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Pratt Institute

EIN 11-1630822 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRATT IS AN INSTITUTE, AN EXPERIENCE, AND AN IDEA. WHAT STARTED AS A RADICAL EXPERIMENT TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CREATIVE CAREERS IS NOW A COMMUNITY OF 5,137 GRAD AND UNDERGRAD STUDENTS WORKING ACROSS 48 PROGRAMS WITH 1,200 DEDICATED FACULTY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O).

Income
$364.5 million
Spending
$371.6 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 93%
Employees
4,490
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$897,304, president and trustee

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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 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 (4)
  1. $210.0 million spent. INSTRUCTION: PRATT INSTITUTE IS ACCREDITED BY THE MIDDLE STATES COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCY RECOGNIZED BY THE US SECRETARY OF EDUCATION AND THE COMMISSION ON RECOGNITION OF POSTSECONDARY ACCREDITATION. THE INSTITUTE OFFERS 5 ASSOCIATE, 27 UNDERGRADUATE, AND 36 GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN ART, DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE, LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, AND INFORMATION AND LIBRARY SCIENCES (GRADUATE LEVEL ONLY). (SEE CONTINUATION IN SCHEDULE O) INSTRUCTION: THE CENTER FOR CONTINUING AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT COURSES AND PROGRAMS TO THE NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENT IN A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS FOR EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT, CAREER CHANGE, AND ENRICHMENT. THE CENTER ALSO OFFERS A PRECOLLEGE PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH RIGOROUS COLLEGE LEVEL ART, DESIGN AND CREATIVE THINKING COURSES, MODELED AFTER THE INSTITUTE'S UNDERGRADUATE OFFERINGS. THE STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY IN MORE THAN A DOZEN LOCATIONS INCLUDING ROME, FLORENCE, MILAN, COPENHAGEN, LONDON AND TOKYO. OFFICIAL ENROLLMENT FOR THE FALL 25 SEMESTER WAS 2,115 (1,121 NONCREDIT, 994 CREDIT).
  2. $43.7 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT: THE INSTITUTE PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO OVER 80% OF STUDENTS. THIS ASSISTANCE IS VITAL TO FOSTERING THE UNIQUE ABILITIES OF THE TALENTED INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED AT PRATT, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE WORLD-CLASS, CUTTING EDGE EDUCATION THE INSTITUTE OFFERS. (SEE CONTINUATION IN SCHEDULE O) ACADEMIC SUPPORT: ENDOWED FACULTY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS ARE COMPETITIVELY AWARDED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO ENHANCE THE RESOURCES PROVIDED FOR PRATT FACULTY. THESE GRANTS BOTH ADVANCE FACULTY RESEARCH AND STRENGTHEN THE INSTITUTE'S CURRICULUM OVERALL. FACULTY RESEARCH ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION AND INSPIRES NEW INTERDISCIPLINARY WORK THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE A RICHER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS.
  3. $35.0 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES: THE INSTITUTE MANAGES AND MAINTAINS MULTIPLE RESIDENCE HALLS WHICH PROVIDE HOUSING FOR PRATT STUDENTS. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES ALSO INCLUDE MANAGEMENT OF THE STUDENT MEAL PROGRAM AND ATHLETIC CENTER ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE PRIMARILY MAINTAINED FOR THE USE AND CONVENIENCE OF STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF.
  4. $31.9 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES:EXPENSES INCURRED FOR STUDENT' ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS BY THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS: ADMISSIONS, REGISTRAR, BURSAR, FINANCIAL AID, ATHLETICS, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, HEALTH & COUNSELING, CAREER SERVICES AND OTHER STUDENT SUPPORT. THE STUDENT AFFAIRS DIVISION PROVIDES PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT PROMOTE STUDENT PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, FOSTERS A CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO STUDENT LEARNING AND ADVOCATES FOR AND SUPPORTS STUDENTS AS THEY MEET ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL CHALLENGES. THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROVIDES SERVICES TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FROM OVER 75 COUNTRIES AS WELL AS J-1 EXCHANGE VISITORS, EXCHANGE STUDENTS, PROFESSORS, AND SCHOLARS. THE OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE TO ENSURE THE INSTITUTE'S COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND DEPARTMENT OF STATE.INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT:INCLUDES EXPENDITURES PRIMARILY INCURRED BY THE OFFICES OF SECURITY, STRATEGIC PLANNING, INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, MARKETING, FINANCE, AND OTHER GENERAL EXPENSES OF THE INSTITUTION.OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PLANT:INCLUDES EXPENSES FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF BUILDINGS, MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT OF THE OPERATIONS OF PHYSICAL PLANT FACILITIES, UTILITIES, CLEANING AND OTHER RELATED FUNCTIONS, CAPITAL RENOVATION AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROJECTS. THE INSTITUTE IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING A MAJOR UPGRADE TO ITS AGING STEAM PLANT IN ORDER TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS AND COMPLY WITH LOCAL CARBON REDUCTION REQUIREMENTS.PUBLIC SERVICE:THE INSTITUTE PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE IN COMMUNITY-BASED PLANNING AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS THAT EMPOWER LOCAL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO DEVELOP ROBUST URBAN CENTERS IN WHICH TO WORK, PLAY AND LIVE. COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE LONG-RUNNING SATURDAY ART SCHOOL AND PRATT YOUNG SCHOLARS PROGRAM. SERVICES OF THE SPATIAL ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION LAB ARE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND REGULARLY PROVIDES GIS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO NEW YORK CITY-BASED NONPROFIT, CIVIC, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS. SAVI MAINTAINS A DATABASE OF SPATIAL AND INFORMATIONAL DATA SETS, AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE ON MOSTNETWORKED COMPUTERS ON THE BROOKLYN CAMPUS. PRATT CENTER FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: ESTABLISHED IN 1963, THE CENTER WORKS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE CITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND POLICYMAKERS.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1935.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.