Fresh Start Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
AS A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO HELP MEMBERS OF THE ORTHODOX JEWISH COMMUNITY IN MICHIGAN AND ELSEWHERE TO OVERCOME EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES, ORIGINATING FROM UNRESOLVED CHILDHOOD ISSUES, TRAUMA,ABUSE AND OTHER ISSUES. THE ORTHODOX JEWISH COMMUNITY IS INSULAR AND CULTURALLY UNIQUE AND AS SUCH REQUIRES A UNIQUE APPROACH IN DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH RELATED STRUGGLES.
- Income
- $722,249
- Spending
- $825,861
- Spent on programs
- 57%
- Reserves
- -9.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 60%
- Employees
- 4
- Highest pay
- $135,566, 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
Weak: 17 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 286% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1557% 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
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (2)
- $462,253 spent. OUR PROGRAM IS THE ACTUAL PROVISION TO THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE GOAL IS TO DELIVER A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES. THIS INCLUDES RETREATS, PARENTING WORKSHOPS AND REFERRAL NETWORKS TO MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM IS CALLED THE FRESH START RETREAT. IT IS AN INTENSIVE 7 DAY RETREAT DESIGNED FOR MEN AND WOMEN WHO WANT TO UNDERSTAND, PROCESS AND HEAL FROM UNRESOLVED TRAUMA, NEGLECT AND ABUSE. THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT DOES NOT PRESCRIBE MEDICINE.
- $8,002 spent. THIS PROGRAM INVOLVES EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT TRAUMA AND MENTAL HEALTH, THEREBY ELIMINATING STIGMA, LABELS AND PREJUDICE. THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE COMMUNITY LECTURES, SUPPORT GROUPS AND PUBLISHED MATERIALS. PROMOTING HEALING AND RECOVERY WITHIN THE ORTHODOX COMMUNITY, INCLUDING SCHOOLS AND SYNAGOGUES, THROUGH EDUCATION AND TRAINING. THE TRAINING INCLUDES EDUCATING TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, TRAINING OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND CLERGY IN THE COMMUNITY.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2023.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.