Passes our checks

Three Lakes Association Inc

EIN 38-2573268 · Bellaire, MI

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

What it says it does

Water Quality Preservation in the Elk River Chain of Lakes.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 93 out of 100.

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 63.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 57% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 76% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 15
53% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 59 out of 100.

Independent board
25 of 25
18 of 18 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
0 of 7
Reports no 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
0 of 5
Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)

$6,085 spent. Investigation into the proliferation of Golden Brown Algae on the floor of Torch and other lakes in the chain, including analysis of the organisms and testing of water samples with the goal of determining the reasons for proliferation and of developing remediation plans.
$12,423 spent. Supported environmental education activities, including providing funding for equipment and field trips to the four school districts in the Three Lakes area, and adult education programs related to water quality.
$9,387 spent. Supervision of interns from area high schools in a research project to survey aquatic plants on Clam Lake, emphasizing the presence of native and invasive species. The project serves to train the interns in scientific methods, communication skills and the value of environmental science.
$12,784 spent. Includes lake and stream monitoring for chemical and biological contamination, treatment of invasive milfoil plants, and publishing of a quarterly newsletter containing articles on water quality.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 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 October 1986.
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.