SCHOOL FINANCE RESEARCH FOUNDATION

EIN: 922760615 501(c)(3) Education

Lansing, MI

Total Revenue
$833,372
Total Expenses
$10,043,313
Total Assets
$16,775,471
Net Assets
$16,775,436
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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
2023
Legal Domicile
MI
Principal Officer
Dr Daveda Colbert
Phone
2482092000
Tax Period
2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31

SCHOOL FINANCE RESEARCH FOUNDATION, founded in 2023, is a small nonprofit in the Education sector that reported $833K in total revenue in fiscal year 2025. Revenue fell 34% from the prior year — a significant decline worth monitoring. Expenses of $10.0M exceeded revenue, resulting in a 1105% operating deficit.

Mission

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.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $128,440 Revenue: $0

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...

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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.

Program 2
Expenses: $9,914,873 Revenue: $0

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...

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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.

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2025)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $0
Program Service Revenue $0
Investment Income $833,372
Other Revenue $0
TOTAL REVENUE $833,372

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $0
Fundraising Expenses $0
Program Expenses $10,043,313
Other Expenses $10,043,313
TOTAL EXPENSES $10,043,313

Year-over-Year Comparison

2025 2024 Change
Revenue $833,372 $1,266,304 -0.3%
Expenses $10,043,313 $15,463,581 -0.4%
Net Income $-9,209,941 $-14,197,277 -0.4%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
12
Independent Members
12
Employees
N/A
Volunteers
N/A

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
0
$0
Total Directors
12
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
Dr Daveda Colbert President 2
Director
$0 $0 $0
Jason Mellema Treasurer 2
Director
$0 $0 $0
Jamie Huber Vice President 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Dr Teresa Belote Trustee 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
Mike DeVault Trustee 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
Paul Hungerford Trustee 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
Dr Tara Mager Trustee 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
Dr Steven Tunnicliff Trustee 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
Dr Gregory Nyen Trustee 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
Ron Gorman Trustee 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
Dr Steven McNew Secretary 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
Kenneth Gutman Trustee 1
Director
$0 $0 $0
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2025 $833,372 $10,043,313 $16,775,471 $-9,209,941
2024 No data No data No data No data
2023 $41,033,301 $850,647 $40,319,177 $40,182,654
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