Ukraine Global Scholars Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UGS assists bright Ukrainian high school students from modest backgrounds in getting a world-class education abroad, in exchange for their commitment to returning to Ukraine and working there for at least five years. UGS aims to develop a new generation of Ukrainian leaders capable of creating a victorious and prosperous future in Ukraine today. Through mentorship, education, career guidance, and empowerment for Ukrainian youth, UGS seeks to scale its impact and generate a powerful ripple effect.
- Income
- $454,091
- Spending
- $441,379
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 8.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $68,269, officer president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 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 (3)
- $229,070 spent. Student Applications and Admissions: covers boot camp expenses, the Last Mile Fund - which includes insurance, visa fees, transportation, and other relocation expenses - as well as all admissions-related expenses such as SAT, CSS, SSS, and additional fees UGS supports on behalf of its students. UGS 2023 cohort - which included both boarding school seniors and reapplicants - achieved an overall acceptance rate of 69% in 2024. 55 out of 78 students received college acceptance decisions (21 on early decision in December 2023), or a 71% acceptance rate; and 28 out of 43 students got accepted to boarding schools, or a 65% acceptance rate. The colleges include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Georgetown University, Minerva University, Columbia University, etc. The boarding schools include St. Paul's School, Deerfield Academy, Taft School, Hotchkiss School, 'Iolani School, Westminster School, etc.
- $83,429 spent. Repatriation Program: includes summer internships and first-job placements in Ukraine, along with the Social Impact Internship Fund, which provides stipends and covers related expenses for students participating in unpaid internships. UGS has expanded the UGS Internship Program, which has been in place since 2017, into the UGS Repatriation program to help its students find summer internships in Ukraine and support their return to Ukraine after graduation. Over 50 students completed 60+ internships with 33 employers in 2024. These included for-profit companies like Civitta and Farmak, DIXI, EntroPi Ai, and Support Your App; nonprofits such as Ukrainer, Razom, Teach for Ukraine, and Superhumans Rehabilitation Center; and state institutions, including the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Verkhovna Rada, and Lviv City Council. To further strengthen the program and amplify its impact, UGS successfully piloted the UGS Social-Impact Internship Fund (SIIF), which provided financial assistance for unpaid or low-paying internships at high-impact organizations in Ukraine. The program helped students gain valuable professional experience, build local networks before graduation, and reconnect with their families. In 2024, five UGS students received monthly stipends through SIIF (up to $500/month for up to three months) and additional funding for travel expenses to and from Ukraine in 2024. This year's grantees interned at the Verkhovna Rada, Lviv City Council, Superhumans Rehabilitation Center, Nizhyn Youth Center, and Ukrainer.
- $37,878 spent. Cultural and Auxiliary Support: includes mental health programs, host family arrangements, and participation in cultural and educational events in the US, UK, and Ukraine. This includes student transportation and accommodations-related expenses to host families and events. In 2024, 25 host families welcomed 38 students during holiday breaks, including Easter, Thanksgiving, and winter holidays. In May, ten students from the 2023 Cohort visited Biopharma, a leading biological R&D center in Bila Tserkva, Ukraine, where they explored biochemistry research and career opportunities. On June 21, UGS hosted its Annual Summer Event at MacPaw Space in Kyiv, bringing together over 100 participants - including finalists, alumni, mentors, and partners. In July, UGS alumni organized a Kyiv reunion to share study-abroad experiences and foster mentorship. In September, UGS students met with UGS advisers to discuss Ukraine's socio-political situation and career opportunities for returning students. In partnership with Ukrzaliznytsia, UGS participated in the Zalizna Zmina (Iron Squad) youth education project, where 13 finalists toured Western Ukraine, met with civic leaders, and veterans. In the U.S., UGS co-organized the art exhibition and the UGS Annual Event at Harvard Innovation Labs in Boston, which gathered around 120 participants and featured speakers from the Embassy of Ukraine, Harvard University, and the UGS Board.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 January 2017.
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.