Michigan Turfgrass Foundation

Claim this org

(tell your story, add context, and more) Claim it free, then get the verified mark for $100 a year.

How does your 990 look to donors? Take the 10-Question Audit

To establish and maintain a program of education and research grants in the field of agronomy, including but not limited to Turfgrass, and to promote public knowledge in the area of agronomy.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
63¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 12 volunteers.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $201K a year · 75% of revenue · last 6 filings
A surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
63%
of spending
63% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$40K
to officers and key staff · 12% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 12% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
2.8 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $1.7M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
2.8 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$39K
2% of total assets
Liabilities are 2% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
12
of 12 voting members
12 of 12 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$221K
-45% vs prior year
Spent
$323K
To programs
63%
Net assets
$1.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$221K
FY2025▼ -45%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$309K
FY2021$88K
FY2022$145K
FY2023$441K
FY2024$404K
FY2025$221K
Expenses
$323K
FY2025▼ -3%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$220K
FY2021$270K
FY2022$829K
FY2023$838K
FY2024$332K
FY2025$323K
Net assets
$1.8M
FY2025▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.3M
FY2021$2.5M
FY2022$1.7M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$1.6M
FY2025$1.8M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending September 2025) · see the original

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Dec 1982.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

63 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 63% · $205K Management & general 37% · $119K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

13 people listed on the 990; $40K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$40,000Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Carey Mitchelson’s $40K as Executive Director is at the 23rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 1989 $100K–1M environment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Carey Mitchelson$40,000$45,000$40,000$40,000$40,000$44,126

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Michigan Turfgrass Foundation executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Funds agronomy education and research through grants.

Questions for Michigan Turfgrass Foundation

Tap to ask. Michigan Turfgrass Foundation sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Michigan Turfgrass Foundation answers here, for everyone.

3 programs · $205K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Turfgrass research to study turfgrass and related diseases with michigan state university. Contributions to extension for dissemination of research results to membership.

$106Kprogram expense
02

Annual Conference

Serving turfgrass and members an informational meeting for home and commercial lawncare held annually with information on developments and environmental issues. Trade show exhibition held for members and other turfgrass managers on the latest management techniques.

$83Kprogram expense
03

Field Day

Michigan turfgrass foundation hosts an annual field day where educational presentations highlight turfgrass maintenance & health.

$16Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · this organization's grantmaking
Grants paid · 12 grants · $1.6M · 2019–2024
Michigan State UniversityMI · FY2024$91,215
Unitemized GrantFY2024$13,500
Michigan State UniversityMI · FY2023$91,202
Unitemized GrantFY2023$13,500
Michigan State UniversityMI · FY2022$632,401
Unitemized GrantFY2022$14,545
Michigan State UniversityMI · FY2021$593,383
Unitemized GrantFY2021$13,051
Michigan State UniversityMI · FY2020$100,000
Unitemized GrantFY2020$9,165
Michigan State UniversityMI · FY2019$70,000
Unitemized GrantFY2019$6,500

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$221K
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$231K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$93K
Investment incomeLn 3$79K
Money outPt IX
$323K
Ln 25
Programscol B$205K
Managementcol C$119K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$75K
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$39K
PeoplePt VI, VII
13
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b12
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$93K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$72K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$231K
Investment incomeLn 3$79K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$191K
Total revenueLn 12$221K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$75K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$75K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.7M
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$39K
Net assetsLn 32$1.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 612
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aNo
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Investment feesPt IX, Sch D
Investment fees, as reportedPt IX 11f$17K
Share of the $1.2M endowmentSch D 1g1.4%
Typical, median of 2,202 orgs0.44%
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY25FY24FY23FY22FY21
End of yearLn 1g$1.2M$1.1M$901K$1.3M$2.0M
AddedLn 1b$24K$22K$26K$21K$21K
SpentLn 1d–1f$510K$519K$45K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$28K$75K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.6M$1.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$1.6M$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$10K$39K
Net assetsLn 32$1.6M$1.8M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$91K$91K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$15K$15K
Management feesLn 11a$53K$53K
Accounting feesLn 11c$12K$12K
Investment management feesLn 11f$17K$17K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$15K$15K
Information technologyLn 14$7K$7K
TravelLn 17$129$129
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$99K$99K
InsuranceLn 23$593$593
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$12K$12K
Total functional expensesLn 25$323K$205K$119K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Jul 6, 2026 $221K$323K−$103K$1.8M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Jul 8, 2025 $404K$332K$72K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Aug 6, 2024 $441K$838K−$397K$1.3M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Jul 27, 2023 $145K$829K−$684K$1.7M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Aug 4, 2022 $88K$270K−$182K$2.5M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Mar 29, 2021 $309K$220K$88K$2.3M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support D · Assets and endowments G · Fundraising I · Grants O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $220,577 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $93,828$92,611
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $226,489$231,407
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $76,601−$111,928
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $6,694$8,487
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $403,612$220,577
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $105,577$105,850
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $0$0
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $226,357$217,441
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $331,934$323,291
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $71,678−$102,714
Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members12
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $220,577 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$72,149
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$20,462
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$92,611
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $231,407$231,407
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $79,221$79,221
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$191,149−$191,149
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $8,487$8,487
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $239,894 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$111,928$220,577
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $323,291 across 12 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $91,215$91,215
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $14,635$14,635
IX-11a Management feesManagement $53,144$53,144
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $12,376$12,376
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $16,659$16,659
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $2,004$2,004
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $14,770$14,770
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $6,872$6,872
IX-17 TravelManagement $129$129
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $98,662$98,662
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $593$593
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Management $12,232$12,232
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $204,512 · Management $118,779 · Fundraising $0$323,291
Part X · Balance sheet $1,820,429 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $28,378$75,169
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,614,547$1,745,260
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,642,925$1,820,429
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $5,113$34,659
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $4,680$4,680
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $9,793$39,339
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $513,784$551,534
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,119,348$1,229,556
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,633,132$1,781,090
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,642,925$1,820,429
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,781,090 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$220,577
XI-2 Total expenses$323,291
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$102,714
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,633,132
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$250,672
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,781,090

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

All figures come from public IRS Form 990 filings. Comparisons are computed from the filing against similar orgs. They are not a rating.