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Michigan Energy First at a glance

· Public charity

Michigan Energy First

The Organizations program activities were primarily contributions to other non-profits with similar objectives and missions, political and advocacy activities, and research.

$2.0M
Granted FY2024still arriving
15
Grants FY2024still arriving
3
States reached
$750k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0198% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2024.

Public Benefit$7.1MEnvironment$3.1MCommunity Improvement$1.5MEmployment$550kPhilanthropy$500kEducation$50kHousing & Shelter$35kCivil Rights$35kOther$0
02FY2024 · 15 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k1 grant · $5k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $103k
  • $50k–250k4 grants · $350k
  • $250k+5 grants · $2.4M
$50,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$4.3M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Building a Better Economy$750,000
Road to Michigan's Future$550,000
21st Century Fund$500,000
Michigan Empowerment Fund$300,000
Great Lakes Works$250,000
Michigan Values$150,000
Protecting Detroit's Future$100,000
Michigan Chamber of Commerce$50,000
Put Progress First$50,000
Michigan Families Matter$35,000
Leadership at Work$25,000
Go Farther$20,000
The Heat and Warmth Fund$12,500
Vote Vets Action Fund$10,000
Clean Air Task Force$5,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY20–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 17%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 99% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%Independent Liberty: $80k → 10%Clean Air Task Force: $5k → 16%STATE GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION: $50k → 14%The Governing Majority Fund: $40k → 13%Leadership at Work: $25k → 8%Michigan Families Matter: $35k → 14%21st Century Fund: $500k → 16%Michigan for All: $250k → 21%Bipartisan Solutions: $275k → 14%MICHIGAN CONSERVATIVE ACTION POLICIES: $10k → 10%Clean Air Task Force: $5k → 16%State Government Leadership Foundation: $50k → 14%Building Michigan's Future: $25k → 14%21st Century Fund (MI Democrats State Cmte): $275k → 16%Students Always First: $50k → 21%Vote Vets Action Fund: $10k → 14%Detroiters for Change: $250k → 16%Community Education Committee: $40k → 21%GREAT LAKES JOB ALLIANCE: $200k → 16%OUR NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST: $675k → 21%Michigan Chamber of Commerce: $140k → 16%Our Neighborhood First: $350k → 21%Protecting Michigan's Future Fund: $125k → 16%Protecting Detroit's Future: $125k → 21%MICHIGAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: $120k → 16%Protecting Detroit's Future: $100k → 21%Citizens for a Better Michigan: $100k → 16%Put Progress First: $50k → 21%Michigan Citizens for Fiscal Responsibilty: $100k → 16%PROTECTING DETROIT'S FUTURE: $50k → 21%Michigan Republican Party: $100k → 16%Put Progress First: $50k → 21%Campaign for a Sustainable Michigan Fund: $100k → 16%GREAT LAKES JOB ALLIANCE: $100k → 16%MICHIGAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: $80k → 16%Jobs for Michigan Council: $50k → 16%Michigan Chamber of Commerce: $50k → 16%Small Business for Michigan: $50k → 16%Peninsula Fund: $30k → 16%Go Farther: $20k → 16%Michigan Manufacturers Assoc Impact Fund: $10k → 16%Clean and Sustainable Energy Fund: $3.0M → 16%Solutions for Michigan: $60k → 16%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

55%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$7.0M · 14 repeat orgs$5.8M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +8% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

14 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2024, 5 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

14
23

Total granted

$7.0M
$5.2M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+8%
0%

Still filing today

71%
30%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 77% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $640k went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’20’21’22’23’24
Public BenefitCommunity ImprovementCivil RightsEnvironmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • RT
    Road to Michigan's Future
    5× · 2020–2024 · $1.8M · revenue +20%
  • BA
    Building a Better Economy
    2× · 2022–2024 · $950k · revenue +2% · 50% of their budget
  • MV
    Michigan Values
    3× · 2021–2024 · $750k · revenue +44% · 46% of their budget

Funded once

  • BS
    BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS
    one grant, 2020 · $3.3M
  • DF
    Detroiters for Change
    one grant, 2020 · $250k
  • MF
    MICHIGAN FOR ALL
    one grant, 2020 · $250k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Defend Your Vote

To oppose a Michigan ballot measure

—
2
Michigan Rising Action

Michigan Rising Action is focused on holding special interest networks accountable and advancing conservative principles. We're fighting for limited government, lowering taxes, fighting government over-regulation that stifles freedom, free…

—
3
Michigan Center of Accountability for Republicans

Social welfare and issue advocacy

Civil Rights
4
Michigan Courage Fund

To promote civic action and social welfare by promoting the common good and general welfare of the residents of and visitors to the State of Michigan; to support public policies on the federal, state, and local levels that will bring about…

—
5
Jobs for Michigan

Clean Jobs for Michigan is building a future we can all be proud of. Through advocating for clean water clean energy and good-paying clean jobs were working to build a Michigan that will sustain our natural resources and hardworking…

—
6
Elevated Voices Inc

Voter education around policy

—
7
The Michigan Glass Project
Public Benefit
8
Accountability for Government Fund Inc

To operate exclusively for the promotion of civic action and social welfare by promoting the common good and general welfare of the residents of and visitors to the State of Michigan; to support public policies on the Federal State and…

—
9
Michigan Citizens for Better Health

To operate exclusively for the promotion of civic action and social welfare by promoting the common good and general welfare of the residents of, and visitors to the State of Michigan; To support public policies on the federal, state, and…

—
10
Lift Up Michigan

To promote the common good and general welfare of Michiganders through advocacy, research, and participation in public policy initiatives concerning the economy, health, safety, environment, civic engagement, and good governance.

Public Benefit
11
Mi Vision

To operate exclusively for the promotion of civic action and social welfare by promoting the common good and general welfare of Michigan residents and visitors; to promote and encourage citizen participation in political and civic events;…

—
12
Detroiters to Protect Our Future

To operate exclusively for the promotion of civic action and social welfare by promoting the common good and general welfare of the residents of, and visitors to the State of Michigan, including the City of Detroit; to support public…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Citizens for a Better Michigan; the most unlike its peers is Leadership At Work. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

32 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 32 of the 43 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

9
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
21/32
Grantees still filing
10/32
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS: $3,275,000 · OtherBIPARTISAN SOLUTIONSRoad to Michigan's Future: $1,825,000 · OtherRoad to Michigan's FutureOUR NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST: $1,025,000 · OtherOUR NEIGHBORHOODS FIRSTBuilding a Better Economy: $950,000 · OtherBuilding a Better EconomyMICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE: $775,000 · OtherMICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEMichigan Values: $750,000 · OtherMichigan Values+32 more: $3,640,000 · Other+32 moreMICHIGAN EMPOWERMENT FUND: $300,000 · Public BenefitSTATE GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION: $100,000 · Public BenefitCITIZENS FOR A BETTER MICHIGAN: $100,000 · Civil RightsTHE MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL ACTION FUND: $100,000 · Community ImprovementCLEAN AIR TASK FORCE INC: $10,000 · Environment
Other$12,240,000Public Benefit$400,000Civil Rights$100,000Community Improvement$100,000Environment$10,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetRoad to Michigan's Future: $1,825,000 over 5y, 7.1% of budgetOUR NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST: $1,025,000 over 2y, 32% of budgetBuilding a Better Economy: $950,000 over 2y, 50% of budgetMichigan Values: $750,000 over 3y, 46% of budgetMICHIGAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: $390,000 over 4y, 3.0% of budgetPreserve Michigans Future Fund: $350,000 over 2y, 34% of budgetMICHIGAN EMPOWERMENT FUND: $300,000 over 1y, 16% of budgetGREAT LAKES JOBS ALLIANCE: $300,000 over 2y, 12% of budgetPROTECTING DETROITS FUTURE: $275,000 over 3y, 49% of budgetDetroiters for Change: $250,000 over 1y, 19% of budgetVOTERS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND TERM LIMITS: $200,000 over 1y, 15% of budgetTRANSIT MATTERS TRANSIT MATTERS-MI: $150,000 over 2y, 11% of budgetPromise to the People Fund: $150,000 over 1y, 18% of budgetProtecting Michigans Future Fund: $125,000 over 1y, 8.7% of budgetCITIZENS FOR A BETTER MICHIGAN: $100,000 over 1y, 17% of budgetPUT PROGRESS FIRST: $100,000 over 2y, 20% of budgetMICHIGAN CITIZENS FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: $100,000 over 1y, 5.1% of budgetSTATE GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION: $100,000 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetTHE MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL ACTION FUND: $100,000 over 1y, 15% of budgetINDEPENDENT LIBERTY: $80,000 over 1y, 32% of budgetJOBS FOR MICHIGAN COUNCIL: $50,000 over 1y, 25% of budgetSMALL BUSINESS FOR MICHIGAN: $50,000 over 1y, 99% of budgetMICHIGAN FAMILIES MATTER: $35,000 over 1y, 25% of budgetTHE HEAT AND WARMTH FUND: $35,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetPENINSULA FUND: $30,000 over 1y, 4.0% of budgetBULDING MICHIGANS FUTURE: $25,000 over 1y, 7.8% of budgetCLEAN AIR TASK FORCE INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMICHIGAN CONSERVATIVE ACTION POLICIES: $10,000 over 1y, 3.9% of budgetVOTEVETS ACTION FUND INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetDETROIT PROGRESS FUND: $5,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Citizens for Energizi…Michigan Health & Hos…Pharmaceutical Resear…Coalition to Promote …Michigan Beer & Wine …Michigan Health Leade…Michigan Citizens for…Realtors Political Ac…Michigan Values
Citizens for Energizing Michigan's EconomyMI39× affinity16 shared granteesties to 8 of 8Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Citizens for Energizing Michigan's Economy · Michigan Health & Hospital Association Dba Mha · Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America · Coalition to Promote Public Entity Risk Pools · Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Assn · Michigan Health Leadership Fund · Michigan Citizens for Better Health · Realtors Political Action Committee II · Michigan Values

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Michigan Energy First funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Michigan Energy First. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24
no gov · 10%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%1%3%4%5%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    1report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–5%
    typical government reliance, FY20–24
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Michigan Energy First?

    Find your warmest path to Michigan Energy First through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 43 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Michigan Energy First’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home