Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

American Association of Colleges and Universities

EIN 52-1945674 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AAC&U ADVANCES THE DEMOCRATIC PURPOSES OF HIGHER EDUCATION BY PROMOTING EQUITY, INNOVATION, AND EXCELLENCE IN LIBERAL EDUCATION.

Income
$19.2 million
Spending
$18.3 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
6.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
69
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$818,029, president

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 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 (6)
  1. $6.4 million spent. GRANT FUNDED PROGRAMS TO STUDY, RESEARCH AND ADDRESS COMMON EDUCATIONAL ISSUES AS WELL AS TARGETED AREAS OF CONCERN, IN EFFORTS TO ADVANCE THE BROAD INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETAL PURPOSES OF LIBERAL EDUCATION.
  2. $3.4 million spent. PROGRAMS TO STUDY AND RESEARCH COMMON EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS AND ISSUES, IN EFFORTS TO ADVANCE THE BROAD INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETAL PURPOSES OF LIBERAL EDUCATION.
  3. $2.6 million spent. MEETINGS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION WITH ITS MEMBERS REGARDING ISSUES AFFECTING HIGHER EDUCATION. THE ANNUAL MEETING, HELD EACH JANUARY, ATTRACTS OVER 1,300 ATTENDEES. SIX INSTITUTES AND FOUR TOPICAL MEETINGS WERE ALSO HELD.
  4. $940,403 spent. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES RECRUITS NEW MEMBERS, DEVELOPS STRATEGIES TO RETAIN MEMBERS, ASSESSES MEMBER SATISFACTION, ANSWERS MEMBER INQUIRIES, PREPARES MATERIALS CONCERNING MEMBER BENEFITS, AND MAINTAINS MEMBERSHIP RECORDS.
  5. $444,763 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: AAC&U PUBLICATIONS FOCUS ON TEACHING, LEARNING, CURRICULUM, AND ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP. JOURNALS AND OTHER MATERIALS ARE PUBLISHED TO PROVIDE THE MEMBERSHIP WITH INFORMATION ON METHODS OF EDUCATION. EACH ISSUE OF OUR THREE PERIODICALS IS DISTRIBUTED TO APPROXIMATELY 7,000 MEMBERS AND PAID SUBSCRIBERS. WE ALSO HAVE OVER 80 PUBLICATION TITLES AVAILABLE FOR SALE.
  6. $1.1 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS

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 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 June 2025.

    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 October 1995.

    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.