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Detroit Lions Charities

EIN 38-2945709 · Allen Park, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceGood72 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DETROIT LIONS CHARITIES (THE "CHARITIES") IS THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY FUNDING EXTENSION OF DETROIT LIONS, INC. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2020, THE CHARITIES WAS GRANTED A D/B/A FOR CHARITIES: DETROIT LIONS FOUNDATION. THE CHARITIES INVEST IN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO EMPOWER YOUTH FOR LASTING, TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE IN OUR HOMETOWN OF DETROIT. THE CHARITIES SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PURSUE INTEGRATED APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, EDUCATION, CANCER, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
13 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
0
Volunteers
150

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 8 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

    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.

  • 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 February 28, 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. $740,192 spent. SUPPORTING THE METROPOLITAN DETROIT COMMUNITY THROUGH GRANTS TO LOCAL CHARITIES FOCUSING ON THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING AND OTHER WELLNESS INITIATIVES.
  2. $511,140 spent. SUPPORTING DETROIT AREA YOUTH PROGRAMS THROUGH EXERCISE, HEALTHY EATING AND TRANSPORTATION TO ACTIVITY BASED EVENTS. GRANTS ARE MADE TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT EMPOWER YOUTH FOR LASTING, TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE IN OUR HOMETOWN OF DETROIT.
  3. $11,000 spent. SUPPORT OF NATIONWIDE PROGRAMS PROMOTING MENTAL, PHYSICAL WELL-BEING INITIATIVES, AND PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN MICHIGAN BY SPONSORING THE STATE OF MICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE WEEK AND COACH OF THE YEAR PROGRAM.
  4. $635,727 spent. PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN MICHIGAN BY PROVIDING SUPPORT TO SCHOOLS IN NEED WITH EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, APPAREL AND/OR GRANT FUNDING THROUGH THE TOUCHDOWN IN YOUR TOWN PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 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 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 February 2025.

    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 August 1990.

    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.