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Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies

EIN 25-1843470 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 49% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 55 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 INSTITUTE'S MISSION IS TO CONDUCT RESEARCH ON KEY ISSUES FACING SOCIETY TO HELP BOTH THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY DEAL THOUGHTFULLY WITH THE MAJOR ISSUES THEY FACE GLOBALLY. THE INSTITUTE ALSO SPONSORS AND CONDUCTS RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE CATHOLIC TRADITION, CULTURAL/ECCLESIAL HERITAGE OF CATHOLICISM, AND DISSEMINATES THE RESULTS OF SUCH RESEARCH.

Income
$805,751
Spending
$995,322
Spent on programs
49%
Reserves
17.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
3
Highest pay
$254,411, president

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    49% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 55 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (1)
  1. $489,449 spent. THE INSTITUTE DEVELOPS DISTINCTIVE INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL BY STUDYING THE LONG AND RICH CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION. THAT TRADITION INCLUDES NOT ONLY BRILLIANT THEOLOGIANS AND PHILOSOPHERS, BUT ALSO SCIENTISTS, SOCIAL SCIENTISTS, HISTORIANS, POETS, WRITERS, ARTISTS, ARCHITECTS AND MUSICIANS. THE INSTITUTE PROMOTES UNDERSTANDING, CRITIQUING, AND DEVELOPING CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL LIFE FOR THE SERVICE NOT ONLY OF THE CHURCH, BUT ALL RELIGIONS, ESPECIALLY AS IT DEDICATES ITSELF TO THE COMMON GOOD. THE INSTITUTE DRAWS UPON AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF SCHOLARS, ALL OF WHOM, WHATEVER THEIR RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND OR SCHOLARLY DISCIPLINE, SEEK TO UNDERSTAND CATHOLICISM AND ITS VALUE FOR THE WORLD TODAY. THE INSTITUTE'S RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS, CONFERENCES, AND ARTICLES ARE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS THOUGHTFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNDERSTANDING, CLARIFICATION AND RESOLUTION OF MAJOR ISSUES FACING THE CHURCH, RELIGIONS AND GLOBAL SOCIETY. SINCE 2007, THE INSTITUTE HAS ORGANIZED AN ANNUAL LECTURE SERIES AT USC WHICH PROVIDES A VENUE FOR EXAMINING RELIGION AND PUBLIC LIFE BY FEATURING THE WORK OF SCHOLARS, JOURNALISTS, ARTISTS, AND LEADERS. THROUGH A RANGE OF MEETINGS, COLLOQUIA, CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS, THE INSTITUTE COORDINATES AND SPONSORS SCHOLARSHIP ON A NUMBER OF CORE THEMES AS FOLLOWS: The exercise of authority in the Roman Catholic Church, global Catholic intellectual networks, religion and democracy, the future of congregations and their property, transhumanism, and artificial intelligence.

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 December 1999.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton, NJ), EIN 21-0634988. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.