Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

International Association for Great Lakes Research-Michigan

EIN 38-2689988 · Ann Arbor, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE AND COMMUNICATE RESEARCH ON LARGE LAKES OF THE WORLD.

Income
$713,475
Spending
$833,321
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
3
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$126,160, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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.

  • 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 September 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 (5)
  1. $408,509 spent. PUBLICATION OF THE JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN PROGRAMS OF IAGLR TO DISSEMINATE RESEARCH ON LARGE LAKES OF THE WORLD.
  2. $114,784 spent. IAGLR CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON GREAT LAKES RESEARCH. HELD SINCE 1953, THIS MULTI DISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE BRINGS TOGETHER SCIENTISTS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS TO EXCHANGE ON THE LATEST DISCOVERIES AND KEY ISSUES ON LARGE LAKES OF THE WORLD.
  3. $111,443 spent. DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF IAGLR'S WEBSITE WHICH INCLUDES UPDATES ON AWARDS, THE JOURNAL, THE CONFERENCE, THE LAKES LETTER PUBLICATION, AND OTHER INITIATIVES.
  4. $33,226 spent. THE ORGANIZATION AWARDS STUDENTS FOR TOP-NOTCH PRESENTATIONS AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE, AND PROFESSIONALS FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE JOURNAL, AND FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS ACHIEVEMENT OF IAGLR'S GOALS. IAGLR ALSO AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS SHOWING GREAT PROMISE EARLY IN THEIR RESEARCH CAREERS.
  5. THE ORGANIZATION AWARDS STUDENTS FOR TOP-NOTCH PRESENTATIONS AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE, AND PROFESSIONALS FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE JOURNAL, AND FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS ACHIEVEMENT OF IAGLR'S GOALS. IAGLR ALSO AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS SHOWING GREAT PROMISE EARLY IN THEIR RESEARCH CAREERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 March 1987.

    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.