Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision Project

EIN 38-3068006 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SOUTHWEST DETROIT ENVIRONMENTAL VISION'S MISSION IS TO WORK IN COALITION WITH RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS AND OTHER COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, AND MUNICIPAL AGENCIES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND REDUCE POLLUTION-RELATED HEALTH IMPACTS IN SOUTHWEST DETROIT AND THE REGION.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 80%
Employees
10
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$99,538, executive director

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

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 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

    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 March 31, 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 (3)
  1. $1.6 million spent. THE HEALTHY AIR PROGRAM WORKS TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND SUPPORT DECARBONIZATION BY FACILITATING THE TRANSITION TO CLEANER TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICES. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE CLEANER FUELS STRATEGIES.TO DRIVE MEASURABLE REDUCTIONS IN POLLUTION AND ADVANCE CLIMATE SOLUTIONS THROUGH STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION, AND COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.SDEV'S HEALTHY AIR PROGRAM INFORMED AND ENGAGED MEMBERS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES IN REDUCING POLLUTION. SDEV ENGAGED AND EDUCATED DECISION-MAKERS TO IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS. COLLABORATIONS INCLUDED PROJECTS INVOLVING UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS, LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WE WORKED WITH COMPANIES AND PUBLIC AGENCIES TO ELIMINATE OVER 3,800 TONS OF DIESEL POLLUTION IN 2022/2023 BY REPLACING PRE-EMISSIONS STANDARD DIESEL VEHICLES WITH VEHICLES MEETING OR EXCEEDING CURRENT U.S. EPA EMISSIONS STANDARDS FOR DIESEL ENGINES.
  2. $16,114 spent. THE LAND & WATER TEAM WORKS TO REVITALIZE URBAN SPACES THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROJECTS IN URBAN AGRICULTURE, GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. BY FOSTERING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CITY OF DETROIT AND ACTIVELY ENGAGING RESIDENTS THROUGH COMMUNITY MEETINGS, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO BUILD A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND VIBRANT CITY.TO ENHANCE URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING THROUGH INTEGRATED LAND AND WATER MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES AND RESIDENT-LED PLACEMAKING.SDEV'S LAND & WATER TEAM DEVELOPED A SYSTEM OF MICROPARKS AND CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS LIKE SOLAR AND EV CHARGERS. HELD 5 COMMUNITY MEETINGS. DEVELOPED PROJECT FUNDING. DEVELOPED INFRASTRUCTURE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CITY OF DETROIT.MANAGED THE FOLLOWING URBAN AGRICULTURE, GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND COMMUNITY & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING. SDEV MANAGED COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION, GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECTS. GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
  3. $221,555 spent. THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS BY PROVIDING RESIDENTS WITH ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND FACILITATING THEIR ENGAGEMENT IN LOCAL POLICY DECISIONS. THROUGH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION, THE TEAM WORKS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN KEY PROGRAMS AND AMPLIFY COMMUNITY VOICES ON ISSUES IMPACTING THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.TO EMPOWER SOUTHWEST DETROIT RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS BY CONNECTING THEM WITH ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND FACILITATING THEIR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN SHAPING POLICIES THAT IMPACT THEIR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH.OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT: THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TEAM CONNECTED RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS WITH CRITICAL PARTNER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. SDEV CONDUCTED OUTREACH TO REGISTER RESIDENTS IN OUR ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECT. SDEV ENGAGED OVER 1,250 RESIDENTS TO ZONING AND PERMIT EDUCATION TO BETTER SELF ADVOCATE FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 October 13, 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 March 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 January 1994.

    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 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.