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Black Wall Street Kalamazoo

EIN 83-4127178 · Kalamazoo, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 20% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 2018, BLACK WALL STREET KALAMAZOO (BWSK) IS DEDICATED TO FOSTERING FINANCIAL WELL-BEING AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP. OUR MISSION FOCUSES ON THREE KEY PILLAR FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION, ADVOCACY FOR FAIR LENDING PRACTICES.

Income
$859,676
Spending
$777,352
Spent on programs
20%
Reserves
14 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 93%
Employees
1
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$80,451, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    20% 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

Strong: 91 out of 100.

  • 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

    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

    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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $153,852 spent. BLACK BUSINESS DIRECTORY: OUR WEBSITE SERVES AS AN INDISPENSABLE RESOURCE FOR THE KALAMAZOO AREA AND ITS SURROUNDING REGIONS OFFERING SEVERAL KEY FEATURES THAT ENHANCE THE VISIBILITY, CONNECTIVITY, AND SUCCESS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. VISIBILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY: OUR DIRECTORY IS A CENTRALIZED PLATFORM WHERE BLACK ENTREPRENEURS CAN LIST THEIR BUSINESSES, MAKING IT EASIER FOR CONSUMERS TO FIND AND SUPPORT THEM. SUPPORT FOR MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES: BY HIGHLIGHTING BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES, WE PROMOTE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS WHO MAY FACECHALLENGES IN GAINING MARKET ACCESS. THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR IS A HUB FOR LOCAL EVENTS
  2. BLACK ENTREPRENEUR TRAINING ACADEMY, B.E.T.A PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO CONTINUING TO CLOSE THE GAP OF INFORMATION, RESOURCES, ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND WEALTH BUILDING FOR BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS AND ENTREPRENEUR THIS IS DONE THROUGH INCREASING AWARENESS CREATING ACCESS TO RESOURCES EQUIPPING THEM WITH KNOWLEDGE WHILE INFUSING BUSINESSES WITH CAPITAL. 978 FREE OFFICE HOURSPROVIDED. 51 BUSINESSES HAVE GRADUATED THE PROGRAM. 220K IN EQUITY FREE CAPITAL DISPERSED TO ENTREPRENEURS.AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME INCREASED BY 32%. 89% OF BUSINESSES INCREASED SALES BY AT LEAST 20% OR MORE .11 BUSINESSES APPLIED FOR BUSINESS LOAN 95% OF B.E.T.A PARTICIPANTS WHO APPLY FOR EXTERNAL PITCH COMPETITIONS BECOME FINALIST AND OR WIN. 48 BUSINESSES FORMED A BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS.
  3. THE KALAMAZOO BLACK BUSINESS EXPO: THE EXPO FEATURES 75 MINORITY ENTREPRENEURS IS A CRUCIAL PLATFORM FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO SHOWCASE THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO A WIDE AUDIENCE OF OVER 1,000 ATTENDEES THE EXPO IS A VITAL EVENT FOR MINORITY ENTREPRENEURS AND THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDING INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISIBILITY, NETWORKING, AND GROWTH. IT ADDRESSES SIGNIFICANT REPRESENTATION. THE TANGIBLE BENEFITS, INCLUDING SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN SALES, CUSTOMER ACQUISITION, AND PARTNERSHIPS, UNDERSCORE THE EXPO IMPACT ON DRIVING BUSINESS SUCCESS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. BUSINESS GROWTH: ENTREPRENEURS WHO PARTICIPATED IN PAST EXPOS REPORTED AN AVERAGE SALES INCREASE OF 40% WITHIN SIX MONTHS FOLLOWING THE EVENT.
  4. BLACK BUSINESS DIRECTORY: OUR WEBSITE SERVES AS AN INDISPENSABLE RESOURCE FOR THE KALAMAZOO AREA AND ITS SURROUNDING REGIONS OFFERING SEVERAL KEY FEATURES THAT ENHANCE THE VISIBILITY, CONNECTIVITY, AND SUCCESS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. VISIBILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY: OUR DIRECTORY IS A CENTRALIZED PLATFORM WHERE BLACK ENTREPRENEURS CAN LIST THEIR BUSINESSES, MAKING IT EASIER FOR CONSUMERS TO FIND AND SUPPORT THEM.SUPPORT FOR MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES: BY HIGHLIGHTING BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES, WE PROMOTE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS WHO MAY FACECHALLENGES IN GAINING MARKET ACCESS. THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR IS A HUB FOR LOCAL EVENTS.

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 April 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.