Council of Public Liberal Arts College
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges advances the aims of its member institutions and drives awareness of the value of high-quality, public liberal arts education in a student-centered, residential environment. It collaborates with major national higher education organizations like the Association of American Colleges and Universities, and the Council of Undergraduate Research.
- Income
- $378,164
- Spending
- $372,851
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 9.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 93%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 31
- Highest pay
- $183,554, exiting 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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2531 of 31 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (3)
- $291,023 spent. COPLAC hosts annual regional conferences highlighting undergraduate student research, scholarly, and creative work. Six member campuses sent students, faculty, and staff to the October 2024 Northeast Regional Conference. Four member campuses sent students, faculty, and staff to the November 2024 Midwest/West Regional Conference. We planned a third, Southeast Regional Conference, but cancelled due to low enrollment.
- To help member institutions share resources, polices, models, protocols, messaging, ideas, and approaches to common issues, COPLAC hosted regular meetings for communities of practice. During these peer-to-peer conversations, representatives from member institutions discussed strategies for how their campuses addressed numerous higher education issues. Communities of practice that met included deans of arts and science, chief academic officers, marketing and communication offices; study abroad/away lifelong learning centers; and centers for teaching and learning.
- In July 2024 and in June 2025, COPLAC hosted three events for faculty and administrators. The first offered professional development specific to leadership at a public liberal arts college for department chairs from our member institutions. The second offered opportunities for COPLAC members learning from experts about Storytelling, Advocacy, and Workforce Development. The third focused on faculty in health studies at public liberal arts universities.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.