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Harbor Shores Public Asset Fund Inc

EIN 46-4405437 · Benton Harbor, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HARBOR SHORES PUBLIC ASSET FUND, INC IS ENGAGED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL COMMUNITITES AND MUNICIPALITIES. IT OPERATES AS A SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION TO CORNERSTONE ALLIANCE, A PUBLIC CHARITY.

Income
$10.7 million
Spending
$7.2 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
100
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$273,714, treasurer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (3)
  1. $3.6 million spent. OPERATION OF A PUBLIC GOLF COURSE: HARBOR SHORES PUBLIC ASSET FUND, INC. ("HSPAF") IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY OF BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED, AS PART OF ITS MISSION TO RESTORE A BLIGHTED AREA OF THE COMMUNITY AND ENHANCE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO THIS AREA, HSPAF OWNED AND OPERATED A PUBLIC GOLF COURSE AND PUBLIC PARK AREA THAT IS OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY. THE GOLF COURSE IS PARTIALLY LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF BENTON HARBOR'S JEAN KLOCK PARK. THE CITY, THROUGH THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT IT CONTROLS, REVIEWS AND APPROVES THE OPERATIONS OF THE ENTIRE GOLF COURSE, INCLUDING THE FEES TO BE CHARGED TO THE PUBLIC. THIS ENSURES THAT THE FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE FOR THEIR RECREATIONAL ENJOYMENT. IN ADDITION, HSPAF PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY: 1. PROVIDED DAYS OF USE TO THE LOCAL FIRST TEE GOLF PROGRAM FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH, AT NO CHARGE. 2. PROVIDED DAYS OF USE TO LOCAL PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS FOR PRACTICE ROUNDS AND MATCHES, AT NO CHARGE. 3. PROVIDED UNLIMITED PASSES TO RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF BENTON HARBOR AT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED COST. 4. PROVIDED FREE USE OF THE PROPER TO AREA RESIDENTS FOR WINTER ACTIVITIES WHEN CONDITIONS ALLOW FOR ACCESS TO THE COURSE WITHOUT THE RISK OF DAMAGE IN ADDITION, ALMOST HALF OF THE PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE ONGOING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE GOLF COURSE AND PARK ARE BENTON HARBOR RESIDENTS. MAINTAINING THIS LEVEL OF LOCAL RESIDENT EMPLOYMENT HAS AIDED IN LOWERING THE CITY'S SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT OF JEAN KLOCK PARK: PRIOR TO INVOLVEMENT BY HSPAF, JEAN KLOCK PARK HAD FALLEN INTO CONSIDERABLE DESPAIR. AS PART OF THE GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS, HSPAF MITIGATED CONTAMINATION, REMOVED TONS OF DEBRIS, AND RETURNED THE PARK TO A USEABLE STATE. EACH YEAR, HSPAF PROVIDES ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK PROPERTY. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED, HSPAF SPENT APPROXIMATELY $130,000 ON THESE ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING MOWING, LANDSCAPING, CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF WALKING TRAILS, CLEANING, AND MAINTENANCE OF WATERFRONT AREAS, ETC.
  2. $2.8 million spent. WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION COMMUNITY CHARITY GOLF EVENT: THE WHIRLPOOL COMMUNITY CHARITY GOLF EVENT (WCCGE) IS CONDUCTED EACH SUMMER. OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, THE WCCGE HAS RAISED OVER $30 MILLION TO SUPPORT AREA YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY. THE FUNDRAISING FROM THE WCCGE HAS ENABLED THE EXPANSION AND GROWTH OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE MONEY RAISED HELPS AROUND 10,000 YOUTH A YEAR. THESE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN, FIRST TEE OF BENTON HARBOR AND THE LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL FOUNDATIONS OF BENTON HARBOR, LAKESHORE AND ST. JOSEPH AS WELL AS OTHER YOUTH PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
  3. $80,581 spent. MICHIGAN'S GREAT SOUTHWEST STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP COUNCIL: THE ROLE OF THE COUNCIL IS TO BRING LEADERS FROM BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT, NONPROFIT, AND EDUCATION TOGETHER TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO ACHIEVE THE MISSION OF THE COUNCIL. LEADERS ARE BASED LOCALLY IN BERRIEN COUNTY, MI AND ARE ALL VOLUNTEER PARTICIPANTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 May 2016.

    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.