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Detroit Food & Entrepreneurship Academy

EIN 46-2408286 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DETROIT FOOD ACADEMY PARTNERS WITH LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, EDUCATORS, AND FOOD ENTREPRENEURS TO FACILITATE A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM. AS STUDENTS DEVELOP FOOD-BASED SOLUTIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, THEY GROW AS HOLISTIC LEADERS WHO ARE HEALTHY, CONNECTED, AND POWERFUL. DETROIT FOOD ACADEMY IS A NON- PROFIT YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH LOCAL EDUCATORS, CHEFS, AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO INSPIRE YOUNG DETROITERS THROUGH ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCES ROOTED IN FOOD--EXPERIENCES, WHICH OPEN DOORS, CREATE CONNECTIONS, AND CULTIVATE CONFIDENCE. FROM COOKING DELICIOUS HEALTHY MEALS FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO FACILITATING COMPLEX CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY, TO DEVELOPING ARTISANAL FOOD PROJECTS FROM SCRATCH TO MARKET, STUDENTS LEARN BY TRANSFORMING THEIR IDEAS INTO REALITY. BY DEVELOPING FOOD-BASED SOLUTIONS IN AND FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES, STUDENTS WILL ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF LEARNING TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS, IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS, AND GROW AS HOLISTIC LEADERS WHO ARE HEALTHY, CONNECTED, AND POWERFUL TO AFF

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
28
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$151,052, 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    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 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 (2)
  1. $713,288 spent. DETROIT FOOD ACADEMY OPERATES AN EXPERIENTIAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM DEDICATED TO TRANFORMING THE LIVES OF YOUNG DETROITERS THROUGH FOOD AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP. THE DETROIT FOOD ACADEMY OFFERED 4 PROGRAMS DURING THE 2024 YEAR: THE AFTERSCHOOL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, ADVANCED LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, SUMMER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, AND THE SMALL BATCH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. THESE PROGRAMS REACHED OVER 300 STUDENTS FROM 45 HIGH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SITES ACROSS DETROIT. STUDENTS WHO JOINED THE DETROIT FOOD ACADEMY'S YOUTH-LED, YEAR-LONG AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS MET REGULARLY TO COOK TOGETHER AND GROW THEIR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS AND TRANSFERRABLE WORK SKILLS. PROJECTS ALLOWED STUDENTS TO EXPLORE FOOD SYSTEMS, CULINARY ARTS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.
  2. $325,443 spent. THE SMALL BATCH DETROIT PROGRAM EMPLOYED YOUNG ADULTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF FOOD ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROJECTS, ALONG WITH PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, HANDS-ON TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, MENTORSHIP, AND INDIVIDUALIZED SUCCESS PATHWAY PLANNING.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 August 2013.

    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.

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.