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Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

EIN 13-5562985 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE OVISION: THE COOPER UNION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART IS DEDICATED TO PETER COOPER'S RADICAL COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND HIS FOUNDING VISION THAT FAIR ACCESS TO AN INSPIRING FREE EDUCATION AND FORUMS FOR COURAGEOUS PUBLIC DISCOURSE FOSTER A JUST AND THRIVING WORLD.MISSION: OUR MISSION IS TO SUSTAIN THE COOPER UNION AS A FREE CENTER OF LEARNING AND CIVIC DISCOURSE THAT INSPIRES INVENTIVE, CREATIVE, AND INFLUENTIAL VOICES IN ARCHITECTURE, ART, AND ENGINEERING TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF OUR TIME.

Income
$115.3 million
Spending
$144.8 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-18.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 42%
Employees
1,073
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$636,901, president till 9/24

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

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

    17 of 19 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 (2)
  1. $105.8 million spent. INSTRUCTION: THE COOPER UNION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART IS AMONG THE UNITED STATES' OLDEST AND MOST DISTINGUISHED HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS. IT IS COMPRISED OF THREE PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS: ARCHITECTURE, ART, AND ENGINEERING; AND A FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE COLLEGE ADMITS UNDERGRADUATES SOLELY ON MERIT AND HISTORICALLY AWARDED FULL-TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS TO ALL ENROLLED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. FOLLOWING A PROVISIONAL REDUCTION IN 2014 OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO 50% OF TUITION DUE TO FISCAL REASONS, THE COLLEGE IS NOW EXECUTING A BOARD-APPROVED PLAN TO RESUME ITS PRACTICE OF AWARDING FULL-TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS TO ALL ENROLLED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. THE INSTITUTION PROVIDES STUDENTS CLOSE CONTACT WITH A DISTINGUISHED, CREATIVE FACULTY AND FOSTERS RIGOROUS, HUMANISTIC LEARNING THAT IS ENHANCED BY THE PROCESS OF DESIGN AND AUGMENTED BY THE URBAN SETTING. ENROLLMENT FOR THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR WAS 849 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND 78 GRADUATE STUDENTS.
  2. $1.2 million spent. RESIDENCE LIFE: THE COOPER UNION STUDENT RESIDENCE OFFERS APARTMENT-STYLE HOUSING TO 156 STUDENTS. THE FACILITY IS STAFFED BY PROFESSIONAL AND GRADUATE STUDENT STAFF AND 8 UNDERGRADUATE RESIDENT ASSISTANTS. THE RESIDENTIAL LIFE STAFF HOSTS SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS AIMED AT BUILDING A STRONG COMMUNITY, INCREASING APPRECIATION FOR DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND PERSPECTIVES, AND HELPING STUDENTS TRANSITION TO LIFE IN NEW YORK CITY AND AT THE COOPER UNION.

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 August 1954.

    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.

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