Disability Network Eastern Michigan
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DISABILITY NETWORK EASTERN MICHIGAN IS A CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING. INDEPENDENT LIVING CHANGES ATTITUDES, EXPANDS COMMUNITY OPTIONS, REMOVES BARRIERS, AND INCREASES CHOICE.DISABILITY NETWORK EASTERN MICHIGAN IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING INCLUSION FOR ALL BY BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS AND OPENING PATHS TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE AND PERSONAL CHOICE THROUGH RESOURCES, ADVOCACY, INFORMATION, SUPPORT, AND EDUCATION.
- Income
- $6.5 million
- Spending
- $5.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 90%
- Employees
- 43
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $225,151, chief executive officer
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
Good: 75 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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 (1)
- $5.5 million spent. DISABILITY NETWORK EASTERN MICHIGAN (DNEM) IS DEDICATED TO UNDERSTANDING AND RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUALS IT SERVES. WE HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WITNESSING MANY EXPERIENCED SUCCESSES IN REACHING THEIR INDEPENDENT LIVING GOALS. BELOW ARE JUST A COUPLE OF TESTIMONIALS AND SUCCESS STORIES DNEM STAFF WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT: (1) GREAT ACTIVITIES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES, (2) THE 6 WEEKS TO WELLNESS PROGRAM WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE, (3) THE ASL TEACHERS ELLEN AND JAY ARE FABULOUS. THEY ARE KIND, GENEROUS, CARING, AND FOSTER A WONDERFUL ATMOSPHERE WHERE ONE GROWS NOT JUST IN LEARNING AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE, BUT ALSO AN ATMOSPHERE IN WHICH ONE GROWS IN INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSION AND CONFIDENCE. IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFE PLACE TO LEARN, MAKE MISTAKES, AND GROW. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME! AND (4) "I FEEL SO GOOD ABOUT OUR TALK. SOMEBODY ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDS ME AND IS WILLING TO HELP! I'VE GONE YEARS WITHOUT ANYONE UNDERSTANDING SO I'M PRETTY OVERWHELMED THAT SOMEONE CARES AND IS WILLING TO ACTUALLY HELP ME! HONESTLY, TEARS OF JOY! I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW THIS MAKES ME FEEL AND PERHAPS YOU ALREADY KNOW! YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF ALL L COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR TAKES A TREMENDOUS PRESSURE OFF ME. I'VE LIVED ON EDGE FOR SO LONG; L ALMOST FORGOT WHAT IT FELT LIKE THINKING, "L MIGHT BE OKAY "? AGAIN, MY THANKS FOR GIVING ME HOPE L DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED!"
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
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 September 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 December 1987.
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.