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Cottage 1886 Foundation Inc

EIN 22-3609233 · Princeton, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COTTAGE 1886 FOUNDATION, INC. (THE "FOUNDATION") WAS CREATED TO ESTABLISH, CONDUCT, MAINTAIN AND/OR SUPPORT UNDERTAKINGS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ARE EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY OR EDUCATIONAL IN PURPOSE, INCL. PARTICULARLY, BUT WITHOUT LIMITATION, UNDERTAKINGS & ACTIVITIES INTENDED TO ENHANCE THE EDUCATION OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS BELONGING TO THE UNIVERSITY COTTAGE CLUB (THE "CLUB") (A NJ NONPROFIT CORP.) AND THEIR GUESTS, SUCH AS LECTURE PROGRAMS, SEMINARS, CULTURAL EVENTS & THE ENHANCEMENT OF LIBRARY FACILITIES AND OTHER FACILITIES DIRECTLY RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL FUNCTIONS. OPERATIONS WERE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORICALLY AND ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE OWNED AND OCCUPIED BY THE CLUB AND TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE BUILDING. DURING 1999, THE CLUB WAS ENTERED ONTO THE NJ REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

Income
$106,177
Spending
$262,556
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
32.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 70%
Employees
0
Volunteers
6

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: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 32.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 147% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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.

  • 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. $214,174 spent. LECTURE PROGRAMS, SEMINARS, CULTURAL EVENTS AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF LIBRARY FACILITIES AND OTHER FACILITIES DIRECTLY RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL FUNCTIONS. THE RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION INCLUDES WORK TO PRESERVE, RESTORE AND REPAIR THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, THE HISTORICALLY AND ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT INTERIOR PUBLIC AREAS AND THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF THOSE BUILDING SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS NECESSARY TO ENSURE PROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE HISTORICALLY AND ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT FEATURES OF THE BUILDING.
  2. $31,282 spent. THE GLINKA SCHOLARSHIP FUND WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE CLUB'S ALUMNI AND IS DESIGNED TO MAKE GRANTS TO STUDENTS ON FINANCIAL AID AND/OR WITH EXTRAORDINARY FINANCIAL BURDENS.

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 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 June 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 January 2001.

    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.