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South Carolina Universities Research and Education Foundation

EIN 57-0880832 · Aiken, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATES AS A SUPPORT ORGANIZATION PRIMARILY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO CLEMSON UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AIKEN IN THEIR SEPARATE AND JOINT EFFORTS TO PROVIDE RESEARCH TO VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, SAVANNAH RIVER NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, ETC. TO THIS END, THE FOUNDATION OPERATES EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF, OR TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSE OF, THE MEMBER UNIVERSITIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:(1) PROVIDING FISCAL, CUSTODIAL AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH UNIVERSITY RESEARCH, AND GENERALLY ASSISTING IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION OF EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND RESEARCH PERFORMED BY THE MEMBER UNIVERSITIES;(2) GENERALLY ENCOURAGING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION;(3) INTERFACING WITH CUSTOMER BASE ON BEHALF OF MEMBER UNIVERSITIES TO ASSIST IN ACQUIRING FUNDING FOR VARIOUS RESEARCH A

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 91%
Employees
4
Highest pay
$189,196, coo

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: 58 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.2 million spent. RICKOVER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (NRLF) - THE FOUNDATION ENTERED INTO CONTRACT DE-NR0000633 WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NAVAL REACTORS LABORATORY FIELD OFFICE. THESE GRANT FUNDS ARE TO BE USED IN THE SUPPORT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, EQUIPMENT UPGRADES, AND STUDENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT. THESE FUNDS MAY PROVIDE FOR: SALARIES, MATERIALS,SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, TRAVEL, PUBLICATION COSTS, SUPPORTING COSTS REQUIRED FOR TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES, MARKET ANALYSES, FINANCING PLANS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THE PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVE.
  2. $950,596 spent. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY - NUCLEAR ENERGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE PROGRAM ("DOE/PMIS") - THE FOUNDATION ENTERED INTO CONTRACT DOE0638-1022-06 WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY-IDAHO. THESE GRANT FUNDS ARE TO BE USED IN THE SUPPORT OF DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING, AND EXECUTIION OF VARIOUS MEETINGS FOR THE DOE/PMIS. THESE FUNDS MAY PROVIDE FOR: SALARIES, MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, TRAVEL, AND OTHER SUPPORTING COSTS AS DETERMINED NECESSARY BY THE PROGRAM.
  3. $858,614 spent. SAVANNAH RIVER NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS (BOA139) - THE FOUNDATION ENTERED INTO A SUBCONTRACT WITH SAVANNAH RIVER NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE SITE'S ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION, WASTE MANAGEMENT, TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING MISSIONS, AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO NEW MISSIONS AT THE SITE.

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

  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 October 13, 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 June 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 1989.

    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 October 21, 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.