Business Leaders For Michigan Foundation

Detroit, MI ยท Founded 1971

Nonprofit business organization driven by CEOs working to strengthen Michigan economy

Primary audience
Students
Work area
Education
Topic
Academic Programs
Contact
Bonnie Zorn
Website Contact

About Organization

Business Leaders For Michigan develops strategies and shapes public policy to make Michigan a top state for jobs and talent. Based in Detroit, MI, the organization operates with $738,000 in annual revenue, led by 98 volunteer CEOs from major employers since 1971.

What They Focus On

Academic Excellence

Delivering rigorous curriculum and supporting student achievement

Student Success

Providing comprehensive support services for student development

Innovation

Advancing teaching methods and educational technology

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2024)

$738K

+50.7% vs 2023

Expenses (2024)

$534K

+0.7% vs 2023

Assets (2024)

$2.4M

+9.2% vs 2023

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Employees
2024 $738,061 $534,157 $2,431,091 0
2023 $489,635 $530,559 $2,227,187 0
2022 $718,239 $374,658 $2,244,611 0
2020 $548,810 $686,587 $1,659,251 0
2019 $976,636 $866,616 $1,658,190 0
2018 $878,374 $811,233 $1,656,728 0

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

How They Work

Learn more
  • 01

    Curriculum Design

    Developing rigorous academic programs aligned with standards

  • 02

    Instruction Delivery

    Teaching students through evidence-based pedagogical methods

  • 03

    Assessment

    Evaluating student learning and program effectiveness

  • 04

    Continuous Improvement

    Refining programs based on data and feedback

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by Business Leaders For Michigan Foundation

Academic Programs

Delivering comprehensive curriculum and degree programs

Student Support

Providing counseling, tutoring, and student success services

Research Initiatives

Conducting research to advance knowledge and innovation

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind Business Leaders For Michigan Foundation.

Bonnie Zorn

Bonnie Zorn

Chief Of Staff
5 hrs/week
Jeff Donofrio

Jeff Donofrio

Becky Burtka

Becky Burtka

Justin Flynn

Justin Flynn

Dawn Harding

Dawn Harding

Peter Hill

Peter Hill

Steven Liedel

Steven Liedel

Amy Novak

Amy Novak

Tim Sowton

Tim Sowton

Stephen Walters

Stephen Walters

JD

Jeffrey Donofrio

President
5 hrs/week
LC

Lindsay Case-Palsrok

Vice President
5 hrs/week
RB

Randi Berris

Vice President
5 hrs/week
TS

Timothy Sowton

Vice President
7 hrs/week

Milestones

1971

Organization Founded

1971

Established to serve community needs and advance mission

1983

Early Expansion

1983

Grew programs and established organizational foundations

1998

Significant Growth

1998

Expanded programs and services to reach more communities

2023

Leadership Expansion

2023

Grew leadership team to enhance organizational capacity

2025

Program Innovation

2025

Launched new initiatives to deepen community impact

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

AJ
Aaron J Zeigler Director 1.00 hrs/week
AJ
Alan Jay Kaufman Director 1.00 hrs/week
AP
Alessandro P Dinello Director 1.00 hrs/week
AS
Amy Solek Director 1.00 hrs/week
AO
Andi Owen Director 1.00 hrs/week
AM
Andra M Rush Director 1.00 hrs/week
AG
Arabinda Ghosh Director 1.00 hrs/week
AT
Arn Tellem Director 1.00 hrs/week
BE
Bill Emerson Director 1.00 hrs/week
BW
Blake W Krueger Director 3.00 hrs/week
CJ
Carrie Jones-Barber Director 1.00 hrs/week
CS
Catherine Schmelter Director 1.00 hrs/week
CI
Christopher Ilitch Director 1.00 hrs/week
CJ
Cynthia J Pasky Director 3.00 hrs/week
DG
Dan Gilbert Director 1.00 hrs/week
DJ
Daniel J Loepp Director 1.00 hrs/week
DM
Daryl M Adams Director 1.00 hrs/week
DA
David A Brandon Director 1.00 hrs/week
DC
David C Dauch Director 1.00 hrs/week
DF
David F Girodat Director 1.00 hrs/week
DP
David Parent Director 1.00 hrs/week
DW
Drew Wheatlake Director 1.00 hrs/week
EA
Edwin A Ness Director 1.00 hrs/week
EW
Eric Wilds Director 1.00 hrs/week
ED
Evan D Lyall Director 1.00 hrs/week
FV
Frank Venegas Jr Director 1.00 hrs/week
FC
Franklin C Wheatlake Director 1.00 hrs/week
GM
G Mark Alyea Director 1.00 hrs/week
GJ
Garrick J Rochow Director 1.00 hrs/week
GT
Gary Torgow Director 3.00 hrs/week
GM
Gerard M Anderson Vice Chair 3.00 hrs/week
GJ
Goran Jurkovic Director 1.00 hrs/week
GW
Greg Williams Director 1.00 hrs/week
GJ
Gregory J Crabb Director 1.00 hrs/week
HM
Hank Meijer Director 1.00 hrs/week
HU
Howard Ungerleider Chair 3.00 hrs/week
JW
Jacqueline Wiggins COO/Treasurer/Secretary 5.00 hrs/week
JM
James M Nicholson Director 1.00 hrs/week
JP
James P Keane Vice Chair 1.00 hrs/week
JW
Jaymi Wilson Director 1.00 hrs/week
JT
Jeff Tate Director 1.00 hrs/week
JL
Jeffrey L Schostak Director 1.00 hrs/week
JN
Jerry Norcia Director 1.00 hrs/week
JF
Jim Fitterling Director 1.00 hrs/week
JP
Jim Peters Director 1.00 hrs/week
JW
Jim Willett Director 1.00 hrs/week
JP
Jody Powell Director 1.00 hrs/week
JR
John Rakolta Jr Director 1.00 hrs/week
JR
John Roth Director 1.00 hrs/week
JB
Joseph B Anderson Jr Director 1.00 hrs/week
JO
Joseph O Serra Director 1.00 hrs/week
KJ
Keith J Allman Director 1.00 hrs/week
KW
Kevin W Williams Director 1.00 hrs/week
KA
Kimberly Andrews Espy Director 1.00 hrs/week
LH
Linda H Apsey Director 3.00 hrs/week
LH
Linda Hubbard Director 1.00 hrs/week
MT
Manny Torgow Director 1.00 hrs/week
MK
Marjorie K Simmons Director 1.00 hrs/week
MJ
Mark J Bissell Director 1.00 hrs/week
MC
Mary Culler Director 1.00 hrs/week
MT
Mary T Barra Director 1.00 hrs/week
MB
Matthew B Elliott Director 1.00 hrs/week
MH
McKeel Hagerty Director 1.00 hrs/week
MW
Melinda Whittington Director 1.00 hrs/week
MG
Michael G Bickers Director 1.00 hrs/week
MJ
Michael J Jandernoa Vice Chair 1.00 hrs/week
MT
Michael T Ritchie Director 1.00 hrs/week
NA
Neveen Awad Director 1.00 hrs/week
PR
Pamela R Klyn Director 1.00 hrs/week
PF
Patrick Finn Director 1.00 hrs/week
PL
Patrick Lockwood-Taylor Director 1.00 hrs/week
PW
Peter W Quigley Director 1.00 hrs/week
PE
Phil Eyler Director 1.00 hrs/week
RT
Rachel Tronstein-Stewart Director 3.00 hrs/week
RE
Raymond E Scott Director 1.00 hrs/week
RP
Rejji P Hayes Director 1.00 hrs/week
RW
Rich Wolowski Director 1.00 hrs/week
RA
Richard A Manoogian Director 1.00 hrs/week
RK
Rick Keyes Director 1.00 hrs/week
RC
Robert Casalou Director 1.00 hrs/week
RG
Robert G Riney Director 1.00 hrs/week
RS
Robert S Taubman Director 1.00 hrs/week
RW
Rod Wood Director 1.00 hrs/week
RS
Roger S Penske Director 1.00 hrs/week
RV
Ron Vaupel Director 1.00 hrs/week
RE
Ronald E Hall Director 1.00 hrs/week
RW
Russell Weiner Director 1.00 hrs/week
RM
Ryan Maibach Director 1.00 hrs/week
SE
S Evan Weiner Director 1.00 hrs/week
SO
Santa Ono Director 1.00 hrs/week
SA
Sara Armbruster Director 1.00 hrs/week
SS
Spencer S Stiles Director 1.00 hrs/week
SO
Stefan O Doerr Director 1.00 hrs/week
SM
Stephen M Kircher Director 1.00 hrs/week
SD
Steve Downing Director 1.00 hrs/week
SS
Steve Sear Director 1.00 hrs/week
SP
Steven P Davis Director 1.00 hrs/week
SS
Suzanne Shank Director 1.00 hrs/week
TW
Teresa Woodruff Director 1.00 hrs/week
TO
Terrah Opferman Director 1.00 hrs/week
TF
Tina Freese Decker Director 1.00 hrs/week
TS
Todd Sachse Director 1.00 hrs/week
TF
Trevor F Lauer Director 1.00 hrs/week
WP
Walter P Czarnecki Director 1.00 hrs/week
WC
William C Young Director 3.00 hrs/week
WC
William Clay Ford Jr Director 1.00 hrs/week
WU
William U Parfet Director 3.00 hrs/week

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2024)

$285K

Highest Paid

$123K

Jeffrey Donofrio

Compensated Officers

6

Name Title Base Other Total Hrs/Wk
Jeffrey Donofrio President $0 $122,715 $122,715 5
Timothy Sowton Vice President $0 $41,835 $41,835 7
Randi Berris Vice President $0 $39,315 $39,315 5
Lindsay Case-Palsrok Vice President $0 $37,679 $37,679 5
Jacqueline Wiggins COO/Treasurer/Secretary $0 $31,729 $31,729 5
Bonnie Zorn Chief Of Staff $0 $11,647 $11,647 5

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

Related Organizations

3 affiliated entities reported on IRS Form 990 Schedule R

3

Tax-Exempt Affiliates

3
Business Leaders For Michigan
Detroit, MI
Making Mi A Top 10 State For Jobs, Personal Income And A Healthy Economy
501(c) SECTION 501(C)(4)
Business Leaders For Michigan Political Action Committee
Detroit, MI
Political Expenditures
501(c) 527
Business Leaders For Michigan Political Action Committee Ii
Detroit, MI
Political Expenditures
501(c) 527

Source: IRS Form 990, Schedule R (Related Organizations and Unrelated Partnerships)

Lobbying Activity

Lobbying Disclosure Act registrations

Self-Lobbying
1 Registrations
1 Client
Yes Self-Lobbying

Clients 1 total

Business Leaders For Michigan
1 filing
Self

Source: Senate Office of Public Records — Lobbying Disclosure Act

Contact

Get in touch with Business Leaders For Michigan Foundation

Phone

(313) 259-5400

Social

Visit Website
600 Renaissance Center 1760 Detroit, MI 482431801