Georgia State University Research Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CORPORATION HAS BEEN ORGANIZED TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES AND PURSUITS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE EDUCATIONAL, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE FUNCTIONS OF GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY. THUS, THE CORPORATION WILL ATTEMPT TO SECURE GIFTS, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND GRANTS FROM INDIVIDUALS, INDUSTRIAL OR OTHER PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES OR OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES AND OBTAIN AND/OR ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH SUCH INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF SPONSORED RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, OR OTHER PROGRAMS TO BE PERFORMED UNDER SUBCONTRACT BY GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY.
- Income
- $154.1 million
- Spending
- $151.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 2.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 76%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $1.0 million, director
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: 57 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 62% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 10 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 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 (2)
- $143.1 million spent. RESEARCH GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY. GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY IS A PREMIER URBAN PUBLIC RESEARCH UNIVERSITY, SOLVING GLOBAL CHALLENGES IN HUMAN HEALTH. RESEARCHERS UTILIZE THE UNIVERSITY'S STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES AND WORK ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES TO ADDRESS CRITICAL QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, SUCH AS CANCER, OBESITY, INFLAMMATION, VACCINE DEVELOPMENT, CHILD AND ADULT LITERACY, AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES RELATED TO SMOKING, AND OTHER CHRONIC DISEASES. ANNUAL GRANT AWARDS RECEIVED AT THE UNIVERSITY HAVE EXCEEDED THE $100 MILLION MILESTONE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. FEDERAL SPONSORSHIP ACCOUNTS FOR OVER 70 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL GRANT AWARD VOLUME AT THE UNIVERSITY.
- $4.1 million spent. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTED THE LEARNING ENGINEERING TOOLS COMPETITION IN 2024, A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PRIZE CHALLENGE TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY, DATA, AND LEARNING SCIENCE TO MEET THE URGENT NEEDS OF LEARNERS ACROSS GENERATIONS. THE COMPETITION INVITED TECHNOLOGISTS, DIGITAL LEARNING PLATFORMS, RESEARCHERS, STUDENTS, AND TEACHERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE TO PROPOSE INNOVATIVE TOOLS OR TECHNOLOGIES TARGETING ONE OF THE FOUR FOLLOWING AREAS IN EDUCATION: ACCELERATION OF LEARNING IN ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY LITERACY AND MATH; TRANSFORMATION OF K-12 ASSESSMENTS IN BOTH COST AND QUALITY; FACILITATION OF FASTER, BETTER, AND CHEAPER LEARNING SCIENCE RESEARCH; OR DRIVING IMPROVEMENTS IN ADULT LEARNING THAT BOOSTS WAGES.
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 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 October 1989.
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 November 4, 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.