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Association of American Universities

EIN 52-1947112 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 1900, AAU IS COMPOSED OF 71 DISTINGUISHED INSTITUTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA THAT CONTINUALLY ADVANCE SOCIETY THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND DISCOVERY. OUR U.S. MEMBER UNIVERSITIES EARN THE MAJORITY OF COMPETITIVELY AWARDED FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ACADEMIC RESEARCH, ARE IMPROVING HUMAN LIFE AND WELLBEING THROUGH RESEARCH, AND ARE EDUCATING TOMORROW'S VISIONARY LEADERS AND GLOBAL CITIZENS. AAU MEMBERS COLLECTIVELY HELP SHAPE POLICY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE, AND INNOVATION; PROMOTE BEST PRACTICES IN UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE EDUCATION; AND STRENGTHEN THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES TO SOCIETY.

Income
$15.8 million
Spending
$17.2 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
52
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$1.0 million, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 71% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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

    14 of 16 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 September 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. $13.3 million spent. FEDERAL RELATIONS, POLICY, AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS: THE MAJORITY OF THE PROGRAM FUNDS EXPENDED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES (AAU) IS CONCENTRATED IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, POLICY STUDIES, AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS. AAU'S PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ADDRESS BOTH FEDERAL AND INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES. MAINTAINING THE PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE NATION'S RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS A KEY AREA OF FOCUS. THIS INCLUDES WORK ON FEDERAL AND INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES AFFECTING THE TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE MISSIONS OF RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES, THEIR STUDENTS, FACULTY MEMBERS, AND STAFF. THIS INCLUDES FEDERAL INVESTMENTS IN STUDENT AID, HIGHER EDUCATION, COMPETITIVELY AWARDED-BASIC SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROGRAMS.
  2. $114,103 spent. GRANT-FUNDED PROJECTS: AAU ADVANCES PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS CRITICAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION POLICY ISSUES IMPACTING AAU MEMBER UNIVERSITIES. WE ARE SELECTIVE IN THE GRANTS WE SOLICIT TO ENSURE THAT THE GRANT-FUNDED WORK ALIGNS WITH AAU'S GOALS AND PRIORITIES. AAU CURRENTLY HAS TWO ACTIVE GRANTS SUPPORTING OUR UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING EVALUATION PROJECT, AND CLOSED GRANTS SUPPORTING OUR PHD EDUCATION INITIATIVE AND OUR PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA PROJECT. AAU STAFF CONTINUALLY EVALUATE POTENTIAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING EVALUATION PROJECT AAU IS COMMITTED TO CREATING MORE EQUITABLE AND EFFECTIVE MEANS TO EVALUATE EDUCATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS WITHIN FACULTY REWARDS STRUCTURES. AAU IS SUPPORTING FIVE AAU STEM DEPARTMENT DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS AND A BROADER AAU LEARNING COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP PRACTICES TO VALUE, RECOGNIZE, AND REWARD THE FULL RANGE OF INTELLECTUAL WORK THAT GOES INTO TEACHING AS PART OF FACULTY PROMOTION AND ANNUAL REVIEW STRUCTURES. IN ADDITION, THIS EFFORT WILL WORK TO INTEGRATE CONCEPTS OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY INTO THE FACULTY REWARDS SYSTEM. THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY A GIFT FROM THE SARAH GILBERT & CARL WIEMAN CHARITABLE FUND. THE BROADER LEARNING COMMUNITY IS SUPPORTED BY FUNDING FROM THE HOWARD HUGHES MEDICAL INSTITUTE.
  3. $1.1 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMSPUBLIC OPINION PROJECT: THIS PROJECT AIMS TO GAIN MORE INSIGHTS INTO PUBLIC OPINION TO ASSIST OUR MEMBERS ON ISSUES CRITICAL TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC AND POLICYMAKERS.MEETINGS: AAU CONDUCTS SEMI-ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF ITS MEMBER INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS MULTIPLE MEETINGS OF FEDERAL RELATIONS OFFICERS AND OTHER COMMITTEES AND GROUPS, AS NECESSARY. THE ASSOCIATION CONDUCTS ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE FOLLOWING INTERNAL GROUPS, COMPOSED OF STAFF FROM AAU 'S MEMBER UNIVERSITIES:- COUNCIL ON FEDERAL RELATIONS- PUBLIC AFFAIRS NETWORK- CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICERS- SENIOR RESEARCH OFFICERS- CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICERS- GENERAL COUNSELS- ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATE SCHOOLSGOLDEN GOOSE AWARD AAU PLAYED A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE TWELFTH ANNUAL GOLDEN GOOSE AWARD PROGRAM AND CEREMONY. THE AWARD HONORS FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCHERS WHOSE WORK SOUNDS ODD OR OBSCURE BUT TURNED OUT TO HAVE MAJOR SOCIETAL BENEFITS.AAU BY THE NUMBERS AS PART OF THE ASSOCIATION'S EFFORTS TO DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES TO THE NATION, AAU UPDATED AND PRODUCED PRINT AND DIGITAL INFOGRAPHICS WITH AGGREGATE STATISTICS ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, STUDENT FINANCIAL AID, RESEARCH INTENSITY, AND OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT ITS MEMBER UNIVERSITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 December 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.

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