California Institute of Integral Studies
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 53 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
CIIS IS AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT ENCOURAGES AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO LEARNING. OVER 1,700 STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN MASTERS, DOCTORAL, BACHELOR OF ARTS COMPLETION PROGRAMS, AND CERTIFICATIONS. OURS IS A MOSAIC OF FACES AND PHILOSOPHIES, BACKGROUNDS AND BELIEFS. LIKE OUR FACULTY AND STAFF, STUDENTS ARE INTELLECTUALLY ENGAGED AND SOCIALLY ACTIVE. EACH DAY BRINGS NEW EXPERIENCES THAT BROADEN HORIZONS AND HONE CRITICAL THINKING. PROGRAMS, BOTH INSIDE THE CLASSROOM AND THROUGHOUT THE CAMPUS, INSPIRE CREATIVITY, NURTURE COMMUNITY, CULTIVATE CURIOSITY, AND FOSTER SOCIAL GOOD.
- Income
- $40.4 million
- Spending
- $47.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- -0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 94%
- Employees
- 718
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $487,448, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 46% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1561% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 53 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 2516 of 18 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 June 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)
- $26.5 million spent. CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF INTEGRAL STUDIES IS AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT STRIVES TO EMBODY SPIRIT, INTELLECT AND THE WISDOM IN SERVICE TO INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITIES, AND THE EARTH. SERVICES FOR STUDENTS INCLUDE AN EXTENSIVE LIBRARY. OVER 1700 STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN MASTER, DOCTORAL, AND BACHELOR OF ARTS COMPLETION PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS OTHER PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS.
- $988,798 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMS OFFER ADULT CONTINUING EDUCATION WITH INNOVATIVE, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT MOVE BEYOND THE CONSTRAINTS OF DEGREE CENTERED EDUCATION. OVER 75 PROGRAMS ANNUALLY SERVE MORE THAN 10,000 PARTICIPANTS WITH SUBJECTS FOR PERSONAL GROWTH AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.
- $1.4 million spent. THE SIX COUNSELING CENTERS OF CIIS OFFER MIND-BODY-SPIRIT PSYCHOTHERAPY TO INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES AND FAMILIES IN THE BAY AREA COMMUNITY, PROVIDING A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SETTING. CIIS STUDENTS AND POST-GRADUATE INTERNS ARE TRAINED AT THE CENTERS, SERVING MORE THAN 2000 CLIENTS ANNUALLY IN EXPLORING A WIDE RANGE OF LIFE'S ISSUES WITH AFFORDABLE, SLIDING-SCALE FEES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.
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 September 1974.
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.