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University Professional & Continuing Education Association

EIN 41-6030721 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 109 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

UNIVERSITY PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (UPCEA) ADVANCES LEADERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL, CONTINUING AND ONLINE EDUCATION. THE ASSOCIATION IS DEDICATED TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS AND THE INSTITUTIONS THEY SERVE.

Income
$7.2 million
Spending
$6.5 million
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
21
Volunteers
238
Highest pay
$415,721, chief executive officer

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 45% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 109 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

    22 of 22 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 (4)
  1. $762,179 spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND SEMINARS: A GATHERING OF HIGHER EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS WHO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, AND PROMOTE PROFESSIONAL, CONTINUING AND ONLINE EDUCATION. THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OFFERS RELEVANT AND ENGAGING WORKSHOPS, A LIVELY EXHIBIT HALL, THOUGHTPROVOKING KEYNOTE SPEAKERS, AND INDEPTH PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND CONCURRENT SESSIONS. A VARIETY OF SPECIAL INTEREST SEMINARS ARE OFFERED TO THE CONTINUING EDUCATION COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDE A FORUM FOR DISCUSSION ABOUT VARYING ASPECTS OF THE FIELD AND SUPPORTS THE DISSEMINATION OF BEST PRACTICES.
  2. $806,347 spent. UPCEA RESEARCH AND CONSULTING (URC) FORMERLY CENTER FOR RESEARCH & CONSULTING AND CENTER FOR ONLINE LEADERSHIP & STRATEGY: CENTER FOR RESEARCH & CONSULTING CONDUCTS BENCHMARKING STUDIES AND CUSTOMIZED ENROLLMENT AND MARKETING STUDIES FOR MEMBER INSTITUTIONS. THE CENTER FOR ONLINE LEADERSHIP & STRATEGY HELPS MEMBER INSTITUTIONS LEVERAGE ONLINE EDUCATION AS A CRITICAL STRATEGIC ASSET.
  3. $469,189 spent. CONVERGENCE: CREDENTIAL INNOVATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION EXAMINES NEW AND EMERGING TRENDS AND MODELS, ESPECIALLY AT THE INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL, IN THE EMERGENT FIELD OF ALTERNATIVE CREDENTIALS.
  4. $1.7 million spent. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PROVIDES THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO EARN A RECOGNIZABLE CREDENTIAL FROM THE LEADING ASSOCIATION FOR PROFESSIONAL, CONTINUING, AND ONLINE (PCO) EDUCATION. FACILITATED BY LEADING EXPERTS WITH REALWORLD EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD, OUR PROGRAMS OFFER HIGHVALUE, RELEVANT CONTENT AND ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS FOR PRACTITIONERS AT ALL LEVELS. IT ALSO PROVIDES A FORUM FOR PEERS TO ENGAGE FROM ACROSS THE FIELD IN A VIRTUAL CLASSROOM TO STRENGTHEN UNDERSTANDING, BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILLS. BADGES ARE AWARDED UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF EACH COURSE.ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE MARKETING AND ENROLLMENT SEMINAR, MEMBER SERVICES, DISTANCE AND LEARNING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SOLA-R, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIESIN ALIGNMENT WITH UPCEA'S MISSION.

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 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 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.