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Nonprofiteer
← THE RIGHT PLACE INC

Form 990 for tax year 2025

Filed by THE RIGHT PLACE INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$14,514,652
Total expenses
$13,923,261
Contributions and grants received
$10,221,728
Grants paid
$5,944,815
Program service revenue
$4,086,264
Investment income
$206,660
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$39,545,502
Total liabilities, end of year
$32,479,754
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$7,065,748
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$11,893,319
Management and general expenses
$1,725,352
Fundraising expenses
$304,590
Program service expenses (Part III)
$11,893,319

Program services were 85.4% 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.

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $1,598,450

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $6,671,816

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,951,462

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $60,462

  • 2a · Program service revenue: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FEES

    total $2,772,996 · related or exempt $2,772,996

  • 2b · Program service revenue: CLIENT CONSULTING FEES

    total $808,865 · related or exempt $808,865

  • 2c · Program service revenue: WORKSHOPS

    total $236,886 · related or exempt $236,886

  • 2d · Program service revenue: CONFERENCES

    total $204,067 · related or exempt $204,067

  • 2e · Program service revenue: USER GROUPS

    total $63,450 · related or exempt $63,450

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $205,105 · excluded $205,105

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    other assets $1,555

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    other assets $0

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    other assets $1,555

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $1,555 · excluded $1,555

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $5,944,815 · program services $5,944,815

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $840,365 · program services $468,866 · management and general $320,535 · fundraising $50,964

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $3,228,941 · program services $2,568,238 · management and general $497,116 · fundraising $163,587

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $159,976 · program services $106,716 · management and general $47,328 · fundraising $5,932

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $418,537 · program services $247,449 · management and general $144,410 · fundraising $26,678

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $271,326 · program services $209,280 · management and general $48,446 · fundraising $13,600

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $30,616 · program services $19,561 · management and general $10,434 · fundraising $621

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $40,160 · management and general $37,422 · fundraising $2,738

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,481,563 · program services $1,286,477 · management and general $191,599 · fundraising $3,487

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $91,296 · program services $81,296 · management and general $10,000

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $472,806 · program services $325,700 · management and general $139,361 · fundraising $7,745

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $32,807 · program services $14,418 · management and general $18,389

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $170,474 · program services $129,535 · management and general $31,899 · fundraising $9,040

  • 17 · Travel

    total $166,977 · program services $117,307 · management and general $46,252 · fundraising $3,418

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $233,492 · program services $216,911 · management and general $16,079 · fundraising $502

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $82,489 · management and general $73,524 · fundraising $8,965

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $32,011 · management and general $29,074 · fundraising $2,937

  • 24a · Other expenses: BAD DEBT

    total $153,462 · program services $153,462

  • 24b · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $34,793 · program services $3,288 · management and general $28,112 · fundraising $3,393

  • 24c · Other expenses: TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

    total $19,208 · program services $0 · management and general $18,542 · fundraising $666

  • 24d · Other expenses: SPONSORSHIP & DONATIONS

    total $10,800 · program services $0 · management and general $10,800 · fundraising $0

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $6,347 · management and general $6,030 · fundraising $317

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $37,985 · end of year $212,045

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $33,555,427 · end of year $33,797,234

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $2,627,660 · end of year $2,841,232

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $386,659 · end of year $201,477

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $93,760 · end of year $101,718

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

    $673,683

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

    $211,144

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $59,864 · end of year $462,539

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $67,862 · end of year $1,929,257

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $581,726 · end of year $1,035,469

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $29,670,438 · end of year $29,504,302

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $102,696 · end of year $1,939,983

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,279,726 · end of year $4,592,616

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,194,631 · end of year $2,473,132

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

THE RIGHT PLACE IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION THAT DRIVES CURRENT AND LONG-TERM ECONOMIC PROSPERITY IN WEST MICHIGAN.

  • PLACE - ASPIRE TO BE A REGION OF CHOICE, WHERE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO VISIT, LOCATE, AND STAY. THE RIGHT PLACE TEAM WORKS TOWARD THIS ASPIRATION BY FOCUSING ON STRATEGIES RELATED TO PLACEMAKING, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, CATALYZING DEVELOPMENT, AND ENHANCING OUTDOOR SPACES.

    Expenses $6,775,643 · Grants $5,491,802 · Revenue $921,699

  • PROSPERITY / BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT - PERFORMS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORK FOR A REGIONAL COLLABORATIVE OF EIGHT COUNTIES IN THE GREATER GRAND RAPIDS REGION. THE TEAM DRIVES STRATEGIC, LONG TERM ECONOMIC PROSPERITY FOR THE REGION THROUGH BUSINESS RETENTION, EXPANSION AND ATTRACTION EFFORTS.

    Expenses $2,173,236 · Revenue $681,899

  • PROSPERITY / MICHIGAN MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY CENTER - WEST: THROUGH CONSULTING, USER GROUPS, COUNCILS AND TRAINING, THE CENTER - WEST WORKS TO ASSIST MANUFACTURERS TO IMPROVE THE WAY THEY WORK, IMPROVE, AND GROW THROUGH ASSISTING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP, PROCESSES, SYSTEMS, AND THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY.

    Expenses $2,120,264 · Grants $313,013 · Revenue $2,086,701

  • PEOPLE - ASPIRE TO BE A REGION WHERE EVERYONE CAN ACHIEVE THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL. THE RIGHT PLACE TEAM WORKS TOWARD THIS ASPIRATION BY STRATEGIZING WITH REGIONAL TALENT PARTNERS, LEVERAGING OUR BUSINESS NETWORK TO AMPLIFY BEST PRACTICES, AND BENCHMARK AREA TALENT DEVELOPMENT, RETENTION, AND ATTRACTION EFFORTS.

    Expenses $824,176 · Grants $140,000 · Revenue $395,965

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Randy Thelen

    PRESIDENT & CEO

    Total calculated
    $637,046
    From this org
    $579,914
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $57,132
    Hours/week
    36.4 + 1.1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $479,914
    Bonus
    $100,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $46,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,632
    Filer's total
    $637,046
  • Tina Freese Decker

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.2 related
  • Bill Pink

    VICE CHAIR / TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.2 related
  • Steve Downing

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.2 related
  • Sara Armbruster

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Rick Baker

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Matt Biersack MD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Luke Cherveny

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Michael Davenport

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Ronald G Dewaard

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Katie Ferris

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Nick Hrnyak

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Joshua Hulst

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.2 related
  • John Kennedy

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Charles W Lott

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Philomena Mantella

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.2 related
  • Andi Owen

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Richard J Pappas EdD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Julie Rietberg

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Garrick J Rochow

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Tony Sarsam

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Renee C Tabben

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • David Van Andel

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Al Vanderberg

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Mike Vangessel

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Mark Washington

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Mark J Wassink

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Sean P Welsh

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.2 related
  • Charles W Lepper

    DIRECTOR THROUGH 4/14/25

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Rich Sorota

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Tom Stritzinger

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Lauren Davis

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.2 related
  • John Tuttle

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Rick Keyes

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.2 related
  • Triona Schmelter

    DIRECTOR THROUGH 7/1/25

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Jon Husby

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • William Kessel

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Michael Nelson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Nelson Sanchez

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.2 related
  • Aron Sousa

    DIRECTOR THROUGH 9/30/25

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Christopher Hufnagel

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Joe Hune

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • James Kolodziej

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Michael Palizzi

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Stacy Paul

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Robert Richard

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • John Shay

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Dan Watts

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Thomas Welch

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.2 + 0.1 related
  • Jane Tierney

    ASSISTANT TREASURER & SVP FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $203,319
    From this org
    $180,648
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,671
    Hours/week
    36.4 + 1.1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $165,648
    Bonus
    $15,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,285
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,386
    Filer's total
    $203,319
  • Timothy Mroz

    SVP OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $193,739
    From this org
    $167,070
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $26,669
    Hours/week
    36.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $149,570
    Bonus
    $17,500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,885
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,784
    Filer's total
    $193,739
  • Brad Comment

    SVP OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

    Total calculated
    $199,909
    From this org
    $171,084
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,825
    Hours/week
    36.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,084
    Bonus
    $10,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,872
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,953
    Filer's total
    $199,909
  • Brent Case

    VP OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $193,351
    From this org
    $163,968
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,383
    Hours/week
    36.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $158,968
    Bonus
    $5,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,501
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,882
    Filer's total
    $193,351
  • Tarita Johnson

    SVP OF TALENT & DIVERSITY

    Total calculated
    $175,933
    From this org
    $152,201
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,732
    Hours/week
    36.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $142,201
    Bonus
    $10,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,361
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,371
    Filer's total
    $175,933
  • Andria Romkema

    SVP OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $203,295
    From this org
    $176,241
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $27,054
    Hours/week
    36.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $166,241
    Bonus
    $10,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,360
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,694
    Filer's total
    $203,295

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. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · Health or social club dues or initiation fees
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A
COUNTRY CLUB DUES ARE PAID ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT/CEO, NOT PART OF TAXABLE COMPENSATION AS CLUB IS USED FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

  • CITY OF HASTINGS

    $474,500

    REVITALIZATION AND PLACEMAKING GRANT

  • CITY OF HOLLAND

    $400,000

    REVITALIZATION AND PLACEMAKING GRANT

  • SSRP GRANTS

  • COMSTOCK HCV LLC

    $332,617

    SSRP GRANTS

  • HOLLAND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT LLC

    $281,750

    SSRP GRANTS

  • REVITALIZATION AND PLACEMAKING GRANT

  • TRYGON INVESTMENTS FUND 8 LLC

    $253,504

    SSRP GRANT

  • HITACHI INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS AMERICAS INC

    $250,000

    SSRP GRANTS

  • CASCADE CHARTER TOWNSHIP

    $225,000

    REVITALIZATION AND PLACEMAKING GRANT

  • SSRP GRANTS

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2025
Filed
17 September 2026
IRS schema version
2025v4.2
Source object
202632609349302003

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