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Coe College

EIN 42-0686467 · Cedar Rapids, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O.

Income
$87.6 million
Spending
$85.9 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
-3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
1,199
Volunteers
533
Highest pay
$332,779, 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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% 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

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    33 of 36 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.

  • 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. $58.9 million spent. INSTRUCTION - COE COLLEGE IS A SELECTIVE, PRIVATE AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOUR-YEAR COEDUCATIONAL LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTION, PROVIDING SUPERIOR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS SINCE 1851. TO EACH OF ITS MORE THAN 1,200 STUDENTS, THE INSTITUTION OFFERS THE ADVANTAGES OF A SMALL COLLEGE THAT IS DEDICATED TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. STUDENT-FACULTY RATIOS ARE LOW AT 11 TO 1, THE AVERAGE CLASS SIZE IS 17, AND 95% OF FULL-TIME FACULTY MEMBERS HAVE EARNED THE HIGHEST DEGREE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS. STUDENTS CAN THUS RECEIVE A LEVEL OF PERSONALIZED ATTENTION THAT HAS ALMOST DISAPPEARED ELSEWHERE IN MODERN ACADEMIA. THE CAMPUS PRESENTS AN INVITING ENVIRONMENT TO STUDENTS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, OFFERING A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT IN THE MANY INTELLECTUAL, ATHLETIC AND SERVICE PURSUITS AVAILABLE.COE IS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE FINEST LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES IN THE COUNTRY BY A VARIETY OF WIDELY RESPECTED COLLEGE RANKING PUBLICATIONS THAT WEIGH ACADEMIC QUALITY AND STUDENT SELECTIVITY. COE COLLEGE ENJOYS BOTH AN EXCELLENT REGIONAL REPUTATION AND NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR THE STRENGTH OF ITS PROGRAMS. THROUGH CAREFUL PLANNING, SELECTIVE USE OF RESOURCES, AND THE EFFORTS OF A DEDICATED FACULTY AND STAFF, COE HAS NOT ONLY MAINTAINED BUT STRENGTHENED ITS POSITION AMONG LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES IN THE MIDWEST.
  2. $11.6 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES - THIS INCLUDES EXPENDITURES FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF COLLEGE FACILITIES. WITH 38 BUILDINGS ON MORE THAN 60 ACRES, MAINTENANCE OF COLLEGE FACILITIES IS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION FOR THE COLLEGE. SIGNIFICANT CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED SO THAT STUDENTS AND FACULTY MAY ENJOY AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING, WITH THE FACILITIES TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE COLLEGE.
  3. $7.3 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES - THIS INCLUDES THE COLLEGE'S RESIDENCE HALLS, COLLEGE RENTAL HOUSING, FOOD SERVICES, THE STUDENT UNION AND SUMMER CONFERENCES. WITH MORE THAN 1,000 STUDENTS IN CAMPUS HOUSING, RESIDENTIAL LIFE IS CENTRAL TO THE COE EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS. THE COLLEGE ALSO SERVES AS A RESOURCE TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BY HOSTING YOUTH CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES AND DERIVES SOME REVENUE FROM HOSTING SUMMER CONFERENCES IN ITS FACILITIES.
  4. $1.2 million spent. LIBRARY PROGRAM SERVICES IS THE ONLY OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE NOT IDENTIFIED SEPARATELY IN PART III LINES 4A-4C. LIBRARY SERVICES INCLUDES ALL ACCOMPANYING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATING AND MAINTAINING THE CAMPUS LIBRARY AND ASSOCIATED SERVICES.

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 August 2013.

    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.