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Detroit Is Different Community Group

EIN 87-3565117 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DETROIT IS DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GROUP IS COMMITTED TO EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING LEGACY DETROITERS BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO PLATFORMS AND STORYTELLING METHODS OFTEN EXCLUDED FROM MAINSTREAM MEDIA. THROUGH CULTURALLY CENTERED PROGRAMMING, THE ORGANIZATION AMPLIFIES THE VOICES, EXPERIENCES, AND PERSPECTIVES OF DETROITS BLACK COMMUNITY.GUIDED BY THE PRINCIPLES OF KWANZAA, DETROIT IS DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GROUP FOSTERS MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT, SELF-DETERMINATION, AND COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS WITHIN DETROIT NEIGHBORHOODS.

Income
$149,649
Spending
$78,514
Spent on programs
45%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 60%
Employees
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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 48% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    45% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (3)
  1. CULTURAL PRESERVATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTDETROIT IS DIFFERENT CONTINUES TO FOSTER COMMUNITY HEALING THROUGH CULTURE, LEVERAGING MEDIA, EVENTS, AND ENGAGEMENT TO UPLIFT BLACK DETROITERS. IN 2024, WE SUCCESSFULLY EXPANDED OUR INITIATIVES TO STRENGTHEN CULTURAL PRESERVATION, HEALTH ADVOCACY, MENTORSHIP, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ON SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES.COLLARD GREEN COOK-OFF: EXPANDED OUR SIGNATURE EVENT TO ENGAGE OVER 1,500 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CELEBRATING BLACK CULINARY TRADITIONS WHILE FOSTERING COMMUNITY UNITY AND INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTION.STEP UP CHALLENGE: LAUNCHED A FITNESS INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOPE VILLAGE REVITALIZATION, ENCOURAGING BLACK MEN TO PRIORITIZE CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH. OVER 30 PARTICIPANTS TOOK PART IN STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES PROMOTING WELLNESS AND COMMUNITY BONDING.MY MOMS MY FIRST FAN: HOSTED A MENTORSHIP EVENT BRINGING TOGETHER NFL MOMS AND LOCAL FOOTBALL MOMS TO SUPPORT YOUTH ATHLETIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP.THESE INITIATIVES ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION TO PROMOTE CULTURAL AWARENESS, HEALTH EQUITY, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WHILE ENSURING ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT UPLIFT AND EMPOWER HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. CULTURAL PRESERVATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTDETROIT IS DIFFERENT CONTINUES TO FOSTER COMMUNITY HEALING THROUGH CULTURE, LEVERAGING MEDIA, EVENTS, AND ENGAGEMENT TO UPLIFT BLACK DETROITERS. IN 2024, WE SUCCESSFULLY EXPANDED OUR INITIATIVES TO STRENGTHEN CULTURAL PRESERVATION, HEALTH ADVOCACY, MENTORSHIP, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ON SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES.COLLARD GREEN COOK-OFF: EXPANDED OUR SIGNATURE EVENT TO ENGAGE OVER 1,500 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CELEBRATING BLACK CULINARY TRADITIONS WHILE FOSTERING COMMUNITY UNITY AND INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTION.STEP UP CHALLENGE: LAUNCHED A FITNESS INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOPE VILLAGE REVITALIZATION, ENCOURAGING BLACK MEN TO PRIORITIZE CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH. OVER 30 PARTICIPANTS TOOK PART IN STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES PROMOTING WELLNESS AND COMMUNITY BONDING.MY MOMS MY FIRST FAN: HOSTED A MENTORSHIP EVENT BRINGING TOGETHER NFL MOMS AND LOCAL FOOTBALL MOMS TO SUPPORT YOUTH ATHLETIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP.THESE INITIATIVES ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION TO PROMOTE CULTURAL AWARENESS, HEALTH EQUITY, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WHILE ENSURING ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT UPLIFT AND EMPOWER HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
  2. $35,571 spent. MY NATURAL HAIR SHOW: HELD AN EVENT CELEBRATING NATURAL HAIR AND CREATIVITY, UPLIFTING COMMUNITY PRESENCE AND CULTURE BY SHOWCASING THE ARTISTRY, HERITAGE, AND BEAUTY OF NATURAL HAIRSTYLES. THE EVENT FOSTERED CONVERSATIONS ON SELF-EXPRESSION, IDENTITY, AND HOLISTIC BEAUTY WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.THESE INITIATIVES ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION TO PROMOTE CULTURAL AWARENESS, HEALTH EQUITY, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WHILE ENSURING ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT UPLIFT AND EMPOWER HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
  3. MY NATURAL HAIR SHOW: HELD AN EVENT CELEBRATING NATURAL HAIR AND CREATIVITY, UPLIFTING COMMUNITY PRESENCE AND CULTURE BY SHOWCASING THE ARTISTRY, HERITAGE, AND BEAUTY OF NATURAL HAIRSTYLES. THE EVENT FOSTERED CONVERSATIONS ON SELF-EXPRESSION, IDENTITY, AND HOLISTIC BEAUTY WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.THESE INITIATIVES ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION TO PROMOTE CULTURAL AWARENESS, HEALTH EQUITY, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WHILE ENSURING ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT UPLIFT AND EMPOWER HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

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 March 2022.

    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.

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