University of Louisville Athletic
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The University of Louisville Athletic Association is organized to develop intercollegiate athletic teams composed of students of the University of Louisville and to schedule and manage intercollegiate athletic contests, all in the harmony with and in subjection to the general education policy of the University of Louisville.
- Income
- $142.9 million
- Spending
- $159.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- -11.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 60%
- Employees
- 666
- Volunteers
- 116
- Highest pay
- $7.7 million, men's basketball coach
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: 36 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 76% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% 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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, over $100m).
Independent board
5 of 2510 of 28 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $150.1 million spent. The University of Louisville Athletic Association reached new heights in academic achievement, setting a department record with a 96% Graduation Success Rate (GSR), as reported by the NCAA. This milestone reinforces the organization's trajectory of academic excellence, with 18 programs achieving a GSR of 90 or higher and nine programs recording a perfect 100 mark. Continuing this commitment, ten Cardinal programs-including Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Golf, Men's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track and Field, and Volleyball-earned a perfect 1,000 Academic Progress Rate (APR) score. Every athletic program exceeded the required NCAA multi-year standards, ensuring robust eligibility and retention across the department. Supporting this dual-mission of excellence, the association provided vital scholarship support to nearly 850 student-athletes, enabling success both in the classroom and in competition. On the field, Louisville remained a premier national force, finishing 37th in the Learfield Directors' Cup. This marks the 15th consecutive season the Cardinals have ranked among the top 40 programs nationwide. Throughout the year, 10 different sport programs earned a Top-25 national ranking, and 11 programs advanced to postseason play. The Volleyball program delivered a historic season, hosting the NCAA Final Four and finishing as the National Runner-Up. In Football, the Cardinals achieved nine wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time in over a decade, culminating in a Sun Bowl victory. The Men's Basketball program saw a resurgence, reaching the ACC Tournament Championship game and returning to the NCAA Tournament, while Baseball made its sixth appearance in the College World Series. Individual performances further cemented Louisville's global athletic standing. Synclair Savage captured the NCAA National Title in the women's long jump, becoming the first in program history to win that specific event. In Swimming and Diving, Denis Petrashov achieved national runner-up honors in the 100 breaststroke, while the women's team secured its eighth Top-10 national finish in a decade. The All-Girl Cheer squad continued its unprecedented dominance, winning its 11th consecutive National Championship. Professional recognition also followed Cardinal athletes, with high-profile selections in the NFL, MLB, and PVF drafts, including first-round picks in baseball and volleyball. These milestones collectively define a year of distinction, blending historic athletic results with record-breaking academic performance.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1984.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.