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Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges Inc

EIN 31-4441082 · Westerville, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SOLICIT CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY AND PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS ON BEHALF OF 33 MEMBER-COLLEGE/UNIVERSITIES THAT SERVE NEARLY 80,000 STUDENTS. MEMBERS ARE NONPROFIT, PRIVATELY CONTROLLED, 4-YEAR COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES CHARTERED BY THE STATE OF OHIO, ARE FULLY ACCREDITED BY HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION, AND HAVE A CURRICULAR PROGRAM IN TRADITIONAL LIBERAL ARTS. CONTRIBUTIONS TO OFIC ARE DISTRIBUTED TO COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES ANNUALLY AND PROVIDE TUITION ASSISTANCE AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT. OFIC PROVIDES ITS DONORS WITH AN EFFICIENT MEANS TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT HIGHER EDUCATION. OFIC ALSO PROVIDES PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE CORPORATE/INDEPENDENT HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS AND PROVIDES LEADERSHIP IN DEVELOPING EFFORTS THAT RESULT IN REDUCED COSTS AND IMPROVED BUSINESS PRACTICES FOR ITS MEMBERS.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$5.0 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
11
Volunteers
65
Highest pay
$285,302, 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    74 of 74 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 (3)
  1. $3.6 million spent. ADMINISTER AND CARRY OUT SUCCESSFUL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS - THE OHIO SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND SCHOLARSHIP MANAGEMENT RESOURCES - THAT PROVIDE CASH DISTRIBUTIONS TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS. THESE FUNDS NOT ONLY PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS, BUT ALSO OFFER OHIO'S BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO CULTIVATE FUTURE LEADERS AND EMPLOYEES. THESE DISTRIBUTIONS INCLUDE FINANCIAL AID AND SPECIAL PROGRAM GRANTS FOR COLLEGE CAMPUS ACTIVITIES. AS AN EXTENSION OF THIS PROGRAM, OFIC CONDUCTS ANNUAL JOB FAIRS - THE CAREERFEST AND THE ACCOUNTING CAREERFEST - PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW STUDENTS TO MEET AND INTERVIEW WITH OFIC DONOR COMPANIES AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTICIPANTS.
  2. $134,863 spent. ESTABLISH A STRONG VOLUNTEER NETWORK OF BUSINESS/INDUSTRY AND COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY PROFESSIONALS TO CONDUCT AN ANNUAL SOLICITATION PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES UNRESTRICTED DISTRIBUTIONS TO OHIO INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTIONS TO OFIC ARE DISTRIBUTED IN ENTIRETY TO THE 33 OFIC-MEMBER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH A DISTRIBUTION FORMULA THAT REQUIRES 60% OF THE TOTAL TO BE DIVIDED EQUALLY AND 40% OF THE TOTAL TO BE BASED UPON EACH MEMBER'S FULL-TIME AND FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENTS. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR OUR MEMBERS, ALLOWING THEM TO APPLY IT TO AREAS OF GREATEST NEED AND ENABLING THEM TO RELY ON SOURCES OTHER THAN JUST TUITION TO SUPPORT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING AN ACCESSIBLE, QUALITY EDUCATION.
  3. $231,458 spent. COORDINATE AND FACILITATE COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP OHIO'S INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES CONSERVE COSTS AND IMPROVE OPERATING EFFICIENCIES, AS WELL AS COORDINATE AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO BRING EDUCATION AND BUSINESS TOGETHER FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES SUCH AS MINORITY RECRUITMENT/RETENTION, STUDENT ADVANCEMENT/ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

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 March 1952.

    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.