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Nonprofiteer
← THE REFUGEE EDUCATION CENTER

Form 990 for tax year 2025

Filed by THE REFUGEE EDUCATION CENTER.

Totals

Total revenue
$3,041,373
Total expenses
$2,516,843
Contributions and grants received
$2,981,265
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$34,049
Investment income
$21,085
Other revenue
$4,974
Total assets, end of year
$2,781,007
Total liabilities, end of year
$761,621
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$2,019,386
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$1,803,369
Management and general expenses
$530,737
Fundraising expenses
$182,737
Program service expenses (Part III)
$1,803,369

Program services were 71.7% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $1,951,658

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,029,607

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $45,468

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Tuition

    total $34,049 · related or exempt $34,049

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $21,085 · excluded $21,085

  • 11a · Other revenue: Other income

    total $4,974 · related or exempt $4,974

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $4,974

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $207,917 · program services $133,087 · management and general $74,830

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,384,476 · program services $1,110,672 · management and general $134,611 · fundraising $139,193

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $98,391 · program services $78,173 · management and general $15,202 · fundraising $5,016

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $132,751 · program services $106,424 · management and general $14,831 · fundraising $11,496

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $2,914 · management and general $2,914

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $125,858 · management and general $125,858

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $225,324 · program services $179,216 · management and general $44,472 · fundraising $1,636

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $2,308 · program services $1,335 · management and general $767 · fundraising $206

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $180,253 · program services $123,503 · management and general $39,429 · fundraising $17,321

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $56,120 · program services $19,771 · management and general $29,622 · fundraising $6,727

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $51,340 · program services $37,617 · management and general $13,723

  • 17 · Travel

    total $20,633 · program services $10,409 · management and general $9,287 · fundraising $937

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $17,582 · program services $2,833 · management and general $14,544 · fundraising $205

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $882 · program services $329 · management and general $553

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $8,535 · management and general $8,535

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $1,559 · management and general $1,559

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $505,754 · end of year $1,136,180

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $1,071,591 · end of year $954,399

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $13,173 · end of year $8,649

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $59,949

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $39,652

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $20,297

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $20,744 · end of year $661,482

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $96,661 · end of year $88,121

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $19,745 · end of year $673,500

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $538,068 · end of year $1,104,424

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $956,788 · end of year $914,962

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

See Schedule OProvide resources and guidance to refugee children and their families as they gain the necessary skills for seamless and successful integration into the community through cradle to career support, including early childhood services, K-12 programming, community navigation, and cultural competency training for schools.

Activities or mission (Part I)

Provide resources and guidance to refugee children and their families as they gain the necessary skills for seamless and successful integration into the community through cradle to career support, including early childhood services, K-12 programming, community navigation, and cultural competency training for schools.

  • K-12 Services provides Comprehensive support for refugee students in kindergarten through 12th grade that a) guides participants as they encounter topics, themes, and cultural experiences that are unfamiliar.; b) prepares high-school students through individualized support in order to complete high school and transition successfully into continuing education or job force; c) tutors and mentors students to supplement literacy, language development, and socio-emotional well-being. 213 students were served during 2025.

    Expenses $420,052

  • The Boston Square Early Learning Center is a culturally responsive and multilingual early childhood center, providing curriculum-based instruction to children, ages 0-5, of refugee families as well as American born children. This neighborhood early learning center prepares its students for success kindergarten and in life. Additionally, this program creates economic opportunities for refugee adults and others who are new to the teaching profession through direct employment, and for those who are learning or working elsewhere and need quality childcare. 67 children were served during 2025.

    Expenses $927,302

  • Navigation Services provide community navigation guidance to refugee parents and caregivers as they seek stability and belonging to the West Michigan community. A focus on parent and caregiver for school orientation, school enrollment aid, and assistance with parent-teacher conferences and parent/student workshops is key. Additionally, referral services are provided to families and individuals to the Refugee Education Center for programs and services as well as our partners' direct service programs and/or other state-funded benefit programs. Household and family stability support are central, addressing issues of health, education, and economic stability. 413 students enrolled in school across various school districts in West Michigan and over 206 households were served in 2025. Additionally, 41 school districts were provided with consultation services to support aspects of successful educational outcomes for students of diverse backgrounds.

    Expenses $456,015

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Blerta Bushati

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Nichole Northern

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Rebecca Chabot

    President

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Rima Shah

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Daniel Brubaker

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Brandy Lovelady Mitchell

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Kara Van Dam

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Paula Schuiteman-Bishop

    Vice President

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Lisa Cooper

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Erin VanMaanen

    Chief Operating Officer

    Total calculated
    $83,369
    From this org
    $79,405
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,964
    Hours/week
    40

  • Margaret Derrer

    Chief Executive Officer

    Total calculated
    $124,547
    From this org
    $123,671
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $876
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2025
Filed
14 September 2026
IRS schema version
2025v4.2
Source object
202602579349301205

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