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Carnegie Mellon University

EIN 25-0969449 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CREATE A TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS FOCUSED ON DEEP DISCIPLINARY KNOWLEDGE; PROBLEM SOLVING; LEADERSHIP, COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS; AND PERSONAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. TO CULTIVATE A TRANSFORMATIVE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO (A) ATTRACTING AND RETAINING DIVERSE, WORLD-CLASS TALENT; (B) CREATING A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT OPEN TO THE FREE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, WHERE RESEARCH, CREATIVITY, INNOVATION, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAN FLOURISH; AND (C) ENSURING INDIVIDUALS CAN ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. TO IMPACT SOCIETY IN A TRANSFORMATIVE WAY - REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY, AND GLOBALLY - BY ENGAGING WITH PARTNERS OUTSIDE THE TRADITIONAL BORDERS OF THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.

Income
$2.5 billion
Spending
$1.9 billion
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 45%
Employees
16,745
Volunteers
36
Highest pay
$3.6 million, trustee(pres/ceo,dietrich fdn)

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: 89 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% 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 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

    36 of 41 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 (5)
  1. $1.1 billion spent. INSTRUCTION: CARNEGIE MELLON IS A HYBRID OF A TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, FINE-ARTS CONSERVATORY AND TRADITIONAL RESEARCH UNIVERSITY, HAVING EVOLVED IN RESPONSE TO EMERGING SOCIAL NEEDS AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PAST CENTURY. UNITING TECHNOLOGY AND ARTS, FUSING THE PRACTICAL WITH THE IMAGINATIVE, MAINTAINING ITS EDUCATIONAL EMPHASIS ON DEVELOPING SKILLS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. INCLUDES 7 COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS OFFERING DEGREE PROGRAMS AND MORE THAN 100 MAJORS AND MINORS TO APPROXIMATELY 16,700 UNDERGRADUATES, GRADUATES AND DOCTORAL STUDENTS. INSTRUCTION INCLUDES ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND STUDENT SERVICES. CARNEGIE MELLON HAS ITS MAIN CAMPUS IN PITTSBURGH, SATELLITE CAMPUSES IN SILICON VALLEY AND DOHA, QATAR, AND DEGREE-GRANTING PROGRAMS IN COORDINATION WITH GLOBAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PORTUGAL, RWANDA, AND THAILAND. NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY, CARNEGIE MELLON HAS BECOME A MAJOR VOICE OF CONNECTIVITY IN TECHNOLOGY, EXPANSION OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
  2. $458.3 million spent. RESEARCH: CARNEGIE MELLON HOLDS A PROUD VISION OF ITSELF AS A DISTINCTIVE AND DIFFERENT KIND OF RESEARCH UNIVERSITY WHERE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAMS FROM ACROSS THE LEADING DISCIPLINES, FROM COMPUTING AND ENGINEERING TO FINE ARTS, INTERSECT. IT IS A DECENTRALIZED COMMUNITY OF SCIENTISTS AND INTELLECTUALS, ARTISTS AND POLICYMAKERS, BUSINESS EXPERTS AND POETS. THE DIVERSE AND DECENTRALIZED COMMUNITY THAT CHARACTERIZES CARNEGIE MELLON CULTURE RESTS ON A SET OF CORE UNDERPINNINGS AND A STRONG COMMITMENT TO REAL-WORLD PROBLEM SOLVING, INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION AND HARD WORK, COMBINED WITH JOIE DE VIVRE. EACH OF THESE REQUIRES CONNECTIONS AMONG ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, POLICY AND MANAGEMENT, AND THE ARTS. BASIC RESEARCH IS PERFORMED IN ALL 7 COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS AND THE SOFTWARE ENGINEERING INSTITUTE. CARNEGIE MELLON IS ALSO THE HOME OF NUMEROUS RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND CENTERS FOCUSING ON SOME OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST CHALLENGES. CARNEGIE MELLON'S RESEARCH-INTENSIVE ENVIRONMENT PROVIDES A RICH SETTING FOR THE UNIVERSITY'S EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS AND ASPIRATIONS. THE SEARCH FOR NEW KNOWLEDGE AND A SPIRIT OF ONGOING CRITICAL INQUIRY ARE THE IDEALS THAT PERMEATE ITS APPROACH TO TEACHING AND ITS EXPECTATIONS FOR WHAT STUDENTS WILL ACHIEVE.
  3. $162.1 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES: SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE INSTRUCTION AND RESEARCH FUNCTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO HOUSING, DINING SERVICES, PARKING, BOOKSTORE, PRINTING, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, AND OTHER SERVICES RELATED TO THE DELIVERY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH.
  4. $10.6 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES:
  5. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: OTHER FEES AND MEMBERSHIPS, EXTERNAL SUPPORT AND SERVICES AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAM SERVICE REVENUE THAT SUPPORTS THE INSTRUCTION, RESEARCH, AND AUXILIARY FUNCTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY.

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 September 1992.

    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.

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