Q. Does an American Legion Post in Michigan have to comply with a FOIA request for financial records?
A. The American Legion is a nonprofit veterans organization that was federally chartered in 1919. I do not believe that the American Legion qualifies as a "public body" under Michigan's FOIA or as an "agency" for purposes of the federal FOIA. You can, however, obtain the Legion's 990 Form (i.e., income tax return) directly from the organization or through Guidestar or the Internal Revenue Service.