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School Finance Research Foundation

EIN 92-2760615 · Lansing, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The School Finance Research Foundation was formed for the following purposes: A. To complete the Michigan School Infrastructure Study and Michigan School Energy Audit as funded by the State of Michigan and defined in Sections 11y and 11aa of the State School Aid Act, Public Act 144 of 2022 (11y) and Public Act 103 of 2023 (11aa); B. To conduct other activities in further promotion of public education; C. To receive and administer funds for the benefit of public education and to lessen the financial burdens of the Michigan public schools and the Michigan Department of Education; D. To raise funds from governmental units and the general public to promote public education; and E. To do such things and to perform such acts to accomplish its purposes as the Board of Directors may determine to be appropriate and as are not forbidden by Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, with all the power conferred on nonprofit corporations under the laws of the State of Michigan.

Income
$833,372
Spending
$10.0 million
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
20 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1105% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs.

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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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, 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 (2)
  1. $128,440 spent. State allocated funds for the 11y Infrastructure Study - The Study will consist of non-invasive facility condition assessments of the approximately 3,000 school buildings operated by Michigan's over 500 public school districts. Pursuant to Section 11y, the School Finance Research Foundation ("SFRF") will engage third-party Michigan-based professional construction firms (the "Engineers") to perform the individual school building facility assessments. Following the assessments, the Engineers will report to SFRF either of the following: 1) What investments, if any, are required to ensure that the building meets health, safety, and wellness standards and the estimated cost of the investments, if the Engineer does not determine that the most cost-effective way to bring a building to health, safety, and wellness standards is new construction. 2) The estimated cost of the new construction that meets the education needs of the student population currently being served by the existing building if the Engineer determines that the most cost-effective way to bring a building to health, safety, and wellness standards is new construction. Once all building facility assessments are completed, the SFRF will share the information obtained with the local districts. Additionally, SFRF will aggregate and summarize all information and data received from the Engineers and prepare a final report summarizing the results of all building facility assessments and provide the final report to the Michigan House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on School Aid, the State of Michigan Budget Director, the House and Senate Fiscal Agencies, and the Michigan Department of Education, as required by Section 11y.
  2. $9.9 million spent. State allocated funds for the 11aa Energy Audit - The Audit will consist of non-invasive assessments of the approximately 3,000 school buildings operated by Michigan's over 500 public school districts. Pursuant to Section 11aa, the School Finance Research Foundation ("SFRF") will engage qualified third-party Michigan-based professional firms (the "Firms") to perform the individual school building energy audits. Following the audits, the Firms will report to SFRF either of the following: 1) What investments, if any, are required to ensure that the building meets health, safety, and wellness standards and the estimated cost of the investments, if the Firm does not determine that the most cost-effective way to bring a building to health, safety, and wellness standards is new construction. 2) The estimated cost of the new construction that meets the education needs of the student population currently being served by the existing building if the Engineer determines that the most cost-effective way to bring a building to health, safety, and wellness standards is new construction. Once all building energy audits are completed, the SFRF will share the information obtained with the local districts. Additionally, SFRF will aggregate and summarize all information and data received from the Firms and prepare a final report summarizing the results of all building energy audits and provide the final report to the Michigan House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on School Aid, the State of Michigan Budget Director, the House and Senate Fiscal Agencies, and the Michigan Department of Education, as required by Section 11aa.

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 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 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 July 2023.

    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.