Urban Land Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT FOR TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT IN COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE. WE ARE A GLOBAL NETWORK OF PROFESSIONALS IN EVERY SECTOR OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USE, FROM PRIVATE ENTERPRISE TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
- Income
- $92.3 million
- Spending
- $94.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 86%
- Employees
- 313
- Volunteers
- 7,200
- Highest pay
- $679,104, chief financial officer
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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (13)
- $38.9 million spent. DISTRICT AND NATIONAL COUNCILS:DISTRICT COUNCILS DELIVER THE ULI MISSION DOMESTICALLY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. THEY ENGAGE LOCAL MEMBERS THROUGH DEVELOPING VARIOUS ULI PRIORITY PROGRAMS, HOSTING EDUCATIONAL FORUMS, AND CONVENING EVENTS SUCH AS SPECIAL INITIATIVE CONFERENCES KEYED TO THE RELEASE OF PUBLICATIONS LIKE EMERGING TRENDS IN REAL ESTATE. BY CONDUCTING COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND PROVIDING INDUSTRY EXPERTISE TO COMMUNITY LEADERS, DISTRICT COUNCILS FOCUS ON OPPORTUNITIES TO FOSTER COLLABORATION LOCALLY AND BUILD HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.NATIONAL COUNCILS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE LOCAL LAND USE POLICY INTERNATIONALLY BY FACILITATING THE EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE BETWEEN INDUSTRY EXPERTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. OUR NATIONAL COUNCILS DO THIS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL FORUMS AND EVENTS SUCH AS CONFERENCES, PROJECT TOURS, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS. IN THE ULI SPIRIT OF OFFERING AN UNBIASED AND NONPARTISAN EXCHANGE ON ISSUES AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY, NATIONAL COUNCILS PROVIDE THE AVENUES FOR ACTIVE DIALOGUES AMONG PRIVATE INDUSTRY, ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND PUBLIC AGENCIES TO HELP PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL ISSUES.THE ACTIVITIES RECORDED HERE ARE THE ACTIVITIES PERFORMED DIRECTLY BY THE DISTRICT/NATIONAL COUNCILS, WHICH ARE ACCOUNTED FOR ON AN INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL BASIS SEPARATELY WITHIN ULI, AS WELL AS THE COSTS INCURRED BY ULI AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT/NATIONAL COUNCIL PROGRAM. THE MAJORITY OF THE COSTS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL ARE FOR PROGRAM AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AS WELL AS COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS IN THE AREAS OF REGIONAL COOPERATION, URBAN REVITALIZATION, AND EDUCATING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES.
- $9.6 million spent. MEETINGS/CONFERENCES:THE INSTITUTE SPONSORS TWO SIGNIFICANT DOMESTIC MULTI-DAY MEETINGS EACH YEAR THAT BRING TOGETHER INDUSTRY LEADERS FROM A VARIETY OF DISCIPLINES. BOTH SPRING AND FALL MEETINGS TYPICALLY DRAW IN EXCESS OF 5,000 ATTENDEES, INCLUDING DEVELOPERS, INVESTORS, ARCHITECTS, PLANNERS, BROKERS, ATTORNEYS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. IN ADDITION TO ITS SPRING AND FALL MEETINGS, ULI EUROPE AND ULI ASIA HOST LARGE ANNUAL CONFERENCES IN CITIES WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE REGIONS.
- $8.0 million spent. CONTENT:THE INSTITUTE DELIVERS CONTENT TO ITS MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE THROUGH A NUMBER OF FUNDED CENTERS AND INITIATIVES:THE RANDALL LEWIS CENTER FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN REAL ESTATE IS DEDICATED TO CREATING HEALTHY, RESILIENT, AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD. THROUGH THE WORK OF ITS GREENPRINT AND URBAN RESILIENCE PROGRAMS, THE CENTER PROVIDES LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT TO LAND USE PROFESSIONALS TO INVEST IN ENERGY PERFORMANCE AND PORTFOLIO RESILIENCE WHILE REDUCING RISKS DUE TO A CHANGING CLIMATE. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.THE ULI CENTER FOR CAPITAL MARKETS AND REAL ESTATE WAS FOUNDED IN 2009 WITH A MISSION TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING OF THE REAL ESTATE CAPITAL MARKETS AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP IN FOSTERING A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE REAL ESTATE CAPITAL MARKETS SECTOR. ULI CURRENTLY IS ENGAGED IN REAL ESTATE FINANCE AND CAPITAL MARKET ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION, AND THE CENTER IS INTEGRALLY INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING, GUIDING, AND/OR SHOWCASING BOTH ONGOING AND NEW PROGRAMS.THE ULI TERWILLIGER CENTER FOR HOUSING CONDUCTS RESEARCH, PERFORMS ANALYSIS, PROVIDES EXPERT ADVICE, AND DEVELOPS BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT REFLECT THE RESIDENTIAL LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES OF ULI MEMBERS IN ALL RESIDENTIAL PRODUCT TYPES, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO WORKFORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE CENTER INTEGRATES ULI'S WIDE-RANGING HOUSING ACTIVITIES INTO A PROGRAM OF WORK THAT FURTHERS THE DEVELOPMENT OF MIXED-INCOME COMMUNITIES WITH A RANGE OF HOUSING OPTIONS.THE ULI GREENPRINT CENTER IS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE, TAKING MEANINGFUL, IMMEDIATE AND MEASURABLE ACTIONS TO GENERATE REAL ESTATE SOLUTIONS THAT IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY WHILE DEMONSTRATING THE CORRELATION WITH INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES. GREENPRINT FOCUSES ON REDUCING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF EXISTING BUILDINGS, WHICH CURRENTLY REPRESENT ONE-THIRD OF GLOBAL CARBON EMISSIONS AND WORKS TO ACHIEVE ITS CARBON REDUCTION GOALS THROUGH EDUCATION AND ACTION. THE CENTER USES THE COLLECTIVE POWER OF ITS MEMBERSHIP TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE IN LOWERING CARBON EMISSIONS BY EXPLORING AND IMPLEMENTING ENERGY-REDUCING TECHNOLOGIES, SHARING THEIR PERFORMANCE RESULTS WITH THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE GREENPRINT PERFORMANCE REPORT, TM.THE ROBERT C. LARSON LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE ENABLES ULI TO ADD LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES TO ITS PROGRAM OF WORK AND EXTEND THE INSTITUTE'S REACH TO MANY MORE CURRENT AND POTENTIAL LEADERS. THE INITIATIVE ALSO SUPPORTS THE WORK OF THE ULI WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE WHOSE MISSION IS TO RAISE THE VISIBILITY AND NUMBER OF WOMEN LEADERS IN ULI AND THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY.ULI'S URBAN RESILIENCE PROGRAM PROVIDES ULI MEMBERS, THE PUBLIC, AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WITH INFORMATION ON HOW TO BE MORE RESILIENT IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL VULNERABILITIES. THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE, AND CATALYZE ADOPTION OF TRANSFORMATIVE MARKET PRACTICES AND POLICIES. THROUGH ADVISORY SERVICES, RESEARCH, CONVENINGS, AND SUPPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL PROJECTS, THE URBAN RESILIENCE PROGRAM SEEKS TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE WITH A FOCUS ON THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, REAL ESTATE MARKETS, AND THE LAND USE POLICY SECTOR.THE ULI BUILDING HEALTHY PLACES INITIATIVE IS A MULTIFACETED PROGRAM INCLUDING RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS, CONVENINGS, AND ADVISORY ACTIVITIES TO LEVERAGE THE POWER OF THE INSTITUTE'S GLOBAL NETWORKS TO SHAPE PROJECTS AND PLACES IN WAYS THAT IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES.
- $1.2 million spent. PUBLISHING/URBAN LAND MAGAZINE:THROUGH ITS ORIGINAL RESEARCH AND THE RESEARCH OF ITS MEMBERS, THE INSTITUTE PUBLISHES BOOKS AND CASE STUDIES ON A VARIETY OF INDUSTRY TOPICS RELEVANT TO ITS MEMBERS. PUBLICATIONS ARE OFFERED IN PRINT BOUND FORMAT, PDF AS WELL AS E-PUB. PUBLICATIONS ARE MANAGED THROUGH A THIRD-PARTY FULFILLMENT COMPANY. THE INSTITUTE'S FLAGSHIP PERIODICAL AND A SIGNIFICANT MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT, URBAN LAND MAGAZINE PROMOTES THE INSTITUTE'S VISION AND MISSION BY REPORTING ON LAND USE POLICY AND REAL ESTATE PRACTICE, INDUSTRY SECTOR UPDATES, CAPITAL MARKETS AND MARKET TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, AND PLANNING AND DESIGN. THE MAGAZINE IS OFFERED FREE WITH MEMBERSHIP AND IS AVAILABLE BOTH IN PRINT AND ONLINE.
- $988,626 spent. ULI LEARNING:ULI LEARNING PROGRAM DELIVERS PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION FOR LAND USE AND REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS AT ALL LEVELS FROM EXPERIENCED PRACTITIONERS AND RESEARCHERS. REFLECTING THE DIVERSE PROFESSIONALS THAT COMPRISE THE ULI MEMBERSHIP, THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SERVE PROFESSIONALS ACROSS DISCIPLINES THROUGH ONLINE COURSES, REAL ESTATE INSTRUCTION PROGRAMS, REAL ESTATE ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAMS, AND THE PRO FORMA FUNDAMENTALS CERTIFICATE.
- $736,278 spent. ADVISORY SERVICES:ADVISORY SERVICES PANELS PROVIDE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS, AND MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITH ADVISORY REPORTS TO ADDRESS THE MOST CHALLENGING REAL ESTATE AND LAND USE ISSUES FACING COMMUNITIES TODAY. IN PROVIDING ADVISORY SERVICES, ULI CONVENES A PANEL OF INDUSTRY LEADERS FROM ITS DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP, INCLUDING DEVELOPERS, PLANNERS, FINANCIERS, MARKET ANALYSTS, DESIGNERS, ECONOMISTS, ARCHITECTS, AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS, TO PROVIDE PRACTICAL AND OBJECTIVE ADVICE THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE.
- $778,218 spent. AWARDS: ULI HAS SET THE STANDARD IN RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, RELATED PROGRAMS, AND VISIONARIES IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT. ULI'S AWARDS PROGRAMS ARE HIGHLY SELECTIVE AND PROVIDE A PRESTIGIOUS REFERENCE FOR PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. WINNERS AND FINALISTS BENEFIT FROM WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION AMONG INFLUENTIAL LEADERS IN FIELDS RELATED TO REAL ESTATE AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. AWARDS INCLUDE: THE AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE PROGRAM, THE ULI J.C. NICHOLS PRIZE FOR VISIONARIES IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE ULI GERALD D. HINES STUDENT URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION AND THE ULI AMANDA BURDEN URBAN OPEN SPACE AWARD.
- $3.4 million spent. MEMBERSHIP:ULI OFFERS A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERSHIP DEPENDING ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S SPECIFIC INTEREST, INCLUDING: ASSOCIATE, FULL, YOUNG LEADER MEMBER UNDER 35, AND CORPORATE WITH FURTHER DISTINCTIONS FOR PRIVATE VERSUS PUBLIC AND DOMESTIC VERSUS INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP. EACH PROGRAM PROVIDES THE MEMBER WITH A SPECIFIC BASKET OF BENEFITS. MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES RELATE TO MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS, AS WELL AS ORDER PROCESSING AND FULL MEMBER ADMISSIONS ACTIVITIES.
- $2.9 million spent. PRODUCT COUNCILS:PRODUCT COUNCILS PROVIDE A DEDICATED FORUM FOR INFORMATION EXCHANGE ON THE STATE-OF-THE-ART OF A VARIETY OF SPECIFIC INDUSTRY SECTORS. MEMBERSHIP IS LIMITED TO FULL MEMBERS AND IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. THE INSTITUTE CURRENTLY HAS 65 DOMESTIC AND 7 GLOBAL COUNCILS FOCUSED ON 25 AREAS OF ACTIVITY, INCLUDING AFFORDABLE/WORKFORCE HOUSING, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, OFFICE DEVELOPMENT, SENIOR HOUSING, TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, URBAN REVITALIZATION AMONG MANY OTHERS.
- $212,082 spent. LEADERSHIP: THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OF ITS MOST SENIOR-LEVEL MEMBERS IN LEADERSHIP, VOLUNTEERING, AND MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE INSTITUTE. THE PROGRAM WILL WORK WITH APPROXIMATELY 600 MEMBERS, INCLUDING ULI FOUNDATION GOVERNORS, CURRENT GOVERNING TRUSTEES AND FORMER TRUSTEES.
- $1.5 million spent. ULIF OPERATING EXPENSES SUPPORT:ULIF TRANSFERS 100% OF THE FUNDS RAISED THROUGH THE ANNUAL FUND PROGRAM TO ULI TO SUPPORT ONGOING ULI PROGRAMS. IN RETURN, ULI ADDS TO ITS ANNUAL BUDGET ALL ULIF OPERATING EXPENSES THROUGH THE FORM OF A CONTRIBUTION TO ULIF.
- $999,767 spent. INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE:ULI SUPPORTS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH AND FOR PEOPLE ACROSS BOUNDARIES THROUGH A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON CHANGING THE DEMOGRAPHY OF THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY. IT'S WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE IS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON PROMOTING THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY.
- $4.5 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS:THIS FUNCTION INCLUDES ALL ULI INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE ANNUAL REPORT, E-NEWS SERVICE, MEDIA RELATIONS, BRANDING, AND CORPORATE 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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1941.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.