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Grow & Lead - Community and Youth Development

EIN 38-3522344 · Marquette, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE PROVIDE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITH EXPERTISE, RESOURCES AND TRAINING SO THAT ALL YOUTH CAN THRIVE IN MICHIGAN'S UPPER PENINSULA.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$653,674
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 70%
Employees
7
Volunteers
39
Highest pay
$99,043, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $126,480 spent. INNOVATION & MISSION DRIVEN PROGRAMS - GROW & LEAD INVESTS IN RESEARCH, STAFF DEVELOPMENT, AND FIELD-LEVEL INNOVATION TO STRENGTHEN NONPROFIT AND YOUTH-SERVING SYSTEMS ACROSS MICHIGAN'S UPPER PENINSULA. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO MAINTAIN SUBJECT-MATTER EXPERTISE; RESEARCH, DESIGN, AND TESTING OF NEW CAPACITY-BUILDING TOOLS AND PROGRAMS; AND PARTICIPATION IN REGIONAL COMMITTEES AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS ADVANCING NONPROFIT EFFECTIVENESS, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY PRACTICES.
  2. $236,558 spent. SERVICE DELIVERY PROGRAMS - GROW & LEAD PROVIDES CAPACITY-BUILDING SERVICES TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS MICHIGAN'S UPPER PENINSULA, INCLUDING TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND PEER LEARNING. BY STRENGTHENING NONPROFIT OPERATIONS, GROW & LEAD SUPPORTS EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY PHILANTHROPY AND WELL-MANAGED, SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING YOUTH-SERVING INITIATIVES. GROW & LEAD ALSO COORDINATES REGIONAL INITIATIVES INCLUDING THE U.P. NONPROFIT CONFERENCE, THE GIVE906 GIVINGTUESDAY CAMPAIGN, AND EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION WEEK, AN EVENT SUPPORTING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND EDUCATORS THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARDS IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
  3. $137,966 spent. COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING - GROW & LEAD STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY CAPACITY BY SUPPORTING COLLABORATION, SHARED LEARNING, AND ALIGNMENT ACROSS THE NONPROFIT AND PHILANTHROPIC ECOSYSTEM. STAFF SERVE ON BOARDS, COMMITTEES, AND CROSS-SECTOR INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON NONPROFIT EFFECTIVENESS, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. BY IMPROVING COORDINATION, GOVERNANCE, AND ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY ACROSS THE SECTOR, GROW & LEAD SUPPORTS COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS AND OTHER FUNDERS BY HELPING ENSURE THAT NONPROFITS ARE WELL-PREPARED TO IMPLEMENT, MANAGE, AND SUSTAIN SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES.

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? 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 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 June 2000.

    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.