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Congress for the New Urbanism

EIN 65-0483737 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES URBANISM AT THE SCALE OF THE BLOCK, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE REGION. CNU MEMBERS ARE ARCHITECTS, DEVELOPERS, PLANNERS, ENGINEERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND CONCERNED CITIZENS DEVOTED TO SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 52%
Employees
0
Volunteers
61

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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. $791,920 spent. CNU'S ANNUAL CONGRESS IS THE PREMIERE NATIONAL EVENT ON BUILDING BETTER PLACES. EACH YEAR, 1600+ ATTENDEES CONVENE TO HEAR FROM SPEAKERS, PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS, COLLABORATE ON PROJECTS, AND LEARN NEW STRATEGIES FROM LEADERS IN DOZENS OF FIELDS. OUTSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM, CONGRESS ATTENDEES EXPERIENCE INSPIRING HOST CITIES LIKE LOUISVILLE, DETROIT, THE TWIN CITIES, DALLAS, AND BUFFALO, HELPING TO PLACE NATIONAL ISSUES IN A UNIQUE AND CHALLENGING LOCAL CONTEXT.
  2. $125,617 spent. CNU'S MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM IS A MOVEMENT OF LEADERS, DESIGNERS, AND BUILDERS OF PLACES PEOPLE LOVE. THE MEMBER PROGRAM PROVIDES NEWS, TRAINING, AND RESOURCES TO CNU'S MEMBERS THAT ALLOW THEM TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS. MEMBERS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT, ENGAGE, NETWORK, ADVOCATE, AND INNOVATE WITH OTHERS WHO ARE DEVELOPING A NEW VISION FOR OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
  3. $69,133 spent. CNU - ACCREDITATION: CNU'S ACCREDITATION PROGRAM ELEVATES THE PRACTICE OF THE PRINCIPLES OF NEW URBANISM AND CREATES A STANDARD OF MEASUREMENT FOR BOTH KNOWLEDGE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW URBANIST DESIGN.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 1994.

    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.