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Council of Michigan Foundations Inc

EIN 38-6263347 · Detroit, MI

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO LEAD, STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT MICHIGAN'S COMMUNITY OF PHILANTHROPY.

Income
$5.8 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
31.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 41%
Employees
33
Volunteers
340
Highest pay
$343,202, president/ceo

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 31.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 23 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 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 (4)
  1. $3.6 million spent. AS A MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATION OF FOUNDATIONS & CORPORATE GIVING PROGRAMS, CMF PROVIDES RESOURCES TO MEMBERS THROUGH ITS WEBSITE, SEMINARS, CONFERENCES AND PUBLICATIONS. CMF IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF FOUNDATIONS & CORPORATE GIVING PROGRAMS REGARDING LEGISLATIVE & REGULATORY ISSUES THAT AFFECT CHARITABLE GIVING & THE NONPROFIT SECTOR.
  2. $824,520 spent. CMF HAS AN OFFICE IN LANSING THAT WORKS DIRECTLY WITH THE GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN. THE OFFICE OF FOUNDATION LIAISON WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2003 TO MANAGE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN FOUNDATIONS AND STATE GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF MICHIGAN CITIZENS. FUNDED BY FOUNDATIONS, THE OFFICE OF THREE STAFF IS LOCATED IN LANSING WITH DIRECT ACCESS TO THE GOVERNOR.
  3. $516,929 spent. THE STATEWIDE EQUITY FUND IS A CMF MEMBER-DRIVEN FUND TO EMPOWER MICHIGAN PHILANTHROPY TO STRATEGICALLY POOL RESOURCES TOWARD EQUITABLE SYSTEMIC CHANGE.
  4. $682,791 spent. CMF, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SEVERAL MEMBERS, HAS DEVELOPED A TWO-YEAR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM TO INTRODUCE RECENT DIVERSE COLLEGE GRADUATES TO THE FIELD OF PHILANTHROPY, WITH THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF INCREASING THE DIVERSITY OF FOUNDATION STAFF. UNDER THIS PROGRAM, FELLOWS WORK APPROXIMATELY FOUR DAYS PER WEEK WITH MEMBER FOUNDATIONS AND ONE DAY PER WEEK WITH CMF.

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 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 March 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 June 1976.

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

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of December 31, 1990. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 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.