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Culinary Institute of America

EIN 06-0653264 · Hyde Park, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA IS A PRIVATE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT COLLEGE DEDICATED TO BETTERING THE NATION AND THE WORLD, BY MEANS OF OUTSTANDING EDUCATION, PRACTICE, AND SCHOLARSHIP ON ALL ASPECTS OF FOOD AND THE ENTERPRISES RELATED TO IT. THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE, THE CIA PREPARES FOOD LEADERS, INNOVATORS AND EXPERTS FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS.

Income
$223.9 million
Spending
$212.9 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 93%
Employees
1,169
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$1.2 million, chancellor

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 May 31, 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. $176.4 million spent. THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA (CIA) IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS THE WORLD'S PREMIER CULINARY COLLEGE DEDICATED TO DRIVING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FOOD SERVICE AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. THE CIA WAS FOUNDED IN 1946 AND HAS ENJOYED A DISTINCTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL HISTORY CHARACTERIZED BY RAPID EXPANSION IN ITS OVER 75 YEARS OF SERVICE. TODAY MORE THAN 3200 STUDENTS REPRESENTING EVERY STATE AND MORE THAN 40 COUNTRIES ARE ENROLLED IN DEGREE PROGRAMS. THE CIA OFFERS ASSOCIATE DEGREES IN CULINARY ARTS AND BAKING AND PASTRY ARTS; AND BACHELOR DEGREE MAJORS IN FOOD BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, CULINARY SCIENCE, APPLIED FOOD STUDIES, AND A BACHELOR'S OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES OFFERED THROUGH THE DEGREE COMPLETION PROGRAM IN EITHER CULINARY ARTS OR BAKING AND PASTRY ARTS.THE CURRICULA FOR BOTH THE ASSOCIATE AND BACHELOR'S DEGREE INCLUDE A REQUIRED INTERNSHIP THAT PROVIDES REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE AT TOP RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, RESORTS AND OTHER FOOD SERVICE COMPANIES. STUDENTS MAY ALSO OPT TO PARTICIPATE IN AN OVERSEAS TRAVEL EXPERIENCE IN JAPAN, SINGAPORE AND SPAIN. STUDENTS MAY ALSO TAKE PART IN AN IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE WITH A SEMESTER LONG DEEP DIVE INTO SPECIFIC CONCENTRATIONS IN ADVANCED WINE, BEVERAGE AND HOSPITALITY, FARM-TO-TABLE, PRACTICE OF A SUSTAINABLE TABLE, ADVANCED CONCEPTS IN BAKING AND PASTRY, ASIAN CUISINE, BEVERAGE PRODUCTION AND SERVICE, CUISINES AND CULTURES OF AFRICA AND ITS DIASPORA IN THE AMERICA'S, INTRAPRENEURSHIP, JAPANESE CUISINES, LATIN AMERICAN CUISINE STUDIES AND MEDITERRANEAN CUISINES. THE CIA OFFERS AN ON-LINE MASTER'S DEGREE IN FOOD BUSINESS, SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS, AND WINE AND BEVERAGE MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS, GRADUATE CERTIFICATES IN CULINARY ARTS, CONFERENCES AND CONSULTING SERVICES HAVE MADE THE CIA THE "THINK TANK" OF THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY IN AREAS OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS, SUSTAINABILITY AND FOOD ETHICS, WORLD CUISINE AND CULTURES AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION. THE CIA CONSULTING GROUP TAILORS' PROGRAMS FOR THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY AND THE MILITARY IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, FLAVOR EXPLORATION, PRODUCT TESTING, TRAINING AS WELL AS PROCHEF (R) CERTIFICATION. THE CIA LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, SPEARHEADED BY THE CIA STRATEGIC INITIATIVES GROUP, HELP FOOD SERVICE PROFESSIONALS LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEXT WAVE OF CHANGE. CONFERENCES AND LEADERSHIP RETREATS FOCUS ON TOPICS AND TRENDS CRUCIAL TO THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY INCLUDING FLAVOR DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, NUTRITION SCIENCE, VOLUME FOOD SERVICE MENU R&D AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE AND VOLUME FOOD SERVICE. THE CIA ALSO OFFERS PROGRAM COURSES FOR PROFESSIONAL AND FOOD ENTHUSIASTS TAUGHT BY EXPERT INSTRUCTORS THESE CLASSES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP FOOD ENTHUSIAST GROW THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND GAIN CONFIDENCE BY OFFERING INTENSIVE BOOT CAMPS, HANDS-ON COOKING CLASSES, WINE AND BEVERAGE CLASSES, AND CHEF DEMONSTRATIONS. THE CIA HAS CAMPUSES IN HYDE PARK, NEW YORK, ST. HELENA AND NAPA, CALIFORNIA, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND SINGAPORE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 May 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 1955.

    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.