Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Design for Life

EIN 92-2282823 · Ann Arbor, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DESIGN FOR LIFE, (THE "CORPORATION"), WILL DEVELOP TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, UNDERTAKE RESEARCH, AND PROVIDE EDUCATION AND UNBIASED INSIGHTS THAT WILL IMPROVE THE EFFICACY OF NONPROFITS AND GOVERNMENTS TO PROVIDE IMPROVED PLANNING AND DESIGN CAPABILITIES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD DISTRIBUTION, AND DISASTER RELIEVE SUPPLIES DISTRIBUTION TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES (LMIC).

Income
$312,900
Spending
$663,158
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
1
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$245,966, 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

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 112% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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, 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 (3)
  1. $438,733 spent. TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS - AS PART OF OUR MISSION WE HAVE DEVELOPED A SOFTWARE SOLUTION TO HELP LOW AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES DO HEALTH CAMPAIGN PLANNING IN A BETTER WAY, USING DESIGN PRINCIPLES. THIS SOLUTION IS FREELY AVAILABLE FOR THE MINISTRIES OF HEALTH OF SAID COUNTRIES. THE FIRST TWO PILOT IMPLEMENTATIONS ARE TO BE DONE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CAMPAIGN PLANNING IN RWANDA AND KENYA, SUPPORTING A JOINT POPULATION OF 68M PEOPLE.
  2. $47,150 spent. RESEARCH AND INSIGHTS BASED ON ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC GLOBAL SYSTEM PERFORMANCE THROUGH TIME. UNBIASED VIEW AT TRENDS & IMPACT TO SPUR FURTHER ACTION. DEVELOP INSIGHTS DATABASE FROM SUPPLY CHAIN DESIGN ANALYSIS ACROSS LMIC, SERVING AS A REFERENCE FOR IMPROVEMENT AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES. DEVELOPING A COMPETENCY MODEL AND TOOLING TO SUPPORT SUPPLY CHAIN DESIGN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IN LMIC
  3. $16,125 spent. ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION - RESEARCH AND SOLUTIONS TO BRING SUSTAINABILITY INTO THE DESIGN DISCUSSIONS FOR THESE SYSTEMS. WORKSHOPS TO EDUCATE ON DESIGN THINKING APPROACH TO LOOK AT GLOBAL SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT LIFE. DEVELOPING A SOLUTION FOR LMIC TO MORE EFFICIENTLY RUN PUBLIC HEALTH CAMPAIGNS.

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. 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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 2024.

    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 November 4, 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.