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Southeastern Universities Research Association Inc

EIN 54-1156453 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SURA'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION AND TO STRENGTHEN THE SCIENTIFIC CAPABILITIES OF ITS MEMBERS AND OUR NATION.

Income
$251.9 million
Spending
$252.6 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
1,142
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$1.2 million, former lab director (until 7/24)

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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (science, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 73% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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 32% of charities in its peer group (science, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (1)
  1. $179.8 million spent. SURA HAS 55 MEMBER UNIVERSITIES IN THE US AND CANADA AND IS ORGANIZED TO PROMOTE COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, TO FOSTER EXCELLENCE IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, TO STRENGTHEN THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES OF THE NATION, AND TO PROVIDE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS.THE THOMAS JEFFERSON NATIONAL ACCELERATOR FACILITY, OR JEFFERSON LAB, IS ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF SCIENCE'S TEN NATIONAL LABORATORIES. SURA HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS (M&O) CONTRACT FOR THE JEFFERSON LAB SINCE IT WAS SELECTED IN 1983 IN A NATIONAL COMPETITION, THROUGH ITS WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY, JEFFERSON SCIENCE ASSOCIATES (JSA) LLC. AS THE M&O CONTRACTOR, JSA HAS OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY FOR JEFFERSON LAB OPERATIONS INCLUDING OVER 800 EMPLOYEES AND OVER $180 MILLION IN ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET.JSA IS ORGANIZED AS A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AND IS GOVERNED BY AN OPERATING AGREEMENT THAT RESTRICTS ACTIVITIES EXCLUSIVELY TO THOSE HAVING CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AND A PRIMARY MISSION TO PERFORM THE DOE JEFFERSON LAB M&O CONTRACT. SURA PROVIDES OVERSIGHT OF THE SCIENTIFIC MISSION OF THE JEFFERSON LAB WITH ASSISTANCE FROM FACULTY EXPERTS FROM ITS MEMBER UNIVERSITIES.SURA, THROUGH ITS SPACE SCIENCE PROGRAM, PARTNERS WITH OTHER UNIVERSITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS ON GRANTS AND CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE SCIENTISTS AND OTHER SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO CONDUCT ASTRONOMY, ASTROPHYSICS, ASTROBIOLOGY, EARTH SCIENCE, AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH TO MEET THE MISSION OBJECTIVES OF SEVERAL FEDERAL AGENCIES.THE CENTER FOR NUCLEAR FEMTOGRAPHY WAS ESTABLISHED TO BRING TOGETHER EXPERTISE IN THE NUCLEAR PHYSICS RESEARCH COMMUNITY. SURA PROVIDES RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH GRANTS TO NUCLEAR PHYSICS FACULTY WITHIN VIRGINIA UNIVERSITIES AND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE CENTER FOR NUCLEAR FEMTOGRAPHY LEADERSHIP.

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 November 6, 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 August 2008.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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