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Postsecondary Commission Inc

EIN 87-1031412 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE POSTSECONDARY COMMISSION IS AN ACCREDITOR OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT PROVIDE STRONG ECONOMIC OUTCOMES TO THEIR STUDENTS.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
15.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
8
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$303,000, 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 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 (1)
  1. $1.7 million spent. ACCREDITATION-FIELD WORK - THIS BODY OF WORK ENCOMPASSES DIRECT PARTNERSHIPS WITH INSTITUTIONS AND THE APPLICATION OF PSC'S ACCREDITATION MODEL. IN 2024, PSC ONBOARDED TWO INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS TO COMPLETE PSC'S ACCREDITATION PROCESS. AS PART OF THAT WORK, PSC HOSTED THREE INSTITUTIONAL WORKSHOPS AND AN ESTIMATED 50+ CONSULTATION MEETINGS BETWEEN PSC STAFF AND INSTITUTIONAL REPRESENTATIVES. STAFF CREATED OR MODIFIED AN ESTIMATED 100+ INSTITUTION-SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS TO FACILITATE THE INSTITUTIONS THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND TO PREPARE FOR OR IMPLEMENT THE SELF-STUDY PROCESS (A KEY COMPONENT OF ACCREDITATION). ACCREDITATION-MODEL AND PETITION DEVELOPMENT - BUILDING ON ITS WORK IN 2023 TO DEVELOP AND RELEASE ITS INITIAL ACCREDITATION STANDARDS, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES, PSC CONTINUED TO CREATE NEW MATERIALS THAT EXPAND ITS ACCREDITATION MODEL. THE ORGANIZATION RELEASED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND CONSIDERED FEEDBACK ON ITS ACCREDITATION STANDARDS ONCE IN 2024. TO SUPPORT ITS ACCREDITATION FIELD WORK, STAFF CREATED 30+ NEW MATERIALS (E.G., TEMPLATES, WORKSHEETS), WHICH ARE NOW IN USE WITH INSTITUTIONS. PSC ALSO REVIEWED ITS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND MADE UPDATES TO ~60% OF THESE MATERIALS TO REFINE ITS APPROACH. PSC'S BOARD REVIEWED AND APPROVED THE CHANGES TO STANDARDS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. FINALLY, PSC BEGAN TO ASSEMBLE ITS PETITION FOR RECOGNITION FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. RESEARCH AND EVALUATION - IN 2024, PSC LAUNCHED A NEW BODY OF WORK CALLED RESEARCH AND EVALUATION. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STATE AGENCIES, PSC STUDIES THE ECONOMIC RETURNS GENERATED BY INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR PROGRAMS. IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH RESEARCHERS AND ECONOMISTS AT MATHEMATICA, PSC LAUNCHED ITS FIRST PILOT STUDY IN TEXAS TO STUDY OUTCOMES OF THE STATE'S PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. AS PART OF THIS STUDY, PSC IS EVALUATING THOUSANDS OF COHORTS OF STUDENTS WITHIN VARIOUS INSTITUTIONAL, PROGRAMMATIC, AND DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS DATING BACK TO 2008. PSC INTENDS TO RELEASE THE FINDINGS FROM THIS STUDY IN LATE 2024 AND EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONDUCT STUDIES IN OTHER STATES IN 2025.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 February 2022.

    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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