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Van Andel Education Institute

EIN 52-2000824 · Grand Rapids, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OPERATION OF VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE GRADUATE SCHOOL (VAIGS) AND VAN ANDEL EDUCATION INSTITUTE (VAEI).

Income
$5.7 million
Spending
$7.0 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
15.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
16
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$799,596, chairman / ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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 November 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 (2)
  1. $842,467 spent. VAN ANDEL EDUCATION INSTITUTE ("VAEI") OFFERS EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR K-12 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. VAEI IS DEDICATED TO CREATING CLASSROOMS WHERE CURIOSITY AND CREATIVITY THRIVE. VAEI PROGRAMS INCLUDE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SUMMER CAMPS. VAEI SERVED MORE THAN 6,000 STUDENTS AND 3,000 TEACHERS IN 2024.
  2. $4.9 million spent. VAEI SUPPORTS THE VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE GRADUATE SCHOOL("VAIGS") IN FULFILLING ITS MISSION TO DEVELOP BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH LEADERS THROUGH A GRADUATE PROGRAM IN MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE APPLICATION OF BASIC SCIENCE TO IMPROVE HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM, WITH PHD OR MS DEGREES, WILL BE PREPARED TO LEAD RESEARCH IN ACADEMIC OR INDUSTRY SETTINGS, APPLY BASIC RESEARCH TO IMPORTANT MEDICAL ISSUES, PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SUPPORTING RESEARCH AND ITS APPLICATION, AND SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WITH SCIENTISTS, PHYSICIANS, AND THE PUBLIC. VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE ("VARI") INVESTIGATORS TEACH STUDENTS IN CLASSROOM AND LABORATORY.(SEE SCH O)VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE GRADUATE SCHOOL WAS GRANTED REAFFIRMATION OF ACCREDITATION BY THE HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION OF THE NORTH CENTRAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS IN MAY 2024.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 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 November 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 July 1997.

    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.