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Great Lakes Womens Business Council

EIN 38-2571135 · Livonia, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GREAT LAKES WOMEN'S BUSINESS COUNCIL IS COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING SMALL BUSINESSES ECONOMICALLY THROUGH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, VENDOR CERTIFICATION, BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS NETWORKING AND ACCESS TO CAPITAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. WE PROVIDE EFFECTIVE BUSINESS TOOLS AND REMOVE BARRIERS THAT HINDER DEVELOPMENT OF SUCCESSFUL, SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES. OUR WORK STRENGTHENS THE COMMUNITY BY BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS AND LEVERAGING RESOURCES THAT INCREASE BUSINESS GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 41%
Employees
24
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$266,799, executive director

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: 67 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 51% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% 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

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    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. $798,665 spent. LOAN PROGRAM - PROVIDE SMALL BUSINESS LOANS TO START-UP AND EXISTING BUSINESS OWNERS IN SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN. PROGRAM ADDRESSES NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME, MINORITY AND WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS. LOAN PORTFOLIO IS FUNDED PRIMARILY BY SBA AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
  2. $1.3 million spent. WOMEN'S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CERTIFICATION - PROVIDES CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, INCLUDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, COUNSELING AND RECOGNITION OF BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS.
  3. $577,157 spent. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES - PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PEER GROUP COUNSELING FOR WOMEN, LOAN RECIPIENTS, AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO DESIRE TO START A SMALL BUSINESS.
  4. $34,516 spent. MEMBERSHIPS

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 September 1985.

    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.