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Mackinac Center

EIN 38-2701547 · Midland, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO BE THE MOST RESPECTED AND INFLUENTIAL SOURCE OF PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH, ANALYSIS AND EDUCATION IN MICHIGAN. THE MACKINAC CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE FREE-MARKET PERSPECTIVE, RESULTING IN SUPERIOR OPPORTUNITIES AND CHOICES FOR MICHIGAN CITIZENS.

Income
$11.4 million
Spending
$12.9 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
70
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$496,102, 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 43% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 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. $5.2 million spent. CONDUCT SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL MICHIGAN CITIZENS BY ADVANCING THE PRINCIPLES OF A FREE-MARKET ECONOMY, LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND RESPECT FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY. (Expenses $ 522,363 including grants of $) PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM THAT ADVANCES INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND THE RULE OF LAW THROUGH STRATEGIC LITIGATION AND EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC TO SECURE THE LIBERTIES OF RESIDENTS, WORKERS, STUDENTS AND ENTREPRENEURS.CONDUCT SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND ANALYLSIS OF PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES RELATED TO THE RULE OF LAW AND LITIGATION, AND COMMUNICATE THE RESULTS OF THAT RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL CITIZENS BY ADVANCING THE PRINCIPLES OF A FREE-MARKET ECONOMY, LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND RESPECT FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY.
  2. $4.6 million spent. CONDUCT SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES RELATED TO STATE LABOR POLICIES, AND COMMUNICATE THE RESULTS OF THAT RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS TO CITIZENS, IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL CITIZENS BY ADVANCING THE PRINCIPLES OF A FREE-MARKET ECONOMY, LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND RESPECT FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY.
  3. $533,939 spent. CONDUCT SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF STATE OF MICHIGAN PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES RELATED TO THE STATE'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS, AND COMMUNICATE THE RESULTS OF THAT RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS TO MICHIGAN CITIZENS, IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL MICHIGAN CITIZENS BY ADVANCING THE PRINCIPLES OF A FREE-MARKET ECONOMY, LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND RESPECT FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY. (Expenses $ 522,363 including grants of $) PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM THAT ADVANCES INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND THE RULE OF LAW THROUGH STRATEGIC LITIGATION AND EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC TO SECURE THE LIBERTIES OF RESIDENTS, WORKERS, STUDENTS AND ENTREPRENEURS.CONDUCT SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND ANALYLSIS OF PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES RELATED TO THE RULE OF LAW AND LITIGATION, AND COMMUNICATE THE RESULTS OF THAT RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL CITIZENS BY ADVANCING THE PRINCIPLES OF A FREE-MARKET ECONOMY, LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND RESPECT FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY.
  4. $522,363 spent. PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM THAT ADVANCES INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND THE RULE OF LAW THROUGH STRATEGIC LITIGATION AND EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC TO SECURE THE LIBERTIES OF RESIDENTS, WORKERS, STUDENTS AND ENTREPRENEURS.CONDUCT SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND ANALYLSIS OF PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES RELATED TO THE RULE OF LAW AND LITIGATION, AND COMMUNICATE THE RESULTS OF THAT RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL CITIZENS BY ADVANCING THE PRINCIPLES OF A FREE-MARKET ECONOMY, LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND RESPECT FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1988.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.