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Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities

EIN 53-0183246 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

APLU IS A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT FOSTERS A COMMUNITY OF UNIVERSITY LEADERS COLLECTIVELY WORKING TO ADVANCE THE MISSION OF PUBLIC RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES. THE ASSOCIATION'S MEMBERSHIP CONSISTS OF MORE THAN 250 PUBLIC RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES, LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS, STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEMS, AND AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS SPANNING ACROSS ALL 50 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, SIX U.S. TERRITORIES, CANADA, AND MEXICO.THE ASSOCIATION AND ITS MEMBERS COLLECTIVELY FOCUS ON INCREASING STUDENT SUCCESS AND WORKFORCE READINESS; PROMOTING PATHBREAKING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH; AND BOLSTERING ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. DRAWING ON THE POWERFUL COLLECTIVE ACTION OF ITS MEMBERS, APLU'S ADVOCACY ARM HELPS SHAPE FEDERAL POLICY THAT MAXIMIZES THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF PUBLIC AND LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES.

Income
$20.1 million
Spending
$18.5 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
15.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
69
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$875,884, president

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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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. $4.1 million spent. FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES: THE COMMISSION ON FOOD, ENVIRONMENT, AND RENEWABLE RESOURCES (CFERR) FOCUSES ON CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES RELATED TO AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, HUMAN SCIENCES, NATURAL RESOURCES, ECOLOGICAL SCIENCES, OCEANS AND ATMOSPHERE, AND VETERINARY MEDICINE IN THE FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. THE COMMISSION SEEKS TO FORMULATE AND IMPLEMENT AN INTEGRATED FEDERAL RELATIONS PROGRAM AND FORMULATE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS IN HIGH-PRIORITY AREAS OF NATIONAL CONCERN.
  2. $2.2 million spent. RESEARCH, INNOVATION, AND STEM POLICY: THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION, AND STEM POLICY'S MAJOR FOCUS IS SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION TOWARDS STEM FACULTY HIRING, RETENTION, ADVANCEMENT, AND COMPENSATION, PUBLIC IMPACT RESEARCH, AND STRENGTHENING PATHWAYS TO RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION LEADERSHIP.
  3. $2.0 million spent. ACADEMIC AFFAIRS CONDUCTS STUDIES WITH MEMBER INSTITUTIONS, AND ISSUES REPORTS INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE ACADEMIC UNDERTAKINGS OF OUR MEMBERS. RECENTLY, IT HAS DEVOTED SPECIAL ATTENTION TO UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION, INCLUDING COST, FINANCIAL AID, QUALITY, TIME TO DEGREE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THE DATA POLICY AND ANALYSIS GROUP HAS CARRIED OUT A NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO IMPROVING INSTITUTIONAL DATA ON STUDENT SUCCESS, AND BETTER DESCRIBING APLU INSTITUTIONS. OTHER PROJECTS IN ACADEMIC AFFAIRS HAVE WORKED TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND THE USE OF DIGITAL LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES, IMPROVE MENTORING FOR STUDENTS, HELPING STUDENTS IMPROVE SUCCESS IN INTRODUCTORY MATHEMATICS AND FURTHER INTEGRATING CAREER READINESS INTO UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION.
  4. $1.2 million spent. OFFICE OF URBAN INITIATIVES - THE OFFICE OF URBAN INITIATIVES' MAJOR FOCUS IS PUBLIC RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES LOCATED IN URBAN CENTERS WHICH PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ANCHORING THE COMMUNITY, FOSTERING NEIGHBORHOOD AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CITIES, AND ADVANCING THE HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELL-BEING OF CITY RESIDENT.
  5. $4.0 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING: CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND DATA & ANALYTICS.

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 August 1974.

    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.