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Highfields Inc

EIN 38-6099698 · Onondaga, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO CHILDREN, YOUTHS, FAMILIES AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN LIVES AND TO STRENGTHEN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS.

Income
$9.0 million
Spending
$8.3 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 63%
Employees
308
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$140,610, president/ceo

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

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 63% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 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 April 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 (4)
  1. $2.6 million spent. COMMUNITY BASED TREATMENT SERVICES CONTINUED TO BE PROVIDED IN 10 MID-MICHIGAN COUNTIES. SERVICES SUPPLIED SUPPORT AND AID TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN HOMES, SCHOOLS AND OTHER COMMUNITY BASED SETTINGS. SERVICES ADDRESSED A RANGE OF ISSUES FOR CLIENTS SERVED, INCLUDING BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, FAMILY VIOLENCE, LACK OF RESOURCES, PARENTING SKILLS, ACADEMIC SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND PROBLEM SOLVING. THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH CONTRACTS WITH THE MDHHS, CMH AUTHORITIES, COURTS AND COMMERCIAL INSURANCES.
  2. $1.9 million spent. THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM IS LICENSED BY THE STATE OF MICHIGAN AS A CHILD CARING INSTITUTION (CCI). DURING THE FY, THE PROGRAM'S QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM (QRTP) STATUS RECEIVED RECERTIFICATION. THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM PROVIDES CARE 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK, 365 PER YEAR, AND SERVES YOUTH WITH DISORDERS IN CONDUCT AND ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIORS ELEVATED TO THE LEVEL WHERE OUT OF HOME PLACEMENT IS NEEDED. THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM SERVICES MALES AGES 12-17. THE PROGRAM SUPPLIES SAFE AND STRUCTURED GROUP LIVING EXPERIENCES FOR YOUTH, ASSISTING THEM IN MODIFYING THEIR BEHAVIORS SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO RESOLVE DAY TO DAY CHALLENGES, MAKE BETTER CHOICES AND CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR BEHAVIORS BEFORE ACTING. REFERRALS FOR THE PROGRAM COME THROUGH THE MDHHS AND/OR COURTS.
  3. $1.4 million spent. THE REACHING HIGHER AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM CONTINUED TO BE PROVIDED AT FIVE SCHOOLS IN JACKSON COUNTY AND FIVE SCHOOLS IN INGHAM COUNTY. THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH 21ST CENTURY GRANTS OVERSEEN BY THE MDE AND IS DESIGN TO IMPROVE ACADEMICS, SUPPLY ENRICHMENT, IMPROVE PEER RELATIONSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT IN SCHOOL.BREAKTHROUGH IS HIGHFIELDS EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT HAS SERVED BUSINESSES, COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, SCHOOLS, AND YOUTH GROUPS FOR MANY YEARS. THROUGH THE USE EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVITIES PARTICIPANTS LEARN COMMUNICATION, PROBLEM SOLVING, TEAM BUILDING, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, LEADERSHIP. DURING THE FY BREAKTHROUGH CONTINUED TO BE ON A LIMITED SCHEDULE DUE TO THE CONTINUATION OF THE PHE, AND STAFFING. THE PROGRAM DID HOLD NUMBER OF GROUPS FOR REPEAT CUSTOMERS DURING THE YEAR.HIGHFIELDS COMPLETED ITS NATIONAL COA REACCREDITATION IN 2023 FOR ALL ITS SERVICES AND RECEIVED EXPEDITED STATUS WITH NO REMEDIATION REQUIRED.
  4. $826,677 spent. THE INGHAM ACADEMY IS AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL FOR COURT INVOLVED YOUTH WHO ARE ON PROBATION THROUGH THE 30TH JUDICIAL COURT. THE PROGRAM IS DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COURT, THE ISD AND HIGHFIELDS. HIGHFIELDS PROVIDES BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT AND INTERVENTION FOR THE YOUTH TAKING PART IN THE PROGRAM. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, HIGHFIELDS CONTINUED TO INTEGRATE A SUPPORT ZONE INTO THE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH WHO WERE STRUGGLING IN THE CLASSROOM SETTING TO BETTER GET THE HELP NEEDED TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM IN A SHORTER TIME FRAME. ADDITIONAL TREATMENT GROUPS, BEHAVIOR PLANS AND MINDFULNESS ACTIVITIES WERE INTEGRATED AS A PART OF THIS.HORIZON ALSO TAKES PLACE IN THE INGHAM COUNTY FAMILY CENTER. HIGHFIELDS PROVIDES THIS SERVICE UNDER A CONTRACT WITH THE 30TH JUDICIAL COURT. THE PROGRAM IS OFFERED WEEKDAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR: M-W-F IS FOR UP TO 20 HIGH RISK YOUTH; T-TH IS FOR MODERATE RISK. HIGHFIELDS PROVIDES THE STAFFING FOR THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING ALL DIRECT SERVICES AND TREATMENT. DURING THE FY, HIGHFIELDS CONTINUED TO USE THE EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM MORAL RECOGNITION AS ITS MODEL FOR COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL GROUPS PROVIDED FOR PARTICIPATING YOUTH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending April 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1965.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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