University Network for Internat Training Anduniversity Network for
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The University Network for Human Rights facilitates supervised undergraduate engagement in the practice of human rights at colleges and universities in the United States and across the globe. The University Network partners with advocacy organizations and communities affected or threatened by abusive state, corporate, or private conduct to advance human rights at home and abroad, trains undergraduate students in interdisciplinary human rights protection and advocacy, and collaborates with academics and human rights practitioners in other parts of the world to foster the creation of practical, interdisciplinary programs in human rights.
- Income
- $586,299
- Spending
- $862,908
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 10.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 78%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $12,960, 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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 47% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 145% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 9 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (2)
- $390,604 spent. REPORTS, DOCUMENTATION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS: Over the course of 2024, the University Network for Human Rights continued its work promoting internationally recognized human rights in a dozen countries across the world. Our research and documentation focused on a broad range of issues and countries. The following summaries are representative of our work. Forced disappearances in Mexico: Our work focused on challenging impunity for government officials and organized criminal groups responsible for grave violations. Our team worked closely with civil society organizations and academics to research and publish several analyses and policy proposals (included in academic and journalistic publications) to enhance the efficacy of investigations and prosecutions of those involved in egregious rights abuse. Forced Displacement in Nagorno-Karabakh: Our researchers, together with civil society groups and academics, documented and published several extensive reports on violations committed during the forced displacement of ethnic Armenians from the disputed territory known as Nagorno-Karabakh (or Artsakh, in Armenian). Our team also worked with colleagues to raise international awareness of the issue, presenting findings in Geneva, the headquarters of the United Nations human rights center. Indigenous rights in Panama: Together with a coalition of rights organizations and local community leaders, we assisted in the representation of individuals and groups seeking to defend their traditional lands. The indigenous Ngobe people have been displaced from their lands in the Changuinola river region by a hydroelectric dam. Our legal team and student researchers assisted in presenting the claims of those displaced to Panamanian authorities and to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Housing rights in Connecticut: Our supervisors and students worked with renters in the state of Connecticut to ensure respect for their rights in the context of substandard housing and constructive evictions. This work involved meeting with renters, documenting conditions in their rental units, and advocating with authorities responsible for oversight of housing rights. Over the course of 2024, our team worked with victims and community organizations in a dozen countries. We published several book-length reports and academic articles, and submitted dozens of letters and short reports to oversight bodies. In all this work, our supervisors involved students to the extent of their abilities, developing their capacity to serve as defenders of human rights in the United States and abroad.
- $361,296 spent. UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS: The organization finalized all elements necessary to create and launch an LL.M. program in Lisbon, Portugal. Students were selected for the program through a competitive process with applicants from nearly twenty countries around the world. The selection process began in 2024 (and continued in 2025). (The course began in August 2025). The organization also trained several dozen students at Wesleyan University and visiting students from Wellesley College, Trinity College and Williams College on campus at Wesleyan University. The organization worked with these students to advance the interests of communities facing rights abuse in countries around the world.
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 November 2018.
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.