Great Lakes Bay Foundation
Great Lakes Bay Foundation faces financial challenges with expenses consistently exceeding revenue and rising liabilities.
EIN: 208146148 · Bay City, MI · NTEE: P20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $625K |
| Total Expenses | $776K |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $-54,494 |
| Transparency Score | 65/100 |
Is Great Lakes Bay Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Great Lakes Bay Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Great Lakes Bay Foundation
Great Lakes Bay Foundation (EIN: 208146148) is a nonprofit organization based in Bay City, MI, classified under NTEE code P20. The organization reported total revenue of $625K and total assets of $110K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Great Lakes Bay Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Great Lakes Bay Foundation is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 10.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $680K |
| Total Expenses | $776K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-95,645 |
| Total Assets | $244K |
| Total Liabilities | $298K |
| Net Assets | $-54,494 |
| Operating Margin | -14.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 122.4% |
| Months of Reserves | 3.8 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2023, Great Lakes Bay Foundation reported a deficit of $96K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 3.8 months of operating reserves (adequate), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 122.4% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Great Lakes Bay Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +29.5% | +29.5% | +10.4% |
| 2022 | +1.5% | +10.4% | +33.3% |
| 2021 | +6.9% | -17.8% | -19.0% |
| 2020 | +3.2% | -6.2% | -41.8% |
| 2019 | -37.8% | +16.7% | -43.9% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2100 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2007 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Great Lakes Bay Foundation with a Mission Score of 65 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Great Lakes Bay Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $96K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 122.4%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Great Lakes Bay Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries or other compensation are paid to officers, directors, trustees, or key employees. This is a strong positive for transparency and efficient use of funds, especially for an organization of its size with revenues fluctuating around the half-million dollar mark.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Great Lakes Bay Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Expenses consistently exceeding revenue in recent years (e.g., $776,101 expenses vs. $680,456 revenue in 2023).
- Liabilities ($298,294 in 2023) exceeding total assets ($243,800 in 2023), indicating potential insolvency.
- Significant decline in assets from a high of $625,492 in 2018 to $243,800 in 2023.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Great Lakes Bay Foundation:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating strong transparency and efficient use of funds regarding executive pay.
- Long filing history (13 filings) demonstrates consistent compliance with IRS reporting requirements.
- Maintained operations and revenue generation over a long period despite financial fluctuations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Great Lakes Bay Foundation
Is Great Lakes Bay Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Great Lakes Bay Foundation (EIN: 208146148) some concerns. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Great Lakes Bay Foundation spend its money?
Great Lakes Bay Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Great Lakes Bay Foundation tax-deductible?
Great Lakes Bay Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 208146148). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Great Lakes Bay Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Great Lakes Bay Foundation directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Great Lakes Bay Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 65/100 (Good), Great Lakes Bay Foundation is above average for NTEE category P20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Great Lakes Bay Foundation located?
Great Lakes Bay Foundation is headquartered in Bay City, Michigan and files with the IRS under EIN 208146148. It is classified under NTEE code P20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Great Lakes Bay Foundation have?
Great Lakes Bay Foundation has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $625K in total revenue.
Is Great Lakes Bay Foundation financially sustainable?
The foundation's financial sustainability is questionable given the recent trend of expenses exceeding revenue (e.g., $776,101 expenses vs. $680,456 revenue in 2023) and liabilities ($298,294 in 2023) surpassing assets ($243,800 in 2023). This pattern suggests a need for strategic financial planning to ensure long-term viability.
How has the organization's asset base changed over time?
The organization's assets have shown significant volatility, peaking at $625,492 in 2018 and declining to $243,800 by 2023. This fluctuation, coupled with increasing liabilities, indicates a potential erosion of its financial reserves.
What is the trend in the organization's liabilities?
Liabilities have generally trended upwards, reaching $298,294 in 2023, which is a concern as they now exceed the organization's total assets. This could indicate increasing debt or deferred obligations.
Does the organization pay its executives?
No, the IRS 990 filings consistently report 0% officer compensation, indicating that the organization does not pay salaries or other compensation to its officers, directors, trustees, or key employees.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Great Lakes Bay Foundation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Great Lakes Bay Foundation's revenue has grown by 238.6%, moving from $201K to $680K. Total assets increased by 51.1% over the same period, from $161K to $244K. Total functional expenses rose by 861.3%, from $81K to $776K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Great Lakes Bay Foundation reported a deficit of $96K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $298K in liabilities against $244K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 122.4%), resulting in net assets of $-54,494.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $680K | $776K | $244K | $298K | — | — |
| 2022 | $526K | $599K | $221K | $180K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $518K | $543K | $166K | $51K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $484K | $660K | $205K | $65K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $469K | $703K | $351K | $36K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $754K | $603K | $625K | $76K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $552K | $675K | $559K | $161K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $661K | $262K | $524K | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $122K | $106K | $166K | $45K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $557K | $561K | $219K | $114K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $285K | $367K | $124K | $15K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $154K | $110K | $217K | $27K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $201K | $81K | $161K | $15K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $680K, expenses of $776K, and assets of $244K (revenue +29.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $526K, expenses of $599K, and assets of $221K (revenue +1.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $518K, expenses of $543K, and assets of $166K (revenue +6.9% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $484K, expenses of $660K, and assets of $205K (revenue +3.2% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $469K, expenses of $703K, and assets of $351K (revenue -37.8% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $754K, expenses of $603K, and assets of $625K (revenue +36.6% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $552K, expenses of $675K, and assets of $559K (revenue -16.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $661K, expenses of $262K, and assets of $524K (revenue +442.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $122K, expenses of $106K, and assets of $166K (revenue -78.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $557K, expenses of $561K, and assets of $219K (revenue +95.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $285K, expenses of $367K, and assets of $124K (revenue +85.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $154K, expenses of $110K, and assets of $217K (revenue -23.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $201K, expenses of $81K, and assets of $161K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Great Lakes Bay Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Great Lakes Bay Foundation is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.