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The University Corporation

EIN 95-1992732 · Northridge, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ON BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE, THE UNIVERSITY CORPORATION PERFORMS A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING OPERATING THE CAMPUS BOOKSTORE, FOOD SERVICES, VENDING OPERATIONS, ADMINISTRATION OF VARIOUS FUNDS AND GRANTS, MANAGING CAMPUS FACULTY/STAFF HOUSING PROGRAM, OFF-CAMPUS RESEARCH AND ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING, AS WELL AS THE LICENSING OF CAMPUS FACILITIES, LOGOS AND TRADEMARKS.

Income
$60.5 million
Spending
$54.4 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
9.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
1,332
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$635,639, chair

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

Good: 89 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    8 of 17 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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)
  1. $41.1 million spent. GRANTS AND CONTRACTS ADMINISTRATION - THE UNIVERSITY CORPORATION PROVIDES POST-AWARD ADMINISTRATION OF SPONSORED PROGRAMS. WORKING WITH THE UNIVERSITY'S OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND SPONSORED PROJECTS, THE CORPORATION SPONSORED PROGRAMS DIVISION PROVIDES SUPPORT TO PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS AND PROJECT STAFF WITH INTERPRETATION OF REGULATIONS, PROCESSING OF EXPENSES, PAYROLL, HUMAN RESOURCES, RISK MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL REPORTING, MANAGEMENT OF AUDITS AND OTHER SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF EXTERNALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS. AFTER DEDUCTING ALL DIRECT COSTS OF THE SPONSORED PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT, A RESERVE ALLOCATION AND ADMINISTRATION COSTS, THE UNIVERSITY CORPORATION SETS ASIDE THE REMAINING INDIRECT COST RECOVERY FUNDS INTO A RESERVE ACCOUNT.
  2. $8.9 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES, FOOD SERVICES, BOOKSTORE COMMISSIONS, REAL ESTATE RENTALS - SEE SCHEDULE O AUXILIARY SERVICES, FOOD SERVICES, BOOKSTORE COMMISSIONS, REAL ESTATE RENTALS - THE CSUN CAMPUS STORE'S PRIMARY FUNCTION IS TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC MATERIALS TO STUDENTS IN A TIMELY AND EFFICIENT MANNER. THE STORE ACTIVELY PURSUES WAYS TO HELP CONTAIN THE COSTS OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, ALWAYS STRIVES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF ITS SERVICES, AND IS COMMITTED TO FACILITATING LEARNING AND ACHIEVEMENT. THE CSUN CAMPUS STORE HAS BEEN OPERATED BY FOLLETT HIGHER EDUCATION GROUP SINCE 1997. CSUN DINING PROVIDES QUALITY FOOD SERVICE TO STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF WHILE GENERATING A SURPLUS FOR THE UNIVERSITY. THE REAL ESTATE DIVISION MANAGES CORPORATION-OWNED REAL ESTATE USED FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES, INCLUDING FACULTY/STAFF HOUSING AND THE OFFICIAL RESIDENCE OF THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT, FUTURE UNIVERSITY NEEDS, AND INVESTMENT. THE UNIVERSITY CORPORATION ALSO MANAGES THE UNIVERSITY'S LICENSING PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES THE LICENSING OF UNIVERSITY LOGOS AND TRADEMARKS, AS WELL AS THE LICENSING OF ALL CAMPUS GROUNDS AND FACILITIES. THE CORPORATION WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE UNIVERSITY TO ESTABLISH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT MAKE THE CAMPUS FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY-AT-LARGE IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER THAT ENSURES SAFETY, PROTECTS CAMPUS FACILITIES, AND ENSURES RECOVERY OF ALL RELATED UNIVERSITY COSTS.
  3. $769,354 spent. UNIVERSITY PROJECTS - THE UNIVERSITY CORPORATION SET ASIDE A PORTION OF THE AVAILABLE SURPLUS FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS TO SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY. THE UNIVERSITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PRIORITIZING FISCAL REQUESTS AND ALLOCATING THOSE FUNDS. IN ADDITION, THE CORPORATION ALSO SUPPORTS MERITORIOUS ENDEAVORS AND EXPLORATORY PROJECTS CREATED AND ADMINISTERED BY STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF. FOUR QUASI-ENDOWMENTS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE STUDENT PROJECTS ENDOWMENT SUPPORTS PROJECTS THAT ARE INNOVATIVE, OF COMPELLING TEMPORARY OR CAMPUS-WIDE INTEREST OR SIGNIFICANCE, OR SO UNIQUE AS TO FALL OUTSIDE THE PURVIEW OF REGULARLY ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS. THE JUDGE JULIAN BECK LEARNING-CENTERED INSTRUCTIONAL PROJECTS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY AN ENDOWMENT ESTABLISHED IN 1976 BY THE UNIVERSITY CORPORATION'S BOARD. FACULTY AND STAFF MAY SUBMIT PROPOSALS THAT PROMOTE LEARNING-CENTERED PRACTICES. PROPOSALS ARE SOLICITED, REVIEWED AND AWARDED ANNUALLY BY AN ADVISORY BOARD. FINALLY, THE UNIVERSITY CORPORATION FACULTY RESEARCH ENDOWMENT PROVIDES GRANTS TO FACULTY IN SUPPORT OF RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ENDEAVORS. PROPOSALS ARE REVIEWED BY A COMMITTEE OF THE UNIVERSITY'S GENERAL FACULTY.

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

  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 June 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 July 1960.

    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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