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Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges

EIN 23-7077479 · Bethlehem, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LVAIC IS A COMMUNITY OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES GROWING STRONGER THROUGH COLLABORATION.

Income
$955,381
Spending
$936,916
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
7
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$153,255, exec dir/secretary(thru aug, 2024)

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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 8 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 (4)
  1. $315,502 spent. GROUP PURCHASING - LVAIC SEEKS TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIC SOURCING AND PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT MEET THE COMMON NEEDS OF OUR MEMBERS. LVAIC DOES NOT PURCHASE ANY GOODS DIRECTLY ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS, BUT RATHER, WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH MEMBERS AND SUPPLIERS TO ESTABLISH MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL AGREEMENTS. WORKING TOGETHER, MEMBERS IN THE CONSORTIUM CAN PURCHASE GOODS AND SERVICES COLLECTIVELY TO MAXIMIZE FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES THROUGH EFFECTIVE PROCUREMENT PRACTICES WHILE LEVERAGING OUR COLLECTIVE VOLUME AND EXPERTISE.LVAIC INSTITUTIONS WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY OR SOURCE HIGH VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOINT PURCHASING THROUGH MEMBERSHIP IN GROUP PURCHASING ORGANIZATIONS (GPOS) OR THROUGH LVAIC PREFERRED SUPPLIERS OR CONTRACTED VENDORS. BY UTILIZING LVAIC PREFERRED SUPPLIERS OR CONTRACTED VENDORS, MEMBERS ARE ASSURED OF DOING BUSINESS WITH SUPPLIERS THAT OFFER COMPETITIVE PRICING, CONSISTENT AND PROVEN SERVICE, AND EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE.
  2. $94,875 spent. HEALTH INSURANCE CONSORTIUM - LVAIC OPERATES AS MULTIPLE EMPLOYER WELFARE ARRANGEMENT AS DEFINED BY ERISA. MEMBER INSTITUTIONS PARTICIPATE IN A SELF-FUNDED HEALTH INSURANCE TRUST MAXIMIZING THE COST-SAVINGS AND PLAN CUSTOMIZATION. LVAIC IS THE PLAN SPONSOR AND ADMINISTRATOR OF THE HEALTH PLAN AND THE LVAIC BOARD HAS A FIDUCIARY ROLE TO INSURE THE PROGRAM IS OPERATING FAIRLY AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAWS.
  3. $20,681 spent. LEHIGH VALLEY RESEARCH CONSORTIUM (LVRC) - REVENUE FROM RESEARCH PROJECTS IS COLLECTED FROM THE APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION BY LVAIC AND THEN PAID BACK TO THE APPROPRIATE RESEARCHERS' CAMPUSES.
  4. $308,558 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS CONSIST OF CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, AND LIBRARY SERVICES THAT ALLOW MEMBER INSTITUTIONS ACCESS TO COLLECTIVE RESOURCES AND SHARED SERVICES. LVAIC HOSTS A DIVERSE ARRAY OF EVENTS, CONFERENCES, AND SYMPOSIA THAT ENRICH THE ACADEMIC AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF THE COMMUNITY. THESE EVENTS OFFER A PLATFORM FOR COLLABORATION, INNOVATION, AND KNOWLEDGE-SHARING AMONG SCHOLARS, STUDENTS, AND EXPERTS FROM VARIOUS FIELDS.

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 January 1971.

    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.