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Access of West Michigan

EIN 38-3195190 · Grand Rapids, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ACCESS OF WEST MICHIGAN STRENGTHENS EQUITABLE SYSTEMS BY COORDINATING COMMUNITY RESOURCES, INVESTING IN LOCAL FOOD ACCESS AND EQUIPPING INSTITUTIONS TO RESPOND TO POVERTY WITH INFORMED AND COLLABORATIVE APPROACHES.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
6
Highest pay
$59,260, co-executive director of operations

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 27% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 65% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 75% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $569,215 spent. GOOD FOOD SYSTEM. GOOD FOOD SYSTEMS REMAINED THE ORGANIZATIONS PRIMRY AREA OF ACTIVITY IN FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2025. ACCESS OF WEST MICHIGAN RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY $574,000 IN SUPPORT FOR FOOD SYSTEM INITIATIVES AND PASSED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY $456,000 TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS, STRENGTHENING LOCAL FOOD ACCESS INFRASTRUCTURE ACCROSS WEST MICHIGAN. FUNDING INCLUDING RAPID RELIEF RESOURCES AND STABILIZATION GRANTS, INCLUDING SUPPORT FROM THE WK KELLOGG FOUNDATION AND CDV5. RESOURCES WERE DIRECTED TOWARD FOOD ACCESS INITIATIVES AND LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY PARTNERS, REINFORCING COMMUNITY BASED DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS AND ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY. ACCESS OF WEST MICHIGAN ALSO RAISED APPROXIMATELY $48,000 THROUGH THE WALK FOR GOOD FOOD FUNDRAISER TO SUPPORT THIS WORK. IN A YEAR MARKED BY LEADERSHIP TRANSITION, GOOD FOOD SYSTEMS OPERATIONS CONTINUED UNINTERRUPTED, ENSURING THAT COMMITTED FUNDS WERE RESPONSIBILY STEWARDED AND DISBURSED TO PARTNERS.
  2. $413,539 spent. CONGREGATION CONNECTION PROGRAM. CONGREGATIONS CONNECTIONS MAINTAINED ACTIVE COLLABORATION WITH APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 CONGREGATIONS ACROSS KENT COUNTY. ACCESS OF WEST MICHIGAN CONTINUED TO COORDINATE AND DIRECTLY MOVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORS FACING HOUSING AND UTILITY INSTABILITY. THE PROGRAM SUSTAINED CROSS DENOMINATIONAL COORDINATION DURING A LEADERSHIP TRANSITION PERIOD, MAINTAINING CONTINUITY OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FLOWS AND REDUCING DUPLICATION AMONG CONGREGATIONAL EFFORTS.
  3. $68,603 spent. POVERTY EDUCATION PROGRAM. POVERTY EDUCATION PROGRAMMING CONTINUED DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2025, THOUGH DELIVERY VOLUME DECREASED MODESTLY COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR DUE TO LEADERSHIP RESTRUCTURING AND THE ABSENCE OF A PERMANENT PROGRAM MANAGER FOR A PART OF THE YEAR. THE PROGRAM CONTINUED TO CONTRACT STAFF WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF POVERTY AND DELIVERED WORKSHOPS FOCUSED ON SYSTEMS LEVEL UNDERSTANDING OF ECONOMIC INSTABILITY. ACCESS OF WEST MICHIGAN INTENTIONALLY PRESERVED CURRICULUM INTEGRIY AND STAFFING CONTINUITY WHILE STABILIZING ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP.
  4. $50,156 spent. DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2025, ACCESS OPERATED FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS UNDER INTERIM LEADERSHIP FOLLOWING A MAJOR LEADERSHIP TRANSITION. GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT STRUCTURES WERE STRENGTHENED DURING THIS PERIOD, RESULTING IN IMPROVED FISCAL MANAGEMENT AND DISCIPLINED STEWARDSHIP OF RESTRICTED AND PASS-THROUGH FUNDS.
  5. TRAINING PROGRAMS - SPONSORSHIP OF BUDGET CLASSES, HUNGER EDUCATION SEMINARS, VOLUNTEER TRAINING AND NETWORK MEETINGS.

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 1995.

    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.