Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Provide low-cost legal services to immigrants and refugees seeking to make a home in the city of Detroit. Offer low-cost housing to immigrants and refugees who have difficulty finding long-term residency in the city of Detroit. Assist businesses owned by Detroit residents.
- Income
- $830,407
- Spending
- $777,313
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 16
- Volunteers
- 196
- Highest pay
- $80,000, executive director
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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 39% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% 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: 66 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 253 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
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 (1)
- $633,804 spent. 2024 Accomplishments: 1. 8,648 client appointments at 225 daily clinic sessions--averaged 38.5 clients at each clinic. 2. Completed and filed 1,152 asylum applications that provided protection to 6,912 individuals. 3. Completed and filed 864 employment authorization documents (712 approved and issued) that provided income for hundreds of local families. 4. Attended 162 hearings at Immigration Court--47 cases dismissed, 28 granted asylum. Another 32 individuals were granted asylum by USCIS. 5. Attended 58 hearings at various local and state courts that protected individuals from false claims, saw 17 guardians appointed, and others won the ability to remain in their homes. 6. Maintained an active docket of 47 probate cases in Oakland and Wayne counties that allowed 16 families to obtain title to heirs property and supplied legal guardians for 25 at-risk persons. 7. Assisted 39 minors with their asylum and Special Immigrant Juvenile visas. 8. Filed visa petitions for 89 persons, and filed 125 adjustment of status applications (green cards) 9. Filed 78 family reunification petitions for refugees and asylees, with 11 family members approved to enter the U.S. 10. Filed 23 visa applications on behalf of crime victims, trafficked persons, and victims of domestic violence.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2015.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.