U C Riverside Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL, RESEARCH AND PUBLIC FUNCTIONS AND PROGRAMS OF THE RIVERSIDE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.
- Income
- $20.9 million
- Spending
- $17.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $748,088, ex-officio trustee (thru 6/30/2025)
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 39% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2530 of 31 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $15.4 million spent. SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, AWARDS AND OTHER SUPPORT OF FUNCTIONS AND PROGRAMS OF THE RIVERSIDE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.
- $1.7 million spent. THE FOUNDATION RECEIVES, RECORDS AND MANAGES GIFTS FROM INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF UC RIVERSIDE IN ACCORDANCE WITH DONORS' WISHES. THE FOUNDATION PAYS A PERCENTAGE OF GIFTS RECEIVED, REFERRED TO AS GIFT FEES, AND A PERCENTAGE OF ENDOWMENT EARNINGS, KNOWN AS ENDOWMENT FEES, TO UC RIVERSIDE TO OFFSET THE CAMPUS COSTS OF ADMINISTERING AND CARRYING OUT THE TERMS OF THE ENDOWMENT AND TO HELP SUPPORT COSTS OF THE CAMPUS AND IN PARTICULAR THOSE RELATED TO ADVANCEMENT. THE FOUNDATION ALSO SWEEPS INCOME EARNED FROM CASH HELD FOR CURRENT RESTRICTED FUNDS TO UC RIVERSIDE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1975.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.