S A Y Detroit
S A Y Detroit consistently reports zero officer compensation while growing assets to nearly $10 million.
EIN: 204786626 · Southfield, MI · NTEE: L12 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $3.6M |
| Total Expenses | $3.2M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $10 |
| Net Assets | $9.6M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is S A Y Detroit Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
S A Y Detroit directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About S A Y Detroit
S A Y Detroit (EIN: 204786626) is a nonprofit organization based in Southfield, MI, classified under NTEE code L12. The organization reported total revenue of $3.6M and total assets of $11.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of S A Y Detroit's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
S A Y Detroit is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 16 years, with 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2022). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 18.0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2022)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $2.9M |
| Total Expenses | $3.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-374,693 |
| Total Assets | $9.8M |
| Total Liabilities | $180K |
| Net Assets | $9.6M |
| Operating Margin | -13.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 1.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 36.3 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2022, S A Y Detroit reported a deficit of $375K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 36.3 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 1.8% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 12 years of filings (2011–2022), S A Y Detroit's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.0%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -42.0% | +13.5% | -3.9% |
| 2021 | +31.8% | +23.0% | +22.0% |
| 2020 | +52.0% | +25.0% | +21.4% |
| 2019 | +44.7% | +6.6% | +7.2% |
| 2018 | +17.3% | -13.4% | -12.8% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2010 |
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 S A Y Detroit with a Mission Score of 90 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, S A Y Detroit allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2022)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $375K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 1.8%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
S A Y Detroit consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to its officers, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with assets nearing $10 million.
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 S A Y Detroit's IRS 990 filings:
- Revenue volatility year-over-year, making long-term planning potentially challenging (e.g., $6.9M in 2016 vs. $2.8M in 2022).
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for S A Y Detroit:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating high efficiency at the top.
- Significant and consistent growth in assets, from $463,435 in 2013 to $9,821,876 in 2022.
- Low liabilities relative to assets, demonstrating strong financial management.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 12 periods, indicating good transparency and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions about S A Y Detroit
Is S A Y Detroit a legitimate charity?
S A Y Detroit (EIN: 204786626) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Michigan. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $3.6M. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does S A Y Detroit spend its money?
S A Y Detroit directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to S A Y Detroit tax-deductible?
S A Y Detroit is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 204786626). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the S A Y Detroit CEO make?
S A Y Detroit's highest-compensated officer earns $10 annually. The organization reported $3.6M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of S A Y Detroit's spending goes to programs?
S A Y Detroit directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does S A Y Detroit compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), S A Y Detroit is above average for NTEE category L12 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is S A Y Detroit located?
S A Y Detroit is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan and files with the IRS under EIN 204786626. It is classified under NTEE code L12.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does S A Y Detroit have?
S A Y Detroit has 12 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 $3.6M in total revenue.
Is S A Y Detroit a good charity?
Based on the provided financial data, S A Y Detroit appears to be a very good charity. It demonstrates strong financial health with growing assets, relatively low liabilities, and a remarkable commitment to transparency by reporting zero officer compensation. This suggests a high percentage of funds are likely directed towards its mission.
How has S A Y Detroit's financial health changed over time?
S A Y Detroit's financial health has significantly improved over time. Assets grew from $463,435 in 2013 to $9,821,876 in 2022, indicating substantial growth and accumulation of resources. While revenue has fluctuated, the overall trend shows a robust and growing organization.
What is the trend in S A Y Detroit's revenue and expenses?
S A Y Detroit's revenue has shown significant variability, peaking at $6,956,034 in 2016 and ranging down to $527,720 in 2013. Expenses have generally increased in line with organizational growth but have often been lower than revenue, allowing for asset accumulation. In 2022, expenses ($3,243,240) slightly exceeded revenue ($2,868,547).
Does S A Y Detroit pay its executives?
According to the IRS 990 filings, S A Y Detroit consistently reports 0% officer compensation for all available periods, meaning no salaries are reported for its officers.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for S A Y Detroit showing financial trends over 12 years of public records:
Over 12 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2022), S A Y Detroit's revenue has grown by 515.3%, moving from $466K to $2.9M. Total assets increased by 3031.5% over the same period, from $314K to $9.8M. Total functional expenses rose by 740.5%, from $386K to $3.2M. In its most recent filing year (2022), S A Y Detroit reported a deficit of $375K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $180K in liabilities against $9.8M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 1.8%), resulting in net assets of $9.6M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $2.9M | $3.2M | $9.8M | $180K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $4.9M | $2.9M | $10.2M | $171K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $3.8M | $2.3M | $8.4M | $420K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $2.5M | $1.9M | $6.9M | $377K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.7M | $1.7M | $6.4M | $525K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.5M | $2.0M | $7.4M | $870K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $7.0M | $1.6M | $8.4M | $928K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $2.2M | $642K | $2.5M | $599K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.0M | $918K | $619K | $265K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $528K | $638K | $463K | $222K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $656K | $451K | $458K | $106K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $466K | $386K | $314K | $166K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2022: Revenue of $2.9M, expenses of $3.2M, and assets of $9.8M (revenue -42.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $4.9M, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $10.2M (revenue +31.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $3.8M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $8.4M (revenue +52.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $1.9M, and assets of $6.9M (revenue +44.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.7M, expenses of $1.7M, and assets of $6.4M (revenue +17.3% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.5M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $7.4M (revenue -79.1% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $7.0M, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $8.4M (revenue +219.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $2.2M, expenses of $642K, and assets of $2.5M (revenue +111.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $918K, and assets of $619K (revenue +95.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $528K, expenses of $638K, and assets of $463K (revenue -19.5% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $656K, expenses of $451K, and assets of $458K (revenue +40.7% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $466K, expenses of $386K, and assets of $314K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for S A Y Detroit:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for S A Y Detroit 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.