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Institute for Higher Education Policy

EIN 52-1818907 · Washington, DC

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

THE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY (IHEP) WORKS TO BUILD A MORE EQUITABLE AND JUST SOCIETY THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION. WE DRIVE SYSTEMIC CHANGE TO ADVANCE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES AND GENERATIONAL IMPACT FOR COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED BASED ON RACE, ETHNICITY, OR INCOME. WE PURSUE THIS CHANGE THROUGH RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, POLICY DEVELOPMENT, AND FIELD ENGAGEMENT.

Income
$8.9 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
21.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
26
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$320,283, president & 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 52% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 319% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 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 (5)
  1. $1.6 million spent. DATA & TRANSPARENCY OUR SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION IS DATA-RICH BUT INFORMATION-POOR. IHEP PROMOTES SMART HIGHER EDUCATION DATA USE BY IDENTIFYING TRENDS IN DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND INSTITUTIONAL LEVELS, SUPPORTING A CULTURE OF DATA-USE ON CAMPUSES THROUGH OUR RESEARCH, TRAININGS, AND COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICES, AND CALLING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF OUR POSTSECONDARY DATA INFRASTRUCTURE. SINCE 2014, IHEP HAS LED THE POSTSECONDARY DATA COLLABORATIVE (POSTSECDATA), A COALITION OF DIVERSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT JOINTLY ADVOCATES FOR THE USE OF HIGH-QUALITY POSTSECONDARY DATA TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND SUCCESS IN HIGHER EDUCATION, INFORM AND EVALUATE POLICY DEVELOPMENT, AND INFORM STUDENT CHOICES ABOUT THEIR INVESTMENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
  2. $786,783 spent. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLETION HIGHER EDUCATION CAN BE A PATHWAY TO ECONOMIC SECURITY, SOCIAL MOBILITY AND SOCIETY-WIDE VALUE IF STUDENTS EARN A DEGREE OR CREDENTIAL. IHEP PROMOTES EVIDENCE-BASED PATHWAYS TO COMPLETION FOR TODAY'S STUDENTS BY IDENTIFYING BARRIERS TO COMPLETION AND DEGREE ATTAINMENT, EXAMINING INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE APPROACHES AT THE INSTITUTIONAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS TO PROMOTE COMPLETION, AND WORKING WITH POLICYMAKERS AND PRACTITIONERS TO ADVANCE STRATEGIES AND POLICIES THAT SUPPORT STUDENTS AS THEY COMPLETE THEIR STUDIES. IHEP WORKS TO SUPPORT KNOWLEDGE BUILDING AND SCALING OF DATA-DRIVEN STRATEGIES THAT IMPROVE COMPLETION.
  3. $570,381 spent. NEED-BASED AID NEED-BASED AID DOES MORE THAN MAKE COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE - IT MAKES COLLEGE POSSIBLE FOR TODAY'S STUDENTS. WE PROMOTE AFFORDABLE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION BY: IDENTIFYING FINANCIAL CHALLENGES AND EXAMINING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS; CALLING TO PROTECT AND INCREASE NEED-BASED AID AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND INSTITUTIONAL LEVELS; AND WORKING WITH POLICYMAKERS AND PRACTITIONERS TO PRIORITIZE NEED-BASED INVESTMENT IN STUDENTS. WE FOCUS SQUARELY ON ENHANCING SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS LIVING WITH LOW AND MODERATE INCOMES, INCLUDING THROUGH PELL GRANTS, AND FUNDING TO SUPPORT NON-TUITION COSTS THAT INCLUDE BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD AND HOUSING.
  4. $209,952 spent. STRONG OUTCOMES FOR ALL STUDENTS ALL INSTITUTIONS AND PROGRAMS SHOULD DELIVER VALUE TO STUDENTS. DRAWING FROM OUR POSTSECONDARY VALUE FRAMEWORK, WE EVALUATE NOVEL APPROACHES TO ASSESS THE ECONOMIC RETURNS STUDENTS RECEIVE FOR THEIR POSTSECONDARY INVESTMENT AND CULTIVATE SUPPORT FOR COMPREHENSIVE REFORM THAT INCENTIVIZES AND SUPPORTS IMPROVEMENT, ESPECIALLY AMONG PROGRAMS THAT PERSISTENTLY DELIVER A LOW RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
  5. COLLEGE ADMISSIONS YEARS OF ADMISSIONS POLICIES HAVE LEFT BLACK, LATINX, AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE STUDENTS, AND STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS UNDERREPRESENTED AT THE NATION'S SELECTIVE INSTITUTIONS. IHEP RESEARCHES RECRUITMENT, ADMISSIONS, AND ENROLLMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES. WE BUILD FIELD SUPPORT FOR THE POSITIVE IMPACTS OF A DIVERSE CAMPUS TO ENCOURAGE INSTITUTIONS TO IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES THAT HELP MORE STUDENTS ACCESS POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 1998.

    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.