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Michigans Children

EIN 38-3078577 · Lansing, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak24 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENSURE THAT POLICYMAKERS PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF THE MOST CHALLENGED CHILDREN FROM CRADLE TO CAREER.

Income
$304,786
Spending
$677,279
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
8
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$162,748, president/ceo

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

Weak: 24 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 61% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 122% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 65% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 (5)
  1. $182,866 spent. DATA, INFORMATION, AND POLICY ANALYSIS - TO MAINTAIN AND BUILD EXPERT KNOWLEDGE OF STATE BUDGETS AND POLICIES AND POSITIVE CHILD OUTCOMES; MONITOR EVIDENCE-BASED AND PROMISING PROGRAM PRACTICES, ASSESS POLICY IMPACT, AND IDENTIFY POLICY SOLUTIONS AND STRATEGIES. IN THE CURRENT YEAR, MICHIGAN'S CHILDREN FACILITATED OR PARTICIPATED IN HUNDREDS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM ADVOCACY PARTNERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS AND PEOPLE RECEIVING KEY SERVICES.
  2. $162,546 spent. STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS/EDUCATION - TO PRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE NONPARTISAN INFORMATION ON THE IMPACT OF STATE AND FEDERAL BUDGETS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS ELECTIONS ON CHILD AND FAMILY OUTCOMES USING PRINT, BROADCAST, AND SOCIAL MEDIA. IN THE CURRENT YEAR, MICHIGAN'S CHILDREN PUBLISHED AND WIDELY DISSEMINATED EDITIONS OF ISSUES FOR MICHIGAN'S CHILDREN AND BUDGET BASICS, SEVERAL LEARNING FROM YOUTH AND FAMILIES HIGHLIGHTS, STAFF AND GUEST BLOGS, AND SPEAKING FOR KIDS E-BULLETINS. WE DISSEMINATED THOUSANDS OF PRINTED AND ELECTRONIC COPIES OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE POLICY PLAYBOOK WITH OUR PRIORITIES FOR 2024.
  3. $142,228 spent. MOBILIZATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - TO SUPPORT INFLUENTIAL CHAMPIONS WHO PROMOTE POLICY AND PROGRAM CHANGE; IDENTIFY, ENGAGE, AND EDUCATE TARGETED GROUPS OF COMMUNITY ADVOCATES; BUILD AND MOBILIZE E-ADVOCACY AND GRASSROOTS NETWORKS; AND IDENTIFY, ASSESS, ASSEMBLE, AND LEVERAGE STRATEGIC COLLABORATIVE AND COLLECTIVE ACTION OPPORTUNITIES. IN THE CURRENT YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION PARTICIPATED IN NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL EFFORTS IN COMMUNICATING WITH AND MOBILIZING MORE THAN 50,000 ADVOCATES AROUND THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
  4. $81,273 spent. DIRECT LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY - THIS PROGRAM MAINTAINS AND DEVELOPS RELATIONSHIPS WITH ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS AND THEIR STAFF; EDUCATES AND INFLUENCES TARGETED STATE AND FEDERAL POLICYMAKERS AND KEY STAFF THROUGH DATA, INFORMATION AND TESTIMONY; AND CONNECTS CHAMPIONS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES TO INFLUENCE DECISION-MAKERS ON PRIORITY ISSUES.
  5. $1,000 spent. LOBBYING - DIRECT ADVOCATION OF SPECIFIC LEGISLATION AND POLICIES TO BENEFIT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN MICHIGAN.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 1993.

    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.