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Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities

EIN 30-0091390 · Towson, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COALITION OF URBAN AND METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITIES IS AN INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION OF UNIVERSITIES IN URBAN AND METROPOLITAN AREAS THAT SHARE COMMON UNDERSTANDINGS OF THEIR INSTITUTIONAL MISSIONS AND VALUES

Income
$802,968
Spending
$761,343
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $378,533 spent. CUMU PROGRAMMING AND OPERATIONS - CUMU PROVIDED VARIOUS PROGRAMMING ANDINITIATIVES THROUGHOUT FY 2025 FOR ITS MEMBERS, INCLUDING VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING, LEARNING COMMUNITIES, THE ANCHOR LEARNING NETWORK, ALN ACTION SUMMIT, HOLLAND AWARD, RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS, AND OTHER INITIATIVES.
  2. $190,187 spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR MEMBERS - THE ANNUAL MEETING IS THE PREMIER EVENT FOR UNIVERSITY LEADERS TO MEET AND EXCHANGE IDEAS WITH COLLEAGUES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THROUGH PANEL PRESENTATIONS, ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS, POSTER SESSIONS AND MORE, THE CONFERENCE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE LATEST CHALLENGES AMONG METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITIES AND TAKE THE TIME TO DEVELOP NEW IDEAS TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR WORK.
  3. $30,170 spent. CUMU PUBLISHES THE METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITIES JOURNAL, WHICH DISSEMINATES SCHOLARSHIP AND RESEARCH RELEVANT TO URBAN AND METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITIES. THE JOURNAL IS A PEER-REVIEWED, OPEN ACCESS PUBLICATION AND PRESENTS CRITICAL-EVIDENCE BASED STUDIES AND PERSPECTIVES RELEVANT TO URBAN AND METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITIES. THE JOURNAL IS MANAGED AND PROMOTED BY AN EDITORIAL TEAM INCLUDING AN EXECUTIVE EDITOR, MANAGING EDITOR, COPY EDITOR, AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.