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Forum for the Future of Higher Education

EIN 04-3333819 · Cambridge, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES WHICH PROMOTE EDUCATION, INCLUDING CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND PRESENTING PUBLIC DISCUSSION GROUPS, FORUMS, PANEL LECTURES, AND SIMILAR PROGRAMS ON EDUCATIONAL ISSUES.

Income
$692,456
Spending
$353,053
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
43.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
0
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$408,718, executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 43.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 166% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $311,552 spent. THE FORUM FOR THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION (THE FORUM) IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT RESEARCH CENTER, COMPRISED OF A COMMUNITY OF ACADEMIC LEADERS AND SCHOLARS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO EXPLORE NEW THINKING IN HIGHER EDUCATION. THE FORUM FACILITATES SHARED INQUIRY AND COLLABORATION ON ISSUES LIKELY TO INFLUENCE THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, PRIMARILY IN ECONOMICS AND FINANCE, NEW LEARNING MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY, ADVANCES IN THE COGNITIVE AND NEUROSCIENCES, THE ROLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY, AND PREPARING THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE. THE FORUM SPONSORS AND CREATES RESEARCH, PRESENTS SCHOLARSHIP AT ANNUAL ASPEN SYMPOSIA, AND DISSEMINATES FINDINGS THROUGHOUT HIGHER EDUCATION. THE FORUM SPONSORS RESEARCH AND CREATES KNOWLEDGE INTENDED TO INFORM CAMPUS POLICY AND DECISION-MAKING. ITS RESEARCH AGENDA FOCUSES ON NEW THINKING AND IDEAS LIKELY TO AFFECT THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION. EACH YEAR, 15-20 NEW FORUM SCHOLARSHIPS ARE DESIGNATED. THE FORUM IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN THE FOLLOWING MAJOR RESEARCH INITIATIVES:-FORUM ON POLITICS, THE ECONOMY AND HIGHER EDUCATION-FORUM ON NEW BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL MODELS-FORUM ON TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AND ACADEMIC PRODUCTIVITY-FORUM ON HIGHER EDUCATION GOVERNANCE, LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT-FORUM ON FINANCIAL MARKETS AND RISK MANAGEMENT-WGBH ON CAMPUS-FORUM ON ADVANCED LEARNING SCIENCE-FORUM ON INEQUALITY AND HIGHER EDUCATION-ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS ON GLOBALIZATION, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND THE ECONOMYFORUM SCHOLARSHIP IS PUBLISHED IN FORUM FUTURES AND BROADLY DISSEMINATED THROUGHOUT HIGHER EDUCATION. FORUM FUTURES: SUMMARY OF FORUM RESEARCH, PUBLISHED SUMMARIES OF FORUM RESEARCH DESIGNED FOR USE IN BOARD AND PLANNING RETREATS, INCLUDING FULL-TEXT OF PAPERS PRESENTED AT ANNUAL ASPEN SYMPOSIUM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1997.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.