Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation

What it reported doing in 2025

Research grant awards are made to address the cost and quality of health care. These awards are made to Michigan researchers, physicians and students at universities, and hospitals. Before an innovative idea can be implemented, it must first be tested. The investigator-initiated research program is designed for Michigan researchers, enabling them to turn theory into data and data into knowledge. These grant partners often increase their influence in academic circles and community platforms to inform and shape future thought and improvement. The bcbsm foundation's investigator initiated research award program empowers scholars to fill critical gaps in Michigan's health care knowledge. By funding rigorous pilots, secondary data analyses and feasibility studies to test the implementation of innovative interventions to improve health outcomes, this research program accelerates evidence-based solutions that can be scaled across the state's many unique communities. In 2025, nine researchers received funding to explore everything from early life behavioral health and improving early detection of exposure to polyfluoroalkyl substances, to measuring maternal well-being and how geography and program timing shape outcomes for the rx kids program expansion in the eastern upper peninsula. These innovative studies can generate actionable data that health systems, policymakers and providers can adopt quickly, while supporting a robust, statewide research ecosystem. The physician investigator research award program empowers Michigan physicians to translate the insights they gather in daily practice into rigorous research that advances health care access, value and quality. By providing dedicated funding for physician-led investigations, the program bridges the gap between frontline observations and evidence-based solutions, enabling clinicians to address systemic barriers, improve patient outcomes, and inform policy and practice improvements. In 2025, two physicians were awarded funding to support projects that directly responded to the pressing needs of their patient populations and set the stage for broader impact across the state's health system. The student award program fuels the next generation of Michigan health care research by providing awards for student research projects that tackle health-related challenges. In 2025, the program made awards to 23 medical, pharmacy, nursing, psychology and public health doctoral students from seven universities across the state. Grants enable scholars to generate data, tools and publishable results that can deliver early evidence to inform practice and policy the impact is twofold. First, students gain research experience that distinguishes them in a competitive job market, positioning them as future leaders in clinical practice, policy and technology. Second, the research proposals address pressing gaps in health care understanding and outcomes. Research projects supported in 2025 include an interdisciplinary investigation of how micro and nano plastics pervasive in the great lakes affect the human gut microbiome, the exploration of cancer medication self management, telehealth-delivered therapy for psychogenic seizures and contributing factors for cognitive change during perimenopause. By turning innovative ideas and health-related questions into actionable research, the student award program builds a pipeline of skilled, community-focused health professionals ready to improve outcomes for all michiganians.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 77.7%; rating input score 78
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 66.7%; rating input score 67; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -18.1%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 21.27; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 46.3%; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0.4% per year; rating input score 100; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 27.6% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 0.6% per year; rating input score 100; 12th percentile among comparable filings