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Passes our checks

The Iowa Association for College Admission Counseling

EIN 42-1182495 · Newton, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceWeak47 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EDUCATION ADVANCEMENT

Income
$147,218
Spending
$128,632
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
39.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 73%
Employees
1
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$16,675, acac executive assis

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 39.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (2)
  1. $88,205 spent. COLLEGE DAY/COLLEGE NIGHT - CONSISTS OF 25-30 DAY AND EVENING FAIRS HELD AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT IOWA. THE PROGRAMS BRING TOGETHER PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS, PARENTS, HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS. THE PROGRAMS ARE BOTH FOR STUDENTS RECRUITMENT PURPOSES TO THE POST- SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS, AS WELL AS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING STUDENTS IN THEIR TRANSISTION FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE.
  2. $21,646 spent. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE - IS HELD ANNUALLY TO PROVIDE IOWA ACAC MEMBERS WITH PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES. A CONFERENCE PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE DEVELOPS EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS AND WORKSHOPS FOR CONFERENCE ATTENDEES. NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALSO PROVIDED FOR IOWA ACAC MEMBERS. BUILDING PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS IS AN ADDITIONAL OUTCOME ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONFERENCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 November 1982.

    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.