California Alumni Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CULTIVATE A LIFELONG RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR ALMA MATER BY CONNECTING AND INSPIRING ALUMS, STUDENTS, AND THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY THROUGH MEANINGFUL AND INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES. WE FOSTER A CULTURE THAT CELEBRATES DIVERSITY, CREATES A SENSE OF BELONGING, AND ADVANCES EQUITY.
- Income
- $16.7 million
- Spending
- $16.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 3.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 62%
- Employees
- 284
- Volunteers
- 4,000
- Highest pay
- $521,795, executive director thru 10/2024
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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (4)
- $6.6 million spent. CAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (CAA) OWNS AND OPERATES THREE CAMP SITES ON U.S. FOREST SERVICE LEASED LAND IN THE STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST IN PINECREST, CA. KNOWN AS LAIR OF THE BEAR (LAIR), CAA PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND, REASONABLY PRICED CAMPING ACCOMMODATIONS, FOOD, AND PROGRAMS TO CAA MEMBERS AND THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. IN ADDITION, K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER GROUPS BOOK THE LAIR FOR EDUCATIONAL AND SPECIAL EVENT PURPOSES. OVER 10,000 INDIVIDUALS ENJOY THESE FACILITIES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
- $434,989 spent. CALIFORNIA MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED ON A QUARTERLY BASIS AND MAILED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION TO KEEP ALUMNI IN TOUCH WITH FELLOW MEMBERS AND WITH THE UNIVERSITY. THE MAGAZINE PROVIDES MEMBERS WITH UNIVERSITY NEWS ITEMS, TOPICAL ISSUES, DISCOVERIES, AND ALUMNI EVENTS.
- $2.2 million spent. ALUMNI PROGRAMMING INCLUDES: MEMBER SERVICES AND BENEFITS, CAREER NETWORKING AND SEMINARS, ON- AND OFF-CAMPUS SPECIAL EVENTS, DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDY PROGRAMS THROUGH CAL DISCOVERIES TRAVEL, AND PARTICIPATION IN VOLUNTEER-LED ALUMNI CHAPTERS.
- $1.8 million spent. CAA ADMINISTERS A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AND TWO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS CREATED BY CAL ALUMNI TO ENABLE STUDENTS TO ENGAGE WITH ALUMNI: THE LEADERSHIP AWARD (TLA) AND THE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PROGRAM (TAAP). PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE APPLICATION REVIEW AND SELECTION OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS; ADVISING AND PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR UNDERGRADUATES, AND AN ALUMNI MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS. SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS ARE DISTRIBUTED DIRECTLY TO RECIPIENTS BY THE UNIVERSITY FINANCIAL AID OFFICE.
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 October 1962.
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.