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Intercollegiate Studies Institute Inc

EIN 23-6050131 · Wilmington, DE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE INSPIRE COLLEGE STUDENTS TO DISCOVER, EMBRACE, AND ADVANCE THE PRINCIPLES THAT MAKE AMERICA GOOD, FREE, AND PROSPEROUS.

Income
$8.7 million
Spending
$9.5 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
12.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
37
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$357,884, president & ceo

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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 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 (3)
  1. $4.8 million spent. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE PROGRAM - THE ORGANIZATION HOSTS CONFERENCES FOR STUDENTS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT TEACH THE PRINCIPLES THAT MAKE AMERICA FREE AND PROSPEROUS.
  2. $444,967 spent. ISI BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS - THE ORGANIZATION PUBLISHES BOOKS, MAGAZINES AND JOURNALS TO INTRODUCE COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THE BROADER READING PUBLIC TO THE PRINCIPLES AND VIRTUES THAT MAKE AMERICA FREE AND PROSPEROUS.
  3. $1.7 million spent. THE ISI COLLEGIATE NETWORK SUPPORTS INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES AND JOURNALS, PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AND POSTGRADUATE, YEAR-LONG FELLOWSHIPS AT PROMINENT MEDIA OUTLETS TO PROMISING STUDENT JOURNALISTS COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLES OF LIBERTY.

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 May 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 November 4, 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.