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Passes our checks

Congress of Communities

EIN 81-2759276 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND FACILITATE COLLABORATION OF RESIDENT, YOUTH AND STAKEHOLDERS TO FOSTER A VIBRANT AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$929,301
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
8.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
8
Highest pay
$95,436, 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    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, 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. $701,195 spent. SERVED 400 FAMILIES AND 600 CHILDREN IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD MONTHLY PLAYGROUP PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE CHILD DEVELOPMENT. GRADUATED 13 NEW PARENT LEADERS IN THE TAKING ACTION POR NUESTROS NINOS (TANN) PROGRAM TO BUILD THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND SERVED 31 CONTINUING PARENT LEADERS IN THE TANN ACTION TEAM TO DO EDUCATION ADVOCACY WORK. SHARED FREE RESOURCES, EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO OVER 800 FAMILIES EACH MONTH VIA TEXT.
  2. SERVED 19 YOUTH WEEKLY IN THE LATINX YOUTH COUNCIL PROGRAM TO BUILD LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND SUPPORT THEIR COLLEGE AND CAREER GOALS. HOSTED 13 YOUTH FOR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT WITH THE GROW DETROIT'S YOUNG TALENT PROGRAM, INVOLVED OVER 80 YOUTH AGES 13-24 YRS IN PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR INCLUDING THE LATINX YOUTH COUNCIL, YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD, YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALING PROGRAM, AND DETROIT CREATIVE SOCIETY.
  3. SUPPORTED 6 LOCAL BLOCK CLUBS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS TO AMPLIFY RESIDENT VOICE AND MITIGATE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF GENTRIFICATION. COLLECTED SURVEYS FROM OVER 250 HOUSEHOLDS. SHARED FREE RESOURCES, EVENTS AND PROGRAMS WITH OVER 2,500 RESIDENTS VIA EMAIL EACH MONTH. LOCATED AND SECURED A SITE FOR A FUTURE CHLID CARE CENTER TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND BEGAN FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND CONTRACTED AN ARCHITECT FOR THE DESIGN. CANVASSED OVER 1,000 HOUSEHOLDS TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY 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 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 July 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.