Nonprofit · EIN 81-1987459
START GARDEN LLC
Tax-exempt · GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $2,326,287 | $3,057,088 | -$730,801 | $2,332,139 | $1,349,373 | $982,766 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $4,456,215 | $3,063,330 | $1,392,885 | $2,150,744 | $437,177 | $1,713,567 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $1,291,217 | $2,403,017 | -$1,111,800 | $1,026,706 | $706,024 | $320,682 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $1,500,755
- of which government grants
- $935,459
- Program service revenue
- $825,518
- Investment income
- $14
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $777,955
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,100,919
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,375,490
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $64,428
- Accounting fees
- $69,429
- Occupancy
- $439,604
- Travel
- $74,066
- Depreciation
- $57,886
- Program services (functional)
- $2,095,198
- Management and general (functional)
- $696,688
- Fundraising (functional)
- $265,202
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $2,150,744
- Total assets, end of year
- $2,332,139
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,349,373
- Net assets, end of year
- $982,766
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $23,328
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $492,679
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $490,087
- Gross receipts
- $2,326,287
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 10
- Year formed
- 2016
- State of legal domicile
- MI
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAREL ROSS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTORPRESIDENT Officer | 40 | $184,737 | $6,245 |
| JORGE GONZALEZ | PROGRAM DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $147,854 | $4,984 |
| LAURIE SUPINSKI | PROGRAM DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $143,954 | $4,924 |
| PAUL MOORE | PROGRAM DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $140,454 | $0 |
| ERICA HOOSER | GRANTS MANAGER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $111,980 | $3,949 |
| RENEE WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOE JONES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROB JANDERNOA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOE LAMPEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LUCIANO HERNANDEZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KYAMA KITIVI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEREMY DEROO | TREASURER Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY ONEIL | SECRETARY Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 11 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | From related orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAREL ROSS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTORPRESIDENT Officer | 40 | $168,600 | $21,111 |
| JORGE GONZALEZ | PROGRAM DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $143,242 | $14,798 |
| PAUL MOORE | PROGRAM DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $141,285 | $15,295 |
| LAURIE SUPINSKI | PROGRAM DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $142,442 | $13,075 |
| KYAMA KITAVI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RENEE WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOE JONES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROB JANDERNOA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOE LAMPEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEREMY DEROO | TREASURER Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY ONEIL | SECRETARY Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darel Ross | Executive DirectorPresident Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $130,412 | $21,537 |
| Jorge Gonzalez | Program Director Highest-paid employee | 40 | $108,681 | $18,445 |
| Laurie Supinski | Program Director Highest-paid employee | 40 | $107,588 | $16,431 |
| Paul Moore | Program Director Highest-paid employee | 40 | $98,885 | $20,359 |
| Kyama Kitavi | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Renee Williams | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Joe Jones | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Luciano Hernandez | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Rob Jandernoa | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Joe Lampen | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jeremy DeRoo | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Mary ONeil | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 2 FULTON STREET W STE 200, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503-2651
- In care of
- % DAREL ROSS
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- DAREL ROSS, 2 FULTON STREET W Ste 200, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503
- Signed the 990
- DAREL ROSS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (616) 669-4141
- Website
- WWW.STARTGARDEN.COM
- Return prepared by
- GOODLANDER SWETT AND RYBICKI
Mission
THE MISSION OF START GARDEN IS TO BRING TOGETHER FINANCIAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND SOCIAL CAPITAL TO ENTREPRENEURS TO EMPOWER THE STARTUP ECOSYSTEM OF WEST MICHIGAN.
Program accomplishments
- START GARDEN WORKS TO ESTABLISH A CULTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INVEST INTO THAT CULTURE. START GARDEN PROVIDES PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NEW BUSINESS INCUBATION, SERVICES TO BUILD AN ENTREPRENEURS INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL, EVENTS AND PROGRAMS TO EXPAND AN ENTREPRENEURS SOCIAL NETWORK THROUGHOUT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND BUILD CAPACITY OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS AND STREAMLINE THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE BROADER SYSTEM. START GARDEN MAKES AVAILABLE TO ITS ENTREPRENEURS/MEMBERS BOTH PHYSICAL SPACE AND TECHNOLOGY, BUT ALSO ACCESS TO RELATIONSHIP, EDUCATION, MENTORSHIPS, AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES.Expenses $2,095,198 · grants $777,955 · revenue $825,518
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 81-1987459
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2017
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Community improvement and capacity building (S30)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $2,332,139
- Income (IRS master file)
- $2,326,287
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $2,326,287 | $3,057,088 | $2,332,139 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $4,456,215 | $3,063,330 | $2,150,744 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $1,291,217 | $2,403,017 | $1,026,706 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $1,857,506 | $2,415,491 | $2,309,768 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 81-1987459).
Questions about START GARDEN LLC
- What is the EIN of START GARDEN LLC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of START GARDEN LLC is 81-1987459.
- Is START GARDEN LLC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2017.
- Are donations to START GARDEN LLC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does START GARDEN LLC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of START GARDEN LLC due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did START GARDEN LLC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of START GARDEN LLC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names DAREL ROSS.
- Who are the officers and directors of START GARDEN LLC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 13 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $184,737 (DAREL ROSS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTORPRESIDENT).
- How much revenue does START GARDEN LLC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $2,326,287, expenses of $3,057,088 and total assets of $2,332,139 at year end.
Other nonprofits in GRAND RAPIDS
- AMPLIFY GR EIN 82-4122848 · last filed 990 for 2024
- GRAND RAPIDS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EIN 38-0592500 · last filed 990 for 2025
- TALENT FIRST INC EIN 27-0193853 · last filed 990 for 2025
- WEST MICHIGAN HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC EIN 20-1483629 · last filed 990 for 2024
- MARCECO FOUNDATION EIN 81-0990850 · last filed 990-PF for 2024
- WEST MICHIGAN HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION EIN 27-5303783 · last filed 990 for 2024
- URBAN CORE COLLECTIVE EIN 46-5227869 · last filed 990 for 2025
- RIGHT PLACE FOUNDATION EIN 27-4012914 · last filed 990 for 2025
All nonprofits in GRAND RAPIDS · Michigan · Community improvement and capacity building