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Kansas University Alumni Association

EIN 48-0291250 · Lawrence, KS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE BUILD LIFELONG RELATIONSHIPS THAT STRENGTHEN THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS AND THE LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE EMBODIED BY ITS STUDENTS, ALUMNI, FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS.

Income
$9.1 million
Spending
$8.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
16.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
51
Volunteers
2,000
Highest pay
$300,246, president & ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 (3)
  1. $5.2 million spent. ALUMNI, STUDENT, AND UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS - KU ALUMNI PROVIDES ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE ALUMNI PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY, NURTURING A CONSISTENTLY GROWING, ACTIVE, AND POWERFUL KU COMMUNITY THAT CREATES IMPACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:1) NETWORKS - 162 DOMESTIC, INTERNATIONAL, AND AFFINITY-BASED NETWORKS HELD EVENTS FOCUSED ON UNIVERSITY ISSUES, INCLUDING CAMPUS NEWS, STUDENT RECRUITMENT, MEMBERSHIP ADVANCEMENT, LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. ACADEMIC PROGRAMS SERVED THE UNIVERSITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEETINGS, EVENTS, AND NEWSLETTERS TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS AND KEEPING ALUMNI INFORMED REGARDING THEIR AREAS OF ACADEMIC INTEREST. PROGRAMMATIC OFFERINGS FOR ALUMNI AND UNIVERSITY FRIENDS INCLUDE IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL EVENTS; 2) ADAMS ALUMNI CENTER - PROVIDED BANQUET AND MEETING SERVICES FOR UNIVERSITY, TRADITIONAL KU ALUMNI EVENTS, AND KU ALUMNI CONSTITUENTS; 3) JAYHAWK WELCOME CENTER (JWC)- AN ADDITION TO THE ADAMS ALUMNI CENTER IN SPRING 2023, THE JWC SERVES AS THE STARTING POINT FOR CAMPUS VISITS BY PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND ADDITIONALLY INCLUDES CREATION OF EXPERIENCES EMPHASIZING BOTH STORYTELLING AND SPACES FOR COLLABORATION AND CELEBRATION FOR ALUMNI AND GUESTS OF ALL AGES, HOSTING OVER 80,000 GUESTS; 4) SUPPORT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS - ENCOURAGED AND PROMOTED GATHERINGS OF ALUMNI AND INTERESTED PERSONS TO SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS PROGRAMS; 5)STUDENT ALUMNI NETWORK PROGRAMS - PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO INTERACT WITH KU ALUMNI, ACCESS TO A NETWORK OF MENTORS, AND TO LEARN KU TRADITIONS; AND 6) JAYHAWK CAREER NETWORK - FEATURING THE DIGITAL KU MENTORING PLATFORM UNITING CAREER SERVICES ACROSS THE KU CAMPUS WITH OVER 16,000 USERS, INCLUDING 5,200 STUDENTS AND 40,000 MESSAGES SINCE FALL 2018.
  2. $915,409 spent. PUBLICATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS - PROVIDING COVERAGE OF NEWS AND ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE UNIVERSITY THROUGH PUBLICATION AND DELIVERY OF THE AWARD-WINNING, QUARTERLY KANSAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE TO NEARLY 37,000 KU ALUMNI SUPPORTERS; PRODUCTION OF REGULAR (OVER 525 ANNUALLY) BROADCAST EMAILS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS REACHING NEARLY 224,000 SUPPORTERS AND OTHER KU FRIENDS ON BEHALF OF KU ALUMNI AND VARIOUS UNIVERSITY CONSTITUENCIES. SOCIAL MEDIA AND ON-LINE ACTIVITIES REACH AND ENGAGE MORE THAN 62,000 FOLLOWERS, 36,000 MOBILE ALUMNI APP SESSIONS, AND NEARLY 160,000 UNIQUE WEBSITE VISITS.
  3. $524,202 spent. ALUMNI RECORDS - AS OFFICIAL RECORD KEEPER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS FOR PERSONAL AND MAILING RECORDS FOR THE FORMER STUDENTS AND GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY, KU ALUMNI CONTINUALLY UPDATES AN ACTIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORDS DATABASE INCLUDING OVER 278,000 DEGREE-HOLDERS AND NEARLY 495,000 UNIVERSITY ALUMNI AND FRIENDS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1933.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.