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Diploma Equity Project

EIN 86-3315625 · Shelby Twp, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH K-12, HIGHER EDUCATION AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE RATES OF COLLEGE PERSISTENCE AND COMPLETION.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (education, $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

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $1.3 million spent. DIPLOMA EQUITY PROJECT DEP SUPPORTED A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES AIMED AT INCREASING THE COLLEGE COMPLETION RATES OF BOTH DETROITERS AND MICHIGANDERS IN SUPPORT OF THE STATES 60 HIGHER EDUCATION ATTAINMENT BY 2030 GOAL AS WELL AS CLOSING THE COMPLETION GAPS FOR STUDENTS BASED ON RACE, INCOME AND GEOGRAPHY. DEP FACILITATED PARTNERSHIPS WITH SEVEN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES AIMED AT REDESIGNING THEIR EXISTING STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS TO BETTER SERVE FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS AND RETURNING ADULT LEARNERS. ADDITIONALLY, DEP CONTINUED ITS SUPPORT OF DEGREE FORWARD, A COMPETENCY-BASED DEGREE PROGRAM THROUGH SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY THAT PROVIDES A FAST, FLEXIBLE, AND ACCREDITED DEGREE PROGRAM FOR WORKING ADULTS AND PAIRS THE ONLINE PROGRAMMING WITH THE WRAP AROUND SUPPORTS ADULT STUDENTS NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL LIKE CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTATION, AND SUCCESS COACHING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 November 2021.

    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.