANTS AND OTHER IMPORTANT WORK TOTALING APPROXIMATELY $6.9 MILLION. NEI PRIMARILY CONCENTRATES ON BUILDING A NETWORK OF SUPPORT FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. NEI'S GRANTS SUPPORT NONPROFIT SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS BUSINESS PLANNING AND CONCEPT-TESTING, AND THOSE WHO PROVIDE CAPITAL AND OTHER RESOURCES. IN ADDITION, NEI PROVIDES SUPPORT TO HELP THESE NETWORKS OF SERVICE PROVIDERS CONNECT BETTER TO EACH OTHER AND THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE. NEI'S WORK IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING A RESILIENT AND EQUITABLE ECONOMY BY INCREASING GROWTH AND SCALABILITY AMONG SMALL BUSINESSES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THAT WILL CREATE JOBS AND GENERATE WEALTH FOR RESIDENTS.
  2. $5.1 million spent. THE MICHIGAN JUSTICE FUND (MJF) IS A FUNDERS' COLLABORATIVE THAT MAKES INVESTMENTS TO STEM THE FLOW OF INDIVIDUALS INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, SUPPORT THE INVESTMENT OF PUBLIC DOLLARS TO COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, AND ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE RETURNING HOME AFTER INCARCERATION RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO FLOURISH. THE MICHIGAN JUSTICE FUND IS COMPRISED OF MICHIGAN-BASED AND NATIONAL FUNDERS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING JUSTICE REFORM AND THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY OF INDIVIDUALS WITH CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS IN MICHIGAN. IN 2024, MJF FUNDED $3.7MM IN GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT JUSTICE REFORM.
  3. $645,236 spent. THE DETROIT REGIONAL WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP EXISTS TO CULTIVATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS COLLABORATE SEAMLESSLY ENSURING THAT A ROBUST AND DYNAMIC TALENT POOL HAS ACCESS TO THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT PROPEL SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN TOWARDS SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH.
  4. $101.6 million spent. THROUGH ITS GRANTMAKING, THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN SEEKS TO BUILD A STRONGER, MORE COMPETITIVE REGION BY ENCOURAGING REGIONAL THINKING AND COOPERATION, FOSTERING INNOVATION AND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, AND LEVERAGING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR AREA ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES. SCHEDULE I LISTS ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTED AND GRANTS AWARDED IN 2024.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 August 1984.

    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.