Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Und Center for Innovation Foundation

EIN 45-0422671 · Grand Forks, ND

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To maintain national leadership in entrepreneur outreach and education, and become the leader in tech entrepreneurship in rural America.

Income
$395,300
Spending
$438,532
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
24.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 36%
Employees
0
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$73,712, director/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
  1. $280,073 spent. The UND Center for Innovation Foundation is established to support innovation and entrepreneurial activities at the University of North Dakota. The Foundation owns the Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center, a business incubation facility that licenses space via a membership model. The Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center supports commercialization activities for the State of North Dakota and the University of North Dakota. The Foundation enhances and promotes commerce and economic development in North Dakota through innovation consulting, applied learning activities, entrepreneurial activity seminars and workshops, and business coaching for innovators. Additionally, the Foundation provides fiscal management and operational support for projects primarily funded by state grants. The Foundation supports outreach programs and educational services in the field of innovation, commercialization of technologies, startup funding strategies, and business incubation and acceleration.
  2. $33,249 spent. The Foundation owns a wholly owned subsidiary that operates the North Dakota/Minnesota EB-5 Regional Center Program. The EB-5 program is an immigrant investor program focused on business development and job creation to stimulate economic activity and improvements in regional productivity through direct foreign investment. The program is administered by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and the EB5 regional center is an entity approved by USCIS as a designated place to receive immigrant investor capital with new and emerging businesses. The North Dakota/Minnesota EB5 regional center received its designation in April 2011 and there are three portfolio companies with approximately 600 investors.
  3. $3,003 spent. Student Run Enterprises (SRE) engages students from across all disciplines at the University of North Dakota in experiential learning focused on the development of entrepreneurial and innovation skills. The purpose of student run enterprises is to establish legacy small businesses for students to manage and operate so they refine and develop their entrepreneurial skills. The students are provided with weekly, dedicated mentorship from a Center for Innovation staff member as well as a UND faculty subject matter expert to monitor their progress and encourage reflective practice on their business decisions.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 May 1993.

    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.