Georgia Independent College Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GEORGIA INDEPENDENT COLLEGE ASSOCIATION, INC ("GICA") SUPPORTS PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION IN GEORGIA IN THE AREAS OF PUBLIC POLICY, INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS, FUND RAISING FOR STUDENT FINANCIAL AID, AND COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 19.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 53%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 32
- Highest pay
- $277,146, 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 19.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 48% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2532 of 32 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 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 (3)
- $1.6 million spent. GRANTS AND ALLOCATIONS: IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE APPROVED DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS POLICY OF GICA, ALL UNDESIGNATED FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED 60 PERCENT EQUALLY TO THE MEMBER COLLEGES AND 40 PERCENT TO SUCH COLLEGES IN PROPORTION TO TOTAL REGULAR, FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT IN THE COLLEGES OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. DESIGNATED FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE COLLEGES SPECIFIED BY THE DONOR.
- $130,055 spent. COMPLIANCE COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM: THE COMPLIANCE COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM ("CCP") IS A COLLABORATION OF 14 GICA MEMBER INSTITUTIONS TO ASSIST PARTICIPANTS BY PROVIDING TRAINING AND GUIDANCE REGARDING VARIOUS COMPLIANCE-RELATED ISSUES UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE COMPLIANCE PROGRAM DIRECTOR. THE IMMEDIATE AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, TITLE IX, THE CLERY ACT, AND THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT. HOWEVER, THE EXACT TOPICS WILL SHIFT IN ANY GIVEN YEAR WITH THE NEEDS OF THE PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS.
- $2,248 spent. IN 2024, GICA LAUNCHED A MULTIPLE EMPLOYER RETIREMENT PLAN, CALLED A MEP. BY SPONSORING THE MEP, WE MAKE A SHARED ERISA PLAN AVAILABLE TO MEMBER COLLEGES WHERE THEY CAN MOVE THEIR INDIVIDUAL 503(B) OR 401(K) PLANS INTO THE SHARED PLAN. THE MEP OFFERS PARTICIPANTS REDUCED COSTS, SHARED GOVERNANCE, AND COMPREHENSIVE ERISA COMPLIANCE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1958.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.