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Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation

EIN 38-3353746 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak26 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF DESC IS TO CULTIVATE LOCAL WORKFORCE TALENT TO ALIGN WITH THE NEEDS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH KEY WORKFORCE AGENCIES, FAITH- AND COMMUNITY- BASED ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATION AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, AND PHILANTHROPIC, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.

Income
$72.6 million
Spending
$79.1 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
-0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 98%
Employees
215
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$193,542, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 26 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 91% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 June 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 (10)
  1. $16.9 million spent. WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA) IS A UNITED STATES PUBLIC LAW THAT REPLACED THE PREVIOUS WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT OF 1998 (WIA) AS THE PRIMARY FEDERAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT LEGISLATION TO BRING ABOUT INCREASED COORDINATION AMONG FEDERAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED PROGRAMS. DESC USES WIOA FUNDS TO PROVIDE CAREER, TRAINING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 3,000 ADULT AND YOUTH RESIDENTS EACH YEAR. THEY PARTICIPATE IN JOB READINESS WORKSHOPS, OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING, CAREER PLANNING AND JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES.
  2. $14.3 million spent. TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) IS A FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF THE UNITED STATES. IT BEGAN ON JULY 1, 1997 AND SUCCEEDED THE AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN (AFDC) PROGRAM, PROVIDING CASH ASSISTANCE TO INDIGENT AMERICAN FAMILIES THROUGH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. THE STATE OF MICHIGAN USES TANF FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE PATH (PARTNERSHIP. ACCOUNTABILITY. TRAINING. HOPE.) PROGRAM THAT DELIVERS WORKFORCE SERVICES TO CUSTODIAL PARENTS ON CASH ASSISTANCE. THROUGH PATH, CUSTOMERS ENGAGE IN WORK RELATED ACTIVITIES INCLUDING JOB READINESS WORKSHOPS, WORK EXPERIENCE, COMMUNITY SERVICE, OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING, JOB SEARCH AND JOB PLACEMENT. WE SERVE APPROXIMATELY 4,000 INDIVIDUALS PER YEAR.
  3. $11.4 million spent. THE JUMPSTART PROGRAM - DESC SERVES AS THE SUBRECIPIENT, FIDUCIARY AND ADMINISTRATOR ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF DETROIT FOR THE ARPA FUNDED JUMPSTART PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS AND RESPONDS TO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID BY CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS TO JOB PLACEMENT, WORK READINESS TRAINING, AND/OR EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO INCREASE THE SKILLSETS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN UNDEREMPLOYED FOR AT LEAST 24 WEEKS. THE PROGRAM REQUIRES PARTICIPANTS TO UNDERTAKE AN EMPLOYMENT OR SKILLS TRAINING OPPORTUNITY IN ADDITION TO ATTENDING JOB READINESS TRAINING AND FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOPS. PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE STIPENDS TO ASSIST WITH COMMON BARRIERS TO SUCCESS, SUCH AS HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, AND/OR CHILDCARE COSTS. TO HELP PARTICIPANTS PROGRESS THROUGH THE PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS WILL WORK WITH A CASE MANAGER OR IN-DETROIT ORGANIZATION (IDO) FOR RESOURCES SUPPORT. TO ENSURE IDOS ARE POSITIONED TO PROVIDE HELPFUL INFORMATION AND SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS DURING RECRUITMENT, DESC COORDINATES PERIODIC TRAININGS TO IDOS TO BOOST PUBLIC PROGRAM KNOWLEDGE. THE JUMPSTART PROGRAM SUPPORTS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION FOR 24 WEEKS OR MORE AND WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH INCENTIVES AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS IN THE WORKFORCE THAT REMAIN IN THE PROGRAM FOR UP TO 18 MONTHS AS THEY COMPLETE THEIR CHOSEN EDUCATIONAL, TRAINING, OR WORK EXPERIENCE. PROGRAM ENDED JUNE 30, 2025.
  4. $8.0 million spent. SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT- GROW DETROIT'S YOUNG TALENT (GDYT) IS THE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF DETROIT. YOUTH AGES 14-24 ARE EMPLOYED OR TRAINED FOR 120 HOURS OVER A 6 WEEK PERIOD IN THE MONTHS OF JULY AND AUGUST AND EARN A WAGE OR STIPEND. PRIOR TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT, YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN 12 HOURS OF WORK READINESS TRAINING INCLUSIVE OF COMMUNICATION, CRITICAL THINKING, DIGITAL LITERACY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. WORK EXPERIENCE INCLUDES CAREER PATHWAY, COMMUNITY BASED AND CORPORATE INTERNSHIPS.
  5. $6.6 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
  6. $6.4 million spent. DETROIT AT WORK JOB TRAINING
  7. $3.2 million spent. ADULT HIGH SCHOOL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
  8. $2.9 million spent. SKILLS FOR LIFE
  9. $1.1 million spent. TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE (TAA). TAA IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO ACT AS A WAY TO REDUCE THE DAMAGING IMPACT OF IMPORTS FELT BY CERTAIN SECTORS OF THE U.S. ECONOMY. THE CURRENT STRUCTURE FEATURES FOUR COMPONENTS OF TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE: FOR WORKERS, FIRMS, FARMERS, AND COMMUNITIES. EACH CABINET LEVEL DEPARTMENT WAS TASKED WITH A DIFFERENT SECTOR OF THE OVERALL TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM FOR WORKERS IS THE LARGEST AND ADMINISTERED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. THE PROGRAM FOR FARMERS IS ADMINISTERED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND THE FIRMS AND COMMUNITIES' PROGRAMS ARE ADMINISTERED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. DESC CONTRACTS WITH ONE PROVIDER TO SERVE JOB SEEKERS LAID OFF BY A TAA QUALIFIED COMPANY. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES INTENSIVE, LONG-TERM SUPPORT, INCLUDING CAREER PLANNING, JOB READINESS WORKSHOPS, OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING, AND ROBUST SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. APPROXIMATELY 100 INDIVIDUALS ARE SERVED PER YEAR.
  10. $938,080 spent. COMMUNITY HEALTH CORPS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on November 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on December 15, 2011.

    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 June 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 November 2019.

    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.