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L S U Foundation

EIN 72-6020969 · Baton Rouge, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE LSU FOUNDATION CULTIVATES AND INVESTS IN PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERSHIPS TO SUPPORT AND ADVANCE LSU'S ACADEMIC PRIORITIES.

Income
$121.1 million
Spending
$70.4 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
123
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$846,146, president & ceo

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 32 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 (4)
  1. $25.4 million spent. ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES: OPERATIONAL SUPPORT EXPENSES TO SUPPLEMENT STATE FUNDING AND AID THE ACADEMIC COLLEGES OF THE UNIVERSITY AS WELL AS THE AGRICULTURAL CENTER IN ACCOMPLISHING LSU'S MISSION.
  2. $11.0 million spent. SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS - FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 2,278 AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS.
  3. $6.8 million spent. CHAIRS AND PROFESSORSHIPS: EXPENSES TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES OF OVER 920 SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED CHAIRS AND PROFESSORSHIPS AVAILABLE TO LSU'S DISTINGUISHED FACULTY.
  4. $12.7 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE: (1) SALARY SUPPORT FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES, (2) INSTITUTION-WIDE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, SUCH AS LECTURE SERIES AND HOSTING VISITING SCHOLARS, (3) SERVICE AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING FACULTY AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF, (4) TRAVEL TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES BY UNIVERSITY FACULTY AND STAFF OF ACADEMIC UNITS, (5) INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT, (6) CAPITAL OUTLAY INCLUDING THE ACQUISITION OF EQUIPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES FOR USE IN THE ACADEMIC RESEARCH ENDEAVORS OF THE UNIVERSITY.

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 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 June 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 1963.

    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.