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Passes our checks

Detroit Change Initiative

EIN 81-5264149 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Detroit Change Initiative. I founded the Detroit Change Initiative a non-profit that educates people about resources available in their community connects them to opportunities to influence the changes they want to see and creates a platform that amplifies peoples voices for collective change.DCI began by focusing on voter education voter engagement voter mobilization voter protection youth leadership and development. When the pandemic first hit DCI leveraged that community trust and kept working to activate change led by the voices of our people. With growing partnerships like Michigan Voice We Found Hip Hop and Pullup Neighbor over 25,000 food boxes were distributed. But we didnt just give away food. We also provided voter registration and education PPE and guidance on how to keep themselves and their families safe.

Income
$231,407
Spending
$231,407
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 100% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    3 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

    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, 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 (8)
  1. $87,575 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO HAVE CITIZENS TO REGISTER TO VOTE.
  2. $54,920 spent. Take Action to Heart work will be delivered in a phased approach using system and policy change strategies to create long-term sustainable impact. The overall The goal is to integrate and normalize trained community members who are embedded within areas of need to deliver life-saving interventions CERP plan CPR first aid defibrillators etc. provide ongoing heart health education within existing programs and to create policies mandating the needed training staffing and maintenance of this programming.
  3. $41,422 spent. Provide local communities with information on what is happening in their area through outreach and services.
  4. $16,500 spent. Effectively engaged health care organizations public health officials faith leaders and African American communities in health promotion and disease prevention work. Their mission is to provide opportunities that count toward making a meaningful difference in the overall equity and inclusion of its community members through coalition capacity-building and advocacy for equity-centered policies.
  5. $12,450 spent. The inability to obtain a government-issued ID birth certificate or Social Security card prevents thousands of students from accessing vital opportunities. We Are IDD removes this barrier by covering ID application fees birth certificates and Social Security cards assisting with documentation and facilitating transportation to processing locations. This year we aim to provide 25,000 students across Southeastern Michigan with the necessary identification documents starting in Detroit Wayne Oakland and Macomb counties and expanding our efforts across the state.
  6. 165,728 COVID VACCINE CONTACT OUTREACH in Detroit Michigan. Three thousand one hundred twenty people were receiving the vaccine.
  7. Recruiting high school students to participate in after-school civics programs with the opportunity to work at the polls on election day is a fantastic way to engage young people in the democratic process and foster civic responsibility.
  8. Polling Community members who used the early voting option and see what their experience was and ask why they voted.

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 October 13, 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 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 2025.

    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 September 2019.

    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.