The Refugee Education Center
To support refugee children and families to gain the necessary skills for seamless and successful integration into the community through providing comprehensive educational support and youth development services, along with fostering cultural knowledge and understanding.
The Refugee Education Center at a glance
- Total assets
- $1,611,262
- +81.8% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $2,778,352
- +90.9% vs 2023
- Net investment income (2024)
- $13,610
- +19.0% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $2,057,132
- +5.8% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who The Refugee Education Center funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
1 grant across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1 grant of 1 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2020 it made 1 grant totaling $22K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Treetops Collective Grand Rapids, MI | To support refugee students aged 15-24 yrs old with high school graduation services. | $22,224 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,611,262 | $2,778,352 | $2,057,132 | — | — | $13,610 |
| 2023 | $886,503 | $1,455,639 | $1,943,610 | — | — | $11,437 |
| 2022 | $1,407,144 | $1,648,288 | $2,022,526 | — | — | $1,542 |
| 2021 | $1,768,268 | $1,907,383 | $2,155,206 | — | — | $419 |
| 2020 | $2,138,448 | $2,603,690 | $1,668,499 | $22,224 | 1 | $836 |
About The Refugee Education Center
Based on IRS filings
The Refugee Education Center is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Grand Rapids, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.6M in total assets. Net investment income was $14K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Refugee Education Center is led by Margaret Derrer, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2022); 2 of 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Margaret Derrer
Executive Director
Executive Di → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$23K (2022) → $119K (2024)
Rebecca Chabot
Chair
Secretary → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Blerta Bushati
Director
President → Chair, 2022
Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn VanOveren
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rima Shah
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kara Van Dam
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erin VanMaanen
Chief Operating Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$80K (2024)
Daniel Brubaker
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nichole Northern
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paula Bishop-Schuiteman
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Esaw Kurban (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Misgana Kurban (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Trudy Ender (2020–2022) — Executive Executive
- Former: John Harrington (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Swithina Mboko (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Paula Schuiteman-Bishop (2021) — Director
- Former: Lynn Schmoll (2020) — Director
- Former: Susan Kragt (2020) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $119K, to Margaret Derrer (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Refugee Education Center
How large is The Refugee Education Center?
The Refugee Education Center reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.8M.
What is The Refugee Education Center?
The Refugee Education Center is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Grand Rapids, MI. It holds $1.6M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does The Refugee Education Center operate?
The Refugee Education Center has awarded grants in Michigan.
What is The Refugee Education Center's EIN?
The Refugee Education Center's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1770896. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 2, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Refugee Education Center funds
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Refugee Education Center's focus areas in our free grants database
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