Passes our checks

Annenberg School for Communication Tr at the University of Southern C

EIN 77-6216147 · Philadelphia, PA

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

What it says it does

To support the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
100% of spending went to programs.

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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

Independent board
25 of 25
4 of 5 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
0 of 15
Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$9.6 million spent. The Annenberg School for Communication Trust at the University of Southern California (hereinafter the Trust) is a charitable trust established under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania exclusively for the benefit of the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California (hereinafter the Annenberg School), which is the school for the study of communications at the University of Southern California, an organization described in Sections 501(c)(3) and 170(b)(1)(A)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code), located in Los Angeles, California. The Annenberg School is a component part of the University of Southern California and is governed and operated by the Trustees of the University of Southern California. The Trust is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and a supporting organization under Section 509(a)(3) of the Code. Pursuant to an IRS Determination letter dated February 7, 2011, the Trust is classified as a Type III supporting organization. The activities of the Trust are limited to the trustees making distributions of principal and income of the Trust to the Annenberg School. This Form 990 is being filed for a taxable year beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025. Distibutions to the University of Southern California were made during the Trusts taxable year in the amount of $9,599,576.

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

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 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 June 2002.
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.