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Iowa State University Alumni Association

EIN 42-6062614 · Ames, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FACILITATE THE LIFETIME CONNECTION OF ALUMNI, STUDENTS, AND FRIENDS WITH IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY AND EACH OTHER.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
11.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 37%
Employees
51
Volunteers
204
Highest pay
$340,052, ceo - end june 2025

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: 69 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 48% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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 (5)
  1. $887,432 spent. CONSTITUENT ENGAGEMENT: HOSTS A VARIETY OF EVENTS, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES FOR STUDENTS, ALUMNI, AND FRIENDS, LOCALLY AND ACROSS THE NATION TO PROMOTE ENGAGEMENT IN THE LIFE OF THE UNIVERSITY. EVENTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, ATHLETIC-RELATED EVENTS, ALUMNI CLUBS, YOUNG ALUMNI PROGRAMS, REUNIONS, AWARDS, VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, ALUMNI RECEPTIONS AND STUDENT EVENTS. OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE PROVIDES A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE 50 AND OVER. THE STUDENT PROGRAM'S LEADERSHIP GROUP, SALC, IS BROKEN INTO FIVE COMMITTEES: CYCLONE ALLEY, AMBASSADORS, SENIOR CLASS COUNCIL, HOMECOMING AND EXEC. BETWEEN ALL COMMITTEES, THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY IS REACHED MANY TIMES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
  2. $864,823 spent. COMMUNICATION: IOWA STATER MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED THREE TIMES PER YEAR AND MAILED TO THE ISU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION'S APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MEMBERS. ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES INCLUDE AN ANNUAL PRINTED ISU WALL CALENDAR, EMAIL UPDATES, AND WEB SITES FOR THE ISU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND ITS AFFILIATE STUDENT PROGRAMS.
  3. $816,090 spent. TRAVEL & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION'S TRAVELING CYCLONES TRAVEL TOURS OFFER EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES OF A LIFETIME FOR ITS ALUMNI, THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THE PROGRAM STRENGTHENS ALUMNI LOYALTY AND SUPPORT FOR THE ASSOCIATION AND THE UNIVERSITY IN AN INFORMAL SETTING. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS AND AFFINITY PROGRAMS.
  4. $583,483 spent. MEMBER SERVICES: MEMBER SERVICES HANDLES ALL DUTIES RELATED TO THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM INCLUDING RECRUITMENT BY DIRECT MAIL AND BY E-MAIL. RETENTION, BENEFIT PROCUREMENT, AND FULFILLMENT TO MORE THAN APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MEMBERS.
  5. $491,712 spent. ALUMNI CENTER: THE ISU ALUMNI CENTER HOUSES THE ISU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICES AND PROVIDES MEETING AND EVENT SPACE FOR IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, ALUMNI, AND THE PUBLIC. IT PROVIDES A PLACE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS TO RE-ENGAGE WITH OTHER ALUMNI AND WITH IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY.

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 December 1975.

    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.