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Oak Ridge Associated Universities Inc

EIN 62-0476816 · Oak Ridge, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BENEFIT THE PUBLIC BY INTEGRATING ACADEMIA, GOVERNMENT, AND INDUSTRY TO ADVANCE THE NATION'S LEARNING, HEALTH, AND SCIENTIFIC PRIORITIES.

Income
$124.4 million
Spending
$123.1 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
1,189
Volunteers
217
Highest pay
$818,838, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 47 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 23 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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, 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 (4)
  1. $78.9 million spent. HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY (HEST) - RELIES ON ORAU'S EXPERIENCE IN EPIDEMIOLOGY AND WORKER PUBLIC HEALTH STUDIES PROGRAMS. EXPERTISE LIES IN THE AREA OF STUDYING EXPOSURE HISTORIES IN VARIOUS POPULATIONS TO DETERMINE THE POSSIBLE CORRELATION BETWEEN EXPOSURES TO RADIATION OR OTHER HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AND ILLNESSES. CAPABILITIES INCLUDE SCREENINGS OF VARIOUS GROUPS TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL HEALTH CONCERNS RESULTING FROM EXPOSURES, AND COLLECTING DATA TO BE ANALYZED RELATED TO WORKER HEALTH HISTORIES.ORAU HAS ESTABLISHED EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS ON A NATIONAL SCALE TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE WORKERHEALTH SOLUTIONS, AND POSSESSES THE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE THE HIGHESTLEVELS OF QUALITY AND INTEGRITY. ORAU FOCUSES ON WORKPLACE HAZARDS RESEARCH AND THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OF WORKERS.FROM BROAD-SCOPE EPIDEMIOLOGY AND HEALTH SCREENINGS/SURVEILLANCE STUDIES TO PROVIDING PUBLICHEALTH COMMUNICATION AND TECHNICAL TRAINING, ORAU OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO HELPING CUSTOMERS MANAGE THEIR WORKER HEALTH CONCERNS.THE PUBLIC HEALTH & HEALTHCARE (PHH) PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PROVIDING PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES THROUGH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN EIGHT CORE COMPETENCIES: PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, AND RECOVERY; EMERGENCY MANAGEMENTLABORATORY; HEALTH COMMUNICATION, MARKETING, AND PROMOTION; FORMATIVE RESEARCH ANDEVALUATION; HEALTHCARE DELIVERY SYSTEMS; EXERCISE BUILDER NUCLEAR; ELEARNING DESIGN ANDDEVELOPMENT; AND MULTIMEDIA APPLICATIONS.ADDITIONALLY, ORAU OFFERS EXPERTISE IN THE AREAS OF NATIONAL SECURITY READINESS AND EMERGENCYPREPAREDNESS. TO FURTHER SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS, ORAU ALSO EMPLOYS FORENSIC SPECIALISTS ANDOTHER SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO PROVIDE FORENSIC EVIDENCE AND OTHER INVESTIGATIVE TESTING.THE ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT (EE) DIRECTORATE PROVIDES ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ANDVERIFICATION PROGRAMS THAT ENCOMPASS THE CHARACTERIZATION OF SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS TOBE DISPOSED OF, AND THEN THE INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OF REMEDIATION EFFORTS TO ENSURE THEDISPOSAL MEETS FEDERAL REGULATORY STANDARDS. BY PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY DOCUMENT REVIEWS,PLANS, AND TEMPLATES, ORAU SUPPORTS ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS BY ENSURING PROPER DISPOSITIONOF WASTE WHILE MINIMIZING RISK AND UNCERTAINTY.ORAU ALSO PROVIDES HEALTH PHYSICS EXPERTISE AND SPECIAL TRAINING PROGRAMS TO TEACH GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, OTHER GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR THE APPROPRIATE AND PROPER METHODS TO HANDLE RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS, ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DANGEROUS OR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, AND IN SOME CASES THE PROPER ACTIONS IN THE EVENT OF A SPILL.ORAU'S SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS CONDUCT RESEARCH WHICH PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY EVALUATIONS OF AIR QUALITY, WEATHER AND CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH ADVANCED METEOROLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS.THE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (ST) DIRECTORATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OGS' PEER REVIEW CAPABILITYPROVIDING SCIENTIFIC EVENT LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO MULTIPLE FEDERAL AGENCIES, STATE AGENCIES, ANDUNIVERSITIES. USING PEERNET, ORAU'S PROPRIETARY PEER REVIEW SOFTWARE AND GRANTS MANAGEMENTSYSTEM, OR THE CUSTOMERS OWN PEER REVIEW SYSTEM, THIS TEAM PROVIDES A BROAD RANGE OF SUPPORTFROM REVIEW SETUP, REVIEWER TRAVEL COORDINATION, HONORARIA PROCESSING, TO VIRTUAL EVENTCOORDINATION AND SUPPORT. ADDITIONALLY, THIS GROUP PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES FOR MANY VIRTUALMEETINGS, SUCH AS VIRTUAL CAREER FAIRS.ORAU'S WORKFORCE SOLUTION PROGRAM OFFERS TALENT ACQUISITION, SOURCING AND MANAGEMENTSERVICES. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES CUSTOMIZED RECRUITING CAMPAIGNS AND SERVICES TAILORED TO THESPECIFIC NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS AND PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROGRAMS.
  2. $34.2 million spent. RESEARCH PARTICIPATION (RP) - RESEARCH SCHOLARS (RS) DIRECTORATE WITHIN THE RP SEGMENT FOCUSES ON SCIENCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT PRIMARILY SUPPORT FELLOWSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS OR OTHER MEANS TO PLACE STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS INTO RESEARCH POSITIONS AT NATIONAL RESEARCH FACILITIES OR INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.THE PURPOSE OF THESE PROGRAMS IS TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS CONDUCT OR PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH WITH THEIR OWN EDUCATION BEING ONE OF THE KEY BENEFITS. ONE OF THE GOALS OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE A STEADY SUPPLY OF SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS TO MEET FUTURE NEEDS IN CRITICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AREAS. STUDENTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, MATHEMATICS, AND ENGINEERING ("STEM") FIELDS NEED THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE TO STAY COMPETITIVE IN AN EVER-CHANGING GLOBAL MARKETPLACE.THE RESEARCH SCHOLAR PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PROVIDING PARTICIPANTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE AS PARTICIPANTS. ORAU PROVIDES THE MECHANISM TO SUPPORT OUR CLIENTS IN FINDING THE MOST TALENTED AND DIVERSIFIED PARTICIPANTS SO THAT OUR NATION'S RESEARCH CONTINUES TO GROW.
  3. OTHER SPONSORED PROGRAMS: VARIOUS OTHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS OPERATED AND MANAGED BY ORAU.
  4. LOSS ON SALE OF EQUIPMENT

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1948.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.