Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

American Association of State Colleges and Universities

EIN 52-0747578 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 66 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

AASCU IS A WASHINGTON, D.C. BASED HIGHER EDUCATION ASSOCIATION THAT REPRESENTS THE SECTOR OF OVER 500 REGIONAL PUBLIC COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND SYSTEMS WHOSE MEMBERS SHARE A LEARNING AND TEACHING CENTERED CULTURE, A COMMITMENT TO PREPARING STUDENTS TO THRIVE IN THEIR CHOSEN CAREERS, AND A DEDICATION TO RESEARCH AND CREATIVITY THAT ADVANCES THEIR REGIONS' ECONOMIC PROGRESS AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$11.8 million
Spending
$18.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
16.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
45
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$826,670, president and 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 54% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 66 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $7.7 million spent. ACADEMIC INNOVATION AND TRANSFORMATION (AIT) PROMOTES INNOVATIVE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND STUDENT SUCCESS PROGRAMS. AIT SUPPORTS MEMBER INSTITUTIONS IN THEIR MISSION TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO SERVE AND LEAD PRODUCTIVE AND FULFILLING LIVES. DRIVEN BY AN UNDERSTANDING THAT TODAY'S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES NEED TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR WORK, LIFE AND CITIZENSHIP IN LOCAL, NATIONAL AND GLOBAL CONTEXTS, AIT'S PROGRAMMING FOCUSES ON FOUR KEY AREAS: STUDENT SUCCESS, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION, AND TEACHER EDUCATION.
  2. $2.4 million spent. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS (LDP) IS DEDICATED TO THE GOAL OF BUILDING AND ENHANCING LEADERSHIP FOR PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS ON THE PRESIDENT OR CHANCELLOR AND HIS OR HER SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM. LDP PROGRAMMING INCLUDES PREPARATION FOR THE PRESIDENCY, ORIENTATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR NEW PRESIDENTS, PROGRAMMING FOR EXPERIENCED PRESIDENTS, SPOUSE/PARTNER PROGRAMMING, AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT OF PROVOSTS AND OTHER EMERGING LEADERS.
  3. $1.5 million spent. AASCU CONSULTING ASSISTS INSTITUTIONAL LEADERS IN RESPONDING TO THE BROAD RANGE OF STRATEGIC AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGES FACED BY ADMINISTRATORS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
  4. $1.4 million spent. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND POLICY ANALYSIS (GR & PA) PROMOTES AN UNDERSTANDING, APPRECIATION AND SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE DISTINCTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AASCU MEMBERS. GR & PA PROACTIVELY ADVOCATES FOR PUBLIC POLICY THAT FOSTERS ACADEMIC QUALITY AND INNOVATION, ACCESS, AND REGIONAL STEWARDSHIP.
  5. $2.4 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS

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 December 1970.

    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.