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Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

EIN 22-3319874 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE AND CATALYZE HIGHER EDUCATION TO LEAD THE GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY TRANSFORMATION. TO LEAD HIGHER EDUCATION TO BE A FOUNDATION FOR A THRIVING, EQUITABLE AND ECOLOGICALLY HEALTHY WORLD.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
15
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$142,266, executive director

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

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 71% 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 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 December 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 (3)
  1. $888,445 spent. CONFERENCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS: ATTENDEES FROM AROUND THE WORLD SHARE INNOVATIONS, ACTIVITIES, FRAMEWORKS, LEARNING OUTCOMES, TOOLS, STRATEGIES, RESEARCH, THEORY AND LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES THAT ARE CHANGING THE FACE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION. WITH TRAILBLAZING KEYNOTE SPEAKERS, WORKSHOPS, AWARDS AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, AASHE CONFERENCES ADVANCE THE FULL SPECTRUM OF CURRENT SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS AND BEST PRACTICES IN HIGHER EDUCATION EACH YEAR. EDUCATION PROGRAMS AIM TO ENGAGE A DIVERSE GROUP OF CAMPUS REPRESENTATIVES; FROM FACULTY TO SUSTAINABILITY OFFICERS, PRESIDENTS TO STUDENTS IN DIALOGUE AND ACTION FOCUSED ON PRESSING ISSUES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION, SOCIAL JUSTICE, CLIMATE ACTION AND BEHAVIOR CHANGE.
  2. $418,551 spent. MEMBERSHIPS: AASHE IS THE LEADING ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION. WE SERVE A FULL RANGE OF HIGHER EDUCATION FACULTY, ADMINISTRATORS, STAFF AND STUDENTS WHO ARE CHANGE AGENTS AND DRIVERS OF SUSTAINABILITY INNOVATION. ESTABLISHED IN 2005, AASHE'S MEMBERS ARE LOCATED IN NORTH AMERICA AS WELL AS, 9 CANADIAN PROVINCES AND 25 COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. FOR THE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT COMPRISE AASHE'S MEMBERSHIP BASE, AASHE PROVIDES A ROBUST AND DIVERSE SUITE OF BENEFITS INCLUDING: NETWORKING AND RECOGNITION, BENCHMARKING AND RESEARCH, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, NEWS AND RESOURCES.
  3. $307,013 spent. STARS: STARS IS A TRANSPARENT, SELF-REPORTING FRAMEWORK USED BY HUNDREDS OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO MEASURE AND REPORT THEIR SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE. IT PROVIDES A GUIDE FOR ADVANCING SUSTAINABILITY IN ALL SECTORS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, CREATES INCENTIVES FOR IMPROVEMENT TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY, FACILITATES INFORMATION SHARING AND BUILDS A MORE DIVERSE CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 December 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 1994.

    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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