A Brighter Way ABW helps formerly incarcerated individuals make a successful return to society. Our primary activities to achieve this are mentoring programs, advocacy, and direct support for basic needs.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
75¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 30 volunteers and 9 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 3
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $191K a year · 28% of revenue · last 3 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 3 of the last 3 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 3 filings
Spent on programs
75%
of spending
Looks good: 75% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$100K
to officers and key staff · 14% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 14% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
8 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 8.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $209K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$584K
45% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 45% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$792K
-22% vs prior year
Spent
$730K
To programs
75%
Net assets
$725K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$792K
FY2024▼ -22%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$97K
FY2021$96K
FY2022$249K
FY2023$1.0M
FY2024$792K
Expenses
$730K
FY2024▲ +32%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020Not on file
FY2021Not on file
FY2022$199K
FY2023$551K
FY2024$730K
Net assets
$725K
FY2024▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$40K
FY2021$13K
FY2022$68K
FY2023$663K
FY2024$725K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Mar 2019.

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

Where the money goes

75 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 75% · $548K Management & general 22% · $161K Fundraising 3% · $21K

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

11 people listed on the 990; $100K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$68,788Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member and Development Director
$31,200Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 4 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Adam Grant$68,788$60,608$56,735$2,250—
Cozine Welch———$51,000$44,160
Jeanne Ross$31,200$22,256$20,800$2,400—
Aaron Suganuma————$5,000

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.

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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 15aYes

Programs and updates

Supports formerly incarcerated individuals with mentoring, advocacy, and basic needs for successful societal reintegration.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $548K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

ABW helps formerly incarcerated individuals living in Washtenaw County to build stable, successful, and fulfilling lives. We support these returned citizens by forging strong relationships with our mentoring teams, community resources, and committed advocates.

$548Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 4 funders →
Grants paid · 3 grants · $54K · 2022–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$14,008
Unitemized GrantFY2023$28,547
Unitemized GrantFY2022$11,065

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$792K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$586K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$196K
Other incomeLn 4–11$6K
Money outPt IX
$730K
Ln 25
Programscol B$548K
Managementcol C$161K
Fundraisingcol D$21K
Owns and owesPt X
$725K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$489K
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$584K
PeoplePt VI, VII
11
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$586K
Government grantsLn 1e$188K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$51K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$196K
Investment incomeLn 3$5K
Other incomeLn 4–11$6K
Total revenueLn 12$792K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$38K
SavingsLn 2$450K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$489K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$456K
Other assetsLn 15$80K
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$584K
Net assetsLn 32$725K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 59
VolunteersI 630
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$278K$489K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$456K
Total assetsLn 16$757K$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$94K$584K
Net assetsLn 32$663K$725K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$5K$5K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$14K$14K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$114K$73K$26K$15K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$273K$257K$16K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$36K$23K$13K
Payroll taxesLn 10$28K$24K$3K$973
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$48K$48K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$64K$59K$6K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$12K$10K$2K$681
Office expensesLn 13$15K$6K$9K$469
Information technologyLn 14$8K$759$6K$2K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$56K$48K$7K$1K
TravelLn 17$15K$12K$2K$2K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$6K$2K$4K$106
InterestLn 20$984$984
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$8K$6K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$24K$7K$16K$234
Total functional expensesLn 25$730K$548K$161K$21K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $792K$730K$62K$725K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.0M$551K$463K$663K 990 PDF
FY2022 $249K$199K$50K$68K 990 PDF
FY2021 $96K$13K 990 PDF
FY2020 $97K$40K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $791,563 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $954,510$585,610
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $56,945$195,593
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,065$4,830
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $200$5,530
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,013,720$791,563
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $28,547$19,008
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $327,719$450,247
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $194,761$260,620
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $551,027$729,875
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $462,693$61,688
Part VI · Governance 8 of 9 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members8
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $791,563 across 7 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $5,530 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$50,575
VIII-1e Government grants$188,238
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$346,797
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$585,610
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $195,593$195,593
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $4,830$4,830
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $201,123 · Excluded from tax $4,830$791,563
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $729,875 across 29 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $5,000$5,000
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $14,008$14,008
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $73,341 · Management $25,943 · Fundraising $14,559$113,843
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $256,963 · Management $15,973$272,936
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $22,875 · Management $12,945$35,820
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $23,777 · Management $2,898 · Fundraising $973$27,648
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $48,106$48,106
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $58,687 · Management $5,760$64,447
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $9,671 · Management $2,086 · Fundraising $681$12,438
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $6,299 · Management $8,513 · Fundraising $469$15,281
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $759 · Management $6,023 · Fundraising $1,540$8,322
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $48,235 · Management $6,780 · Fundraising $1,190$56,205
IX-17 TravelPrograms $11,523 · Management $2,305 · Fundraising $1,536$15,364
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $2,161 · Management $3,981 · Fundraising $106$6,248
IX-20 InterestManagement $984$984
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,206$1,206
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $6,126 · Management $1,939$8,065
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $7,230 · Management $16,490 · Fundraising $234$23,954
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $547,861 · Management $160,726 · Fundraising $21,288$729,875
Part X · Balance sheet $1,308,797 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $14,623$38,469
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $263,448$450,331
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $431,296$277,694
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $775$2,760
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$4,000
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$455,713
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $46,370$79,830
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $756,512$1,308,797
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $28,199$45,488
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $19,000$19,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $46,370$87,950
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $93,569$584,166
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $166,838$446,907
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $496,105$277,724
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $662,943$724,631
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $756,512$1,308,797
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $724,631 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$791,563
XI-2 Total expenses$729,875
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$61,688
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$662,943
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$724,631

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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