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United Methodist Higher Education Foundation

EIN 23-7077869 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 79 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION WAS ESTABLISHED TO DEVELOP AND MANAGE FUNDS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UNITED METHODIST STUDENTS ATTENDING UNITED METHODIST RELATED SCHOOLS.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 85%
Employees
6
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$177,750, prior presid

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 79 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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

    27 of 27 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, 2024, 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 (1)
  1. $2.0 million spent. UNITED METHODIST DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS PROVIDES MATCHING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING UNITED METHODIST-RELATED INSTITUTIONS. LOCAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES PROVIDE 1,000 TO A MEMBER STUDENT (TOTALING 419,000 IN 2024), THE UNITED METHODIST HIGHER EDUCATION FOUNDATION MATCHES EACH STUDENT'S 1,000, AND IN MOST INSTANCES THE UNITED METHODIST-RELATED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION MATCHES 1,000, BRINGING THE TOTAL AWARD TO 3,000 PER STUDENT. FURTHER, WITH A SELECT NUMBER OF UNITED METHODIST CONFERENCE FOUNDATIONS, THE AWARD IS MATCHED WITH AN ADDITIONAL 1,000 (TOTALING 276,328 IN 2024), BRINGING THE TOTAL AWARD TO 4,000 PER STUDENT. TOTAL SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED BY UNITED METHODIST HIGHER EDUCATION FOUNDATION THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IN 2024 WERE 1,114,328.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 April 1970.

    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.

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.