Maharishi University of Enlightenment
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE CONSCIOUSNESS - BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING POST SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $486,559
- Spending
- $449,615
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $14,560, webmaster/director of outreach
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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 9 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- $358,763 spent. Maharishi University of Enlightenment (MUE) faculty continue to create and launch new enrichment courses of special interest to women, which we offer on our online learning platform mueonline.org.One MA student and one PhD student still have their theses outstanding in order to complete all the requirements for their degrees.Maharishi University of Enlightenment faculty continued to work with the Department of Science of Creative Intelligence for Management at Rajapark Institute, Thailand, a department founded by PhD graduates of MUE, to offer their bachelors degree program.Maharishi University of Enlightenment continues to work with Maharishi International University (MIU) on joint collaborations. This year, these included two Forest Academies (two-week knowledge and experience retreats) for MIU students and a 45-minute knowledge class offered once a week by MUE for MIU students.The University continued to run its popular website, www.globalgoodnews.com, which in addition to its daily news section serves as a resource for the knowledge and programs available in the field of Maharishi Vedic Science and Technology of Consciousness. The University continued to work with Maharishi Global Administration through Natural Law (MGANL) to develop a future joint campus, to be located in New York State and Hawaii. The University is also working with Mahila Dhyan Vidya Peeth (MDVP)in India to offer MUEs courses on their new campus near New Tehri in Uttarakhand (Himalayas).Maharishi University of Enlightenment is also working in close collaboration with MIU to re-enliven the Maharishi College of Enlightenment on the MIU campus, offering the university curriculum that Maharishi designed. This accredited college could then open additional locations on the MGANL/MUE joint campuses in New York State and Hawaii.
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 February 1999.
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.