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Universities Research Association Inc

EIN 52-0816670 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 35% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

UNIVERSITIES RESEARCH ASSOCIATION INC. (URA) IS A NONPROFIT MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION ORGANIZED TO ENGAGE IN RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION IN THE PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES. THE MISSION OF URA IS TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST LABORATORIES AND FACILITIES FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATION IN THE PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES TO EXPAND THE FRONTIERS OF KNOWLEDGE, FOSTER INNOVATION, AND PROMOTE THE EDUCATION OF FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SCIENTISTS.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$7.4 million
Spent on programs
35%
Reserves
29.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
15
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$565,851, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 29.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 44% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    35% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 30, 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 (6)
  1. $1.0 million spent. NTESS/SNL: URA WAS PART OF THE HONEYWELL PROPOSAL SUBMITTED BY ITS WHOLLY OWNED AFFILIATE, THE NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS OF SANDIA LLC (NTESS), THAT LED TO THE CONTRACT AWARDED IN DECEMBER 2016 BY DOE/NNSA TO MANAGE AND OPERATE SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES. A NTESS-URA SUBCONTRACT FOR ASSURING SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE, PROMOTING THE TALENT PIPELINE AND FACILITATING STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT WITH ACADEMIA BECAME EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 31, 2018 AND WAS VALID THROUGH APRIL 30, 2022. THIS SUBCONTRACT IS VALID FOR FIVE YEARS, OR THROUGH APRIL 30, 2027. THE NTESS-URA SUBCONTRACT IS A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF URA'S PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES URA EMPLOYEES ONSITE AT SANDIA.
  2. $595,710 spent. VISITING SCHOLARS AWARDS: EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2007, URA COMMITTED TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF $400,000 PER YEAR OVER FIVE YEARS TO SUPPORT MEMBER UNIVERSITY FACULTY AND STUDENTS TO PERFORM RESEARCH AT FERMILAB. IN 2012, AND AGAIN IN 2016, THE MEMBER INSTITUTIONS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO CONTINUE SUPPORT TO FERMILAB IN THE FORM OF THE VISITING SCHOLARS PROGRAM. THIS COMMITMENT IS FUNDED THROUGH A SERIES OF ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS OF $5,000 FROM EACH EXISTING URA MEMBER INSTITUTION, AND A ONE-TIME ASSESSMENT OF $10,000 FOR NEW MEMBERS.
  3. $506,951 spent. FRA/FERMILAB: FROM THE LABORATORY'S ESTABLISHMENT THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2006, URA WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING, DESIGNING, CONSTRUCTING, AND OPERATING THE FERMI NATIONAL ACCELERATOR LABORATORY (FERMILAB) UNDER CONTRACTS WITH THE U.S DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ITS PREDECESSOR AGENCIES. AS OF JANUARY 1, 2007, A NEW CONTRACT TO MANAGE AND OPERATE FERMILAB WAS AWARDED TO THE FERMI RESEARCH ALLIANCE, LLC, AN ILLINOIS 501(C)(3) LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. URA HAS A 50% OWNERSHIP IN THE FERMI RESEARCH ALLIANCE, LLC, THE PRIME CONTRACTOR FOR THE OPERATION OF FERMI NATIONAL ACCELERATOR LABORATORY (UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO OWNS THE REMAINING 50%). URA RECEIVES 50% OF EARNINGS (AS NOTED IN THE PROGRAM REVENUE). AS SUCH, URA EMPLOYEES SPEND TIME MANAGING THIS RELATIONSHIP. AFTER AN INITIAL FIVE-YEAR BASE TERM, THE FERMILAB CONTRACT HAS BEEN EXTENDED BASED ON PERFORMANCE THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2024.
  4. $344,148 spent. SNL FELLOWSHIP: IN 2022, URA ENTERED INTO A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND OAK RIDGE INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE AND EDUCATION (ORISE) IN SUPPORT OF THE SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES' MISSION OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATION IN THE PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES TO PROMOTE THE EDUCATION OF FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SCIENTISTS. UNDER THIS PARTNERSHIP, URA HAS ESTABLISHED A RESEARCH PARTICIPATION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH, POST-GRADUATES, STUDENTS AND UNIVERSITY FACULTY, AND ESTABLISHED SCIENTISTS TO CONDUCT RESEARCH, PARTICIPATE IN URA INITIATIVES AND RECEIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR URA BASED ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES AT SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES, AS WELL AS OTHER URA-AFFILIATED FACILITIES. ORISE IS ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM, AND PROGRAM AWARDS ARE CONDITIONAL UPON THE APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS AND ACTUAL COSTS INCURRED. THE ESTIMATED PROGRAM COST IS $1,200,000 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2026.
  5. $95,062 spent. PIERRE AUGER: URA PROVIDED DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE PIERRE AUGER PROJECT THROUGH A GRANT FROM NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.
  6. $12,942 spent. RESEARCH; COMPRISES OF VARIOUS INTIATIVES TO DESIGN NEW PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 September 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 February 1966.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Association of Universities for (Washington, DC), EIN 86-0138043. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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