Muskegon County Community Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MUSKEGON COUNTY IS TO BUILD COMMUNITY ENDOWMENT, EFFECT POSITIVE CHANGE THROUGH GRANTMAKING AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP ON KEY COMMUNITY ISSUES, ALL TO SERVE DONORS' DESIRES TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR REGION, NOW AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME
- Income
- $19.4 million
- Spending
- $18.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 47%
- Employees
- 67
- Volunteers
- 199
- Highest pay
- $199,484, secretary/president
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $4.1 million spent. EDUCATION - PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT FOR MUSKEGON COUNTY STUDENTS PURSUING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION; PROVIDE EDUCATION GRANTS TO SUPPORT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF CAREER AND COLLEGE READY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES; IMPROVE STUDENT ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EXTENDED LEARNING PROGRAMS AFTER SCHOOL AND DURING THE SUMMER.
- $3.8 million spent. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - ENCOURAGE PROGRAMS THAT MEET THE BASIC QUALITY OF LIFE NEEDS OF MUSKEGON COUNTY CHILDREN AND YOUTH; PROMOTE HEALTH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS THAT INCREASE THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE AVAILABLE IN MUSKEGON COUNTY WITH EMPHASIS ON THE NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND CHILDREN; ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT EMBRACE RACIAL DIVERSITY AND MULTICULTURALISM; PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES THROUGH EDUCATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMMING; SUPPORT EFFORTS THAT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN FROM BIRTH THROUGH AGE SIX, INCLUDING QUALITY CHILD CARE; SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO SUCCEED AND BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT.
- $7.5 million spent. ARTS - PRESERVE AND SUPPORT THE FRAUENTHAL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AS A SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY RESOURCE; ENCOURAGE QUALITY ARTS PROGRAMMING THAT BENEFITS A DIVERSE AUDIENCE; IMPROVE ACCESS TO YOUTH FOCUSED CULTURAL PROGRAMS; PROMOTE FINANCIAL STABILITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ART ORGANIZATIONS.
- $301,044 spent. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENT; EMERGING COMMUNITY NEEDS
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1966.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.