The SOURCE receives grant to expand no-cost tax services

For the second consecutive year, The SOURCE has been awarded funding through the Michigan Free Tax Preparation Expansion and Sustainability Initiative, supported by the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM), to expand its free tax preparation services for the 2026 filing season.

For more than 20 years, The SOURCE’s IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers have provided no-cost, high-quality tax preparation to local low- and moderate-income individuals and families. In partnership with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, they serve households earning $69,000 or less, people with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need help preparing their returns. During the 2025 tax season, The SOURCE helped file 988 tax returns, enabling clients to access more than $1.9M in tax refunds. This funding from CEDAM will allow The SOURCE to reach more community members with free tax preparation services.

“Access to free tax preparation services is critical to helping low- and moderate-income households achieve financial stability,” said Erika Gonzalez, Managing Director of The SOURCE. “Our clients benefit from maximizing their tax returns, which provides much needed financial relief and can help put families on a path to asset building. We appreciate CEDAM’s continued support of our program and are grateful for the dedication of our volunteers, who make it possible to deliver such an impactful program year after year. We look forward to reaching even more people in our community during the upcoming tax season.”

With this funding, The SOURCE will expand its tax preparation services to reach more individuals at tax preparation sessions held at The SOURCE’s primary office, as well as through pop-up tax sites at SOURCE employer-partner locations across West Michigan.

The SOURCE’s free tax preparation services are available to West Michigan residents who meet the IRS’ VITA program income requirements. More information, including the process for scheduling an appointment, will be available in early 2026.

The SOURCE is actively recruiting volunteers to ensure services are available to as many community members as possible. No prior tax experience is required, and all volunteers receive IRS-certified training at no cost. To learn more about volunteering, please reach out to The SOURCE at info@grsource.org.

To learn more about The SOURCE, visit: www.grsource.org.

About The SOURCE

The SOURCE creates equitable access to opportunities for career growth and improved well-being by stabilizing households, strengthening employment retention, and advocating for changes in community policies to eliminate inequities and systemic barriers to employment. Since its founding in 2003, The SOURCE has partnered with employers, philanthropic organizations, and community-based organizations to improve economic well-being for everyone.

Media inquiries:

Alison Freas

CEO & President

The SOURCE

alison@grsource.org