Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Michigan Environmental Land Conservancy

EIN 46-2023510 · Superior Twp, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT LAND THROUGHOUT MICHIGAN IN ORDER TO PRESERVE NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS, PROTECT WATER QUALITY, PROVIDE SANCTUARIES FOR WILDLIFE AND BENEFIT PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE SERVE AS AN INTERMEDIARY AND MAINTAIN ACQUIRED PROPERTIES UNTIL THEY CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT ENTITY FOR PERMANENT PROTECTION AND STEWARDSHIP.

Income
$31,973
Spending
$130,313
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
-92.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
0
Volunteers
20

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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 51% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 308% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $127,867 spent. ACQUIRE LAND FOR PUBLIC PARKS AND NATURE PRESERVES. ACQUIRED A 2.1 ACRE PARCEL NEXT TO THE WILLIAM P. HOLLIDAY FOREST & WILDLIFE PRESERVE IN THE CITY OF WESTLAND. INTEND TO TRANSFER THE PROPERTY TO WAYNE COUNTY PARKS TO IMPROVE THE CONNECTIVITY OF A NARROW PORTION OF THIS LINEAR PRESERVE.
  2. $2,394 spent. MAINTAIN LAND FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT. ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC HIKING TRAILS, WORK TO CONTROL INVASIVE SPECIES, MAINTAIN PUBLIC ACCESS AREAS AND PAY ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENT AND HOLDING COSTS. MAINTENANCE EFFORTS IN 2024 OCCURRED AT OUR MARQUETTE PRAIRIE PRESERVE IN THE CITY OF WESTLAND, WAYNE COUNTY MI AND AT THE 162-ACRE BIRDSONG NATURE PRESERVE IN SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP, WASHTENAW COUNTY MI.
  3. PROVIDE SUPPORT TO LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS BY OTHERS. PROVIDE GRANTS TO OTHER 501(c)3 CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS OR TO GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO ACQUIRE PUBLIC PARKS OR NATURE PRESERVES. NO GRANTS PROVIDED IN 2024. PREVIOUS GRANTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN LAND CONSERVANCY AND TO WASHTENAW COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION.

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

  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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2014 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on December 15, 2014.

    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 December 2024.

    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 January 2015.

    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.