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John N Gardner Institute Forexcellence in Undergraduate Educati

EIN 26-0166817 · Brevard, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE JOHN N. GARDNER INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PARTNERING WITH COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATORS, AND OTHER ENTITIES TO INCREASE INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPROVING OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH TEACHING, LEARNING, RETENTION, AND COMPLETION. THE INSTITUTE SUPPORTS POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION'S EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY LEARNER EARNS A CREDENTIAL THAT LEADS TO A MEANINGFUL CAREER AND A HIGHLY FULFILLING LIFE. THROUGH ITS WORK, THE INSTITUTE WILL ADVANCE HIGHER EDUCATION'S BROADER MISSION OF EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY AND SUCCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS.

Income
$8.7 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
25
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$467,192, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 207% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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

    12 of 16 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 September 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 (7)
  1. $4.2 million spent. TRANSFORMATION SUPPORT SERVICES - TRANSFORMING THE FOUNDATIONAL IMPROVING STUDENT SUCCESS OUTCOMES IN WAYS THAT HELP INSTITUTIONS TRANSFORM IN WAYS THAT HELP ALL STUDENTS THRIVE, EARN DEGREES OR CREDENTIALS OF HIHG VALUE, AND GO ON TO LEAD PRODUCTIVE AND MEANINGFUL LIVES.
  2. $550,737 spent. THE INSTITUTE HELPS HIGHER EDUCATION AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS TO INDIVIDUALLY AND/OR COLLECTIVELY DEFINE OR REDEFINE EXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION AND ASSISTS WITH THE APPLICATION OF THESE DEFINITIONS TO PRACTICE AND/OR POLICY. THESE ACTIONS SUPPORT EFFORTS TO FACILITATE INNOVATION IN COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND THE BROADER SYSTEMS OF WHICH THEY ARE A PART. THE ENSUING DYNAMIC EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WILL TRANSFORM THE INSTITUTIONS, THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE, THE PLACES IN WHICH THEY LIVE AND WORK, AND THE BROADER SOCIETIES AND ECONOMIES OF WHICH THEY ARE A PART.
  3. $421,573 spent. WE HELD A NUMBER OF CONFERENCES THAT DREW IN HIGHER EDUCATORS FROM INSTITUTIONS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.
  4. $342,429 spent. ACADEMIES AND COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE: PROCESS AND DISCIPLINE-BASED COMMUNITIES TO HELP FACULTY, GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTS, AND ADJUNCT FACULTY CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO APPLY AND SUSTAIN THE USE OF EVIDENCE-BASED PEDAGOGIES IN THEIR COURSES.THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OFFERS ACADEMIES AND COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE THAT PREPARE INSTITUTIONAL TEAMS TO CONDUCT AN EVIDENCE-BASED, EDUCATION OUTCOMES PARITY-FOCUSED STUDENT RETENTION PLANNING PROCESS FOR THEIR INSTITUTION WITH A GOAL OF IMPROVING RETENTION AND USING EVIDENCE TO ENSURE THAT EVERY LEARNER CAN THRIVE AND FULFIL THEIR EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES.
  5. $32,513 spent. RETENTION: CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING AN ANALYTICS-BASED RETENTION PLAN FOR SPECIFIC COHORTS SUCH AS FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS, SECOND-YEAR STUDENTS ETC.
  6. $16,688 spent. ACADEMIC ADVISING: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL ACADEMIC ADVISING ASSOCIATION (NACADA): THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY FOR ACADEMIC ADVISING, WE PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE, STANDARDS-BASED ASSESSMENT PROCESS TO PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMIC ADVISING.
  7. $57,426 spent. COURSE/CURRICULUM REDESIGN: POSITIVELY TRANSFORMED TEACHING, LEARNING AND REDUCING FAILURE RATES IN LOWER DIVISION AND/OR DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION "GATEWAY" COURSES THROUGH WORKING DIRECTLY WITH FACULTY AND STAFF.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 June 2007.

    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.