Detroit International Research and Education Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DIREF ENCHANCES CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, DEVELOPS CONTACTS, AND OPENS CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION FOR INVESTMENT AND OTHER BUSINESS ACTIVITIES BY PROMOTING, SUPPORTING, AND ADMINISTERING EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS IN HEALTHCARE IN GENERAL AND IN ONCOLOGICAL SURGERY IN PARTICULAR.
- Income
- $116,460
- Spending
- $152,206
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- 11.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 2
- Highest pay
- $25,992, executive di
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
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (medical research, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1561% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (medical research, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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)
- $74,697 spent. RESEARCH GRANTS - RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO BE CONDUCTED AT WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
- A DETROIT FELLOWSHIP, ESTABLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE INDIAN ASSOCIATION OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, WHICH COVERS ACCOMODATION AND LIVING EXPENSES FOR INTERNATIONAL PHYSICIANS TO UNDERTAKE ADVANCED STUDIES IN ONCOLOGY AT THE KARMANOS CANCER INSTITUTE.
- PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES INCLUDING THE ANNUAL INDIAN ASSOCIATION OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY THAT ROTATES AMONG THREE HOSPITALS IN BRAZIL.
- $18,668 spent. KCI RESEARCH
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.