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The Graduate Center Foundation Inc

EIN 13-3219419 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$30.3 million
Spending
$8.9 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$486,205, president, graduate center

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

Good: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 71% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 47% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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

    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. $8.4 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O:THE GRADUATE CENTER FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1983 AS AN INDEPENDENT NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITY THAT IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING AND SAFEGUARDING THE SUCCESS OF THE GRADUATE CENTER. AS THE SOLE CHANNEL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROGRAMS, CENTERS AND INSTITUTIONS OF THE GRADUATE CENTER, THE FOUNDATION WORKS WITH THE PRESIDENT AND PROVOST OF THE GRADUATE CENTER ON INSTITUTIONAL PRIORITIES SUCH AS STUDENT HOUSING, CAREER PLANNING AND COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH, AND WITH PROGRAM LEADERS ON TARGETED SCHOLARSHIPS AND STIPENDS, TRAVEL AND CONFERENCE AID, AND COMMUNICATING TO AND FROM ALUMNI. THE FOUNDATION ALSO MANAGES AND INVESTS DONATIONS FOR USE BY THE GRADUATE CENTER.THE CUNY GRADUATE CENTER, A LEADER IN PUBLIC GRADUATE EDUCATION, IS COMMITTED TO DOCTORAL AND MASTER'S EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD. INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, RIGOROUS SCHOLARSHIP, AND COLLABORATIVE AND INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING DEFINE GRADUATE EDUCATION HERE, PREPARING STUDENTS WITH THE CREATIVE, PROBLEM-SOLVING EXPERTISE NECESSARY TO THRIVE IN AND BEYOND THE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE.LOCATED IN THE HEART OF MANHATTAN AND SET WITHIN THE LARGE AND MULTI-CAMPUS CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, THE GRADUATE CENTER FOSTERS ADVANCED GRADUATE EDUCATION, ORIGINAL RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP, INNOVATIVE UNIVERSITY-WIDE PROGRAMS, AND VIBRANT PUBLIC EVENTS THAT DRAW UPON AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMPLEX COMMUNITIES OF NEW YORK CITY AND BEYOND.THROUGH A BROAD RANGE OF NATIONALLY PROMINENT DOCTORAL PROGRAMS, THE GRADUATE CENTER PREPARES STUDENTS TO BE SCHOLARS, TEACHERS, EXPERTS, AND LEADERS IN THE ACADEMY; IN THE ARTS; AND IN THE PRIVATE, NONPROFIT, AND GOVERNMENT SECTORS. COMMITTED TO CUNY'S HISTORIC MISSION OF EDUCATING THE CHILDREN OF "THE WHOLE PEOPLE," THE GRADUATE CENTER PROVIDES ACCESS TO GRADUATE EDUCATION FOR DIVERSE GROUPS OF HIGHLY TALENTED STUDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN UNDERREPRESENTED IN HIGHER EDUCATION.THREE LARGEST PROGRAM SERVICE ACHIEVEMENTS FOR ARE:A. CUNY RECEIVED A $50 MILLION GRANT FROM THE SIMONS FOUNDATION. THE FUNDING ALLOWS CUNY TO CREATE A NEW MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAM, HIRE NEW FACULTY, AND CREATE WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY AT THE NATION'S LARGEST AND MOST DIVERSE URBAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY. THE PROGRAM, HOUSED AT THE CUNY GRADUATE CENTER, WILL STRENGTHEN THE UNIVERSITY'S RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CAPABILITIES AND WILL BUILD NEW CAREER PATHWAYS INTO THE ADVANCED COMPUTER INDUSTRY.B. THE CUNY GRADUATE CENTER RECEIVES A $10 MILLION GIFT FROM THE LEON LEVY FOUNDATION TO ENDOW THE LEON LEVY CENTER FOR BIOGRAPHY. THIS DONATION IS THE ONE OF LARGEST IN THE GRADUATE CENTER'S HISTORY AND BRINGS THE LEON LEVY FOUNDATION'S TOTAL GIVING TO THE GC TO $22.8 MILLION. ESTABLISHED WITH A GENEROUS GIFT FROM THE LEON LEVY FOUNDATION IN 2007, THE LEON LEVY CENTER FOR BIOGRAPHY AT THE CUNY GRADUATE CENTER SUPPORTS WORKING BIOGRAPHERS THROUGH ITS PRESTIGIOUS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AND CULTIVATES IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE ART AND CRAFT OF BIOGRAPHY THROUGH LECTURES AND EVENTS WITH ESTEEMED BIOGRAPHERS. IT ALSO SUPPORTS THE GRADUATE CENTER'S BIOGRAPHY AND MEMOIR MASTER'S PROGRAM.C. BASED AT THE CUNY GRADUATE CENTER, THE ANDREW MELLON FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE SOCIAL PRACTICE CUNY PROJECT. THROUGH A GRANT OF $600,000, THE SPCUNY PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO CREATE A NEW GENERATION OF CULTURAL LEADERS IN NYC WHO ARE DIVERSE AND COMMITTED TO BRINGING SOCIAL CHANGE THROUGH ART, DRAWING ON THE STRENGTHS OF INTERDISCIPLINARY MFA PROGRAMS. SPCUNY WORKS TO CONNECT STUDENTS AND FACULTY WORKING IN SOCIALLY ENGAGED ART ACROSS ALL OF THE CUNY CAMPUSES, WITH A FOCUS ON INTERDISCIPLINARY MFA PROGRAMS AT THE SENIOR CUNY COLLEGES.

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 November 6, 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 September 1984.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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