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University of Orange a Nj Nonprofit Corporation

EIN 27-3939616 · Orange, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE UNIVERSITY OF ORANGE IS A FREE PEOPLES UNIVERSITY THAT BUILDS COLLECTIVE CAPACITY FOR PEOPLE TO CREATE MORE EQUITABLE CITIES. WE SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF OUR WORLD BY LEARNING TO SEE THE RICHNESS OF OUR CITIES, BECOMING LIFELONG LEARNERS, PARTICIPATING IN CIVIC LIFE, AND HAVING FUN WITH OUR NEIGHBORS.

Income
$287,815
Spending
$468,122
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
-2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
12
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$71,094, executive director

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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 63% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (7)
  1. $105,499 spent. MUSIC CITY CONNECTS AND SUPPORTS MUSICIANS IN AND AROUND ORANGE. THE PROGRAMS LONG TERM GOALS INCLUDE BUILDING SOCIAL COHESION, ENHANCING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, LAUNCHING LOCAL MUSIC ECONOMIES, AND EXPLORING THE WAYS MUSIC CAN HELP LAY A PATH TOWARDS A HEALTHIER, MORE EQUITABLE CITY. WE OFFER FREE COMMUNITY MUSIC CLASSES, AN INSTRUMENT RENTAL LIBRARY, AND A COMMUNITY MUSICOLOGY PROGRAM AND A CONCERT SERIES.
  2. $103,429 spent. THE UNIVERSITY OF ORANGE COLLECTIVE RECOVERY PROGRAM SHARES OUR PRACTICE OF COLLECTIVE RECOVERY THROUGH TEACHING EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS. COLLECTIVE RECOVERY IS A WAY FOR COMMUNITIES TO HEAL FROM TRAUMA. ONE WAY PEOPLE HEAL IS BY OVERCOMING ISOLATION AND MAKING CONNECTIONS TO THE WORLD AROUND THEM. WE ENDED OUR FISCAL SPONSORSHIP OF THE PEOPLES CDC IN JULY 2024. WE HOSTED WELL-ATTENDED MONTHLY SOLIDARITY POTLUCKS WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CONNECT WITH NEIGHBORS AND VISITORS TO ORANGE. WE HELD SEVERAL CLASSES INCLUDING SEWING 101, MANAGING SHOCK AND AWE, AND A READING GROUP OF THE PATH. WE INAUGURATED OUR CHAIR OF COMMUNITY HEALTH.
  3. $102,480 spent. OUR RESTORIATION URBANISM PROGRAM OFFERS MANY PROGRAMS INCLUDING TEACHING, WORKSHOPS, READING GROUPS AND CONSULTATIONS. OUR URBANISM PROGRAMS INCLUDED WALKING TOURS ABOUT PUBLIC ART AND HISTORY AND COURSES ON CIVICS. PER YEAR. STUDENTS FROM ESSEX COUNTY ARE JOINED BY STUDENTS FROM CITIES ALL OVER THE US AND THE WORLD. THE CLASS IS OPEN TO STUDENTS OF ALL AGES.
  4. $12,915 spent. THE BRIDGE BUILDER PRESS AND MAGGIE INK PROJECT SUPPORTS WRITING CLASSES AND PUBLICATIONS. THROUGH OUR MAGGIE INK PROJECT WE HAVE OFFERED MULTIPLE 10-WEEK MEMOIR WRITING CLASSES LED BY DEVELOPMENTAL EDITOR SUSAN HASHO. THIS CLASS IS OFFERED THREE TIMES PER YEAR. STUDENTS FROM ESSEX COUNTY ARE JOINED BY STUDENTS FROM CITIES ALL OVER THE US AND THE WORLD.
  5. $32,238 spent. PARTNER PROJECTS PARTNER WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, AND INITIATIVES ON MISSION-ALIGNED WORK. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE HUUB TO DEVELOP THE COMMUNITY CAMPUS. WE DEDICATED A PORTION OF OUR DOUGLAS FARRANDS TIME TO LEADING THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS TEAM AND DEVELOPING INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE HUUBS OPERATIONS.
  6. THE BRIDGE BUILDER PRESS AND MAGGIE INK PROJECT SUPPORTS 12915. 0. 1872.
  7. PARTNER PROJECTS PARTNER WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, 32238. 0. 0.

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 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 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 April 2011.

    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.