Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan Educational Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO EDUCATE, ENGAGE, AND INSPIRE THE CURRENT AND FUTURE WORKFORCES OF WESTERN MICHIGAN TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS BY EMBRACING THE POWER OF TRUST; TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO NON-PROFITS AND DONORS IN WESTERN MICHIGAN TO ASSIST THEM IN BEST PRACTICES, TRANSPARENCY, AND MAKING KNOWLEDGEABLE CHOICES; TO EDUCATE ALL AGE GROUPS, PARTICULARLY SENIORS, ABOUT BEST PRACTICES TO AVOID SCAMS AND FRAUD.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $302,800
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 16.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $208,991, president/ceo
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.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 78% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 242% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 95 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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
10 of 10Gave 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, 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 (3)
- $118,634 spent. PRESENTATIONS ARE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS AND GROUPS, EDUCATING THEM TO FRAUDS AND SCAMS, AND HOW TO AVOID THEM. FOUNDATION REPRESENTATIVES COLLABORATE WITH BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFITS TO IMPROVE THE TRUST RELATIONSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITIES.BBB FOUNDATION ASSISTS PEOPLE TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES FOR A MORE SUCCESSFUL LIFE, THROUGH EDUCATION ABOUT HOW THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM WORKS, AND NAVIGATING THE CONSUMER JOURNEY. BBB FOUNDATION LESSENS THE BURDENS OF GOVERNMENT THROUGH EDUCATION OF CONSUMERS AND DONORS, NON-PROFIT LEADERS, AND BUSINESS LEADERS TO IMPLEMENT BEST PRACTICES. THIS MEANS GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IS NOT REQUIRED.
- $100,015 spent. CHARITY REVIEW GATHERS INFORMATION FROM AREA NON-PROFITS AND ACCREDITS THOSE THAT MEET THE 20 STANDARDS OF CHARITY ACCOUNTABILITY. THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS IS FREE OF CHARGE TO THE NON-PROFIT, AND THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT NO CHARGE.
- $16,395 spent. THE BBB BEACON IS A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU SERVING WESTERN MICHIGAN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION. IT IS FULL OF INFORMATION TO HELP BUSINESSES GROW IN TRUST, PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON ACCREDITED BUSINESSES, AND HIGHLIGHTS WAYS THE BBB CAN WORK FOR BUSINESSES. THE PRINT MAGAZINE IS DISTRIBUTED TO MORE THAN 5,000 ACCREDITED BUSINESS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE 38 COUNTY SERVICE REGION
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
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 October 13, 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 2024.
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 December 1984.
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 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.