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American Indian Higher Education Consortium

EIN 84-0640326 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong97 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AIHEC IS THE COLLECTIVE SPIRIT AND UNIFYING VOICE OF OUR NATION'S TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (TCUS). AIHEC PROVIDES LEADERSHIP AND INFLUENCES PUBLIC POLICY ON AMERICAN INDIAN HIGHER EDUCATION ISSUES THROUGH ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, AND PROGRAM INITIATIVES; PROMOTES AND STRENGTHENS INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES, CULTURES, COMMUNITIES, AND TRIBAL NATIONS; AND THROUGH OUR UNIQUE POSITION, SERVE MEMBER INSTITUTIONS AND EMERGING TCUS.

Income
$14.3 million
Spending
$14.1 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
20.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 50%
Employees
47
Volunteers
37
Highest pay
$295,875, president & ceo

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

Strong: 97 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    36 of 36 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 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. $8.2 million spent. OTHER PRIVATE FUNDING:THROUGH MELLON'S NATIVE LANGUAGE PRESERVATION AWARD, AIHEC SEEKS TO ESTABLISH A NETWORKED VIRTUAL NATIONAL TRIBAL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES' CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON NATIVE LANGUAGE. ADDITIONALLY THIS FUNDING WILL BE USED TO CREATE AN ANTHOLOGY OF SIXOUAN LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION. BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION: INTERMEDIARIES FOR SCALE PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM WILL EFFECT INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION AT SCALE BY UTILIZING RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTING,IMPLEMENTING, EVALUATING, AND SUSTAINING CHANGES IN POLICY AND PRACTICE TO READY AIHEC TO BECOME AN INTERMEDIARY FOR SCALE (IFS).
  2. $3.1 million spent. BIE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: AIHEC TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ADVANCES TCUS' CAPACITY TO ACHIEVE THEIR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE MISSIONS, IMPROVE STUDENTS' SUCCESS, AND MAINTAIN ACCREDITATION. THE BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES UPON WHICH TCUS DEPEND INCLUDE THE COORDINATION OF ANNUAL COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF COMPREHENSIVE INSTITUTIONAL DATA TO AID TCUS WITH COMPLIANCE WITH INCREASINGLY MORE RIGOROUS ACCREDITATION STANDARDS AND COMPLIANCE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; RESOLUTION OF ISSUES AND CHALLENGES WITH FEDERALLY-ADMINISTERED GRANTS AND PROGRAMS; DISSEMINATING TIMELY AND ACCURATE INFORMATION REGARDING PENDING FEDERAL PROGRAMMATIC AND LEGISLATIVE/APPROPRIATIONS MATTERS OF DIRECT RELEVANCE TO TCUS; FACILITATION OF MEETINGS AND FOSTERING COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE THAT PROVIDE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES.
  3. $1.3 million spent. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION PROGRAM: CC*TEAM: PILOTING A CI-ENABLED TRIBAL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY RESEARCH COLLABORATION: AIHEC WILL IMPLEMENT A CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT TO ESTABLISH SOCIO-TECHNICAL FOUNDATION OF AN ND RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE.

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 January 1975.

    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.

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