Michigan Founders Fund

What it says it does

MICHIGAN FOUNDERS FUND (MFF) HELPS ENTREPRENEURS AND THEIR TEAMS BECOME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY OPERATE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. MFF WILL PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND RESOURCES THAT EQUIP ENTREPRENEURS TO BECOME STRONGER LEADERS AND HELP THEM BUILD DIVERSE, EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE COMPANY CULTURES. MFF PROGRAMMING WILL ENABLE ENTREPRENEURS TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF THE BUSINESS ON MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS, SOCIETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. MFF WILL PROVIDE EVIDENCED-BASED DATA THAT EMPOWERS ENTREPRENEURS TO MAKE CHARITABLE FINANCIAL AND SERVICE CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING WORK OF MFF AND OTHER NONPROFIT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING ENTREPRENEURS AND STUDENTS IN STEM AND GENERATING POSITIVE, SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC BENEFITS TO COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT MICHIGAN. MFF WILL COLLABORATE WITH OTHER 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE THEIR WORK AND ORGANIZE SERVICE ACTIVITIES FOR ENTREPRENEURS.

Income

$1.9 million

Spending

$1.7 million

Spent on programs

80%

Reserves

4.4 months of spending

Largest source of income

government grants, 51%

Employees

6

Volunteers

50

Highest pay

$152,293, executive 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

• Reserves

  20 of 35

  Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

• Debt

  5 of 20

  It owes 56% of what it owns.

• Living within its means

  15 of 15

  Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

• Income trend

  15 of 15

  Income rose 61% on the year before.

• Spending floor

  15 of 15

  80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 40% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

• Independent board

  25 of 25

  4 of 5 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.

• Pay set independently

  5 of 5

  Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

• 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.

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. check_circle

   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. check_circle

   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. check_circle

   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. check_circle

   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 October 13, 2026.

5. check_circle

   How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

   Recognized by the IRS since January 2022.

   Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

6. check_circle

   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.