Carnegie International Students Institute Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 34% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
CISI is committed to helping international students better in Study, work and live in the United States.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $593,797
- Spent on programs
- 34%
- Reserves
- 24.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 99%
- Employees
- 0
- Highest pay
- $99,360, officer
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: 85 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 63% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 122% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1534% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 62 out of 100.
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (4)
- $169,500 spent. Good Status Scholarship: CISI launched the Good Status Scholarship for international students holding F-1 visas in the United States to recognize academic achievements. Outstanding international students. This scholarship is designed to provide high-achieving international students with financial support when facing academic or career obstacles, while encouraging them to continue working hard to maintain good student status.
- $5,398 spent. Tree-IS-Planted Project Fund:CISI launched the ???Tree-IS-Planted??? initiative to plant one tree for each international student we serve, aligning with the World Economic Forum???s global goal to protect, restore, and grow one trillion trees. The program symbolizes students??? roots and growth while contributing to environmental stewardship.
- $7,000 spent. IS Culture: IS Culture program builds cultural bridges by supporting Chinese language and culture abroad. Through its Mother Tongue initiative, CISI partners with local schools and community groups to create richer environments for learning and maintaining Chinese (Mandarin) among immigrant families. CISI also funds Chinese music education in partnership with the Chinese Music Ensemble of New York, promoting Chinese traditional/folk music and training young performers to share these instruments and sounds with wider audiences.
- Mother Tongue??? $4000 International Students Contribution Scholarship: $16700
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2021.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.