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University of California Irvine Foundation

EIN 95-2540117 · Irvine, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE FOUNDATION (UC IRVINE FOUNDATION) IS TO RAISE AND MANAGE PRIVATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT UC IRVINE'S BROADER MISSION OF EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING, RESEARCH AND PUBLIC SERVICE. TO THIS END, THE UC IRVINE FOUNDATION ADVISES UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP IN ALL AREAS RELATED TO PUBLIC TRUST, INVESTMENTS AND PHILANTHROPY; MOBILIZES EXISTING AND POTENTIAL SUPPORTERS TO HELP GROW THE UNIVERSITY'S ENDOWMENT; AND ENGAGES WITH APPROPRIATE STAKEHOLDERS TO ADVANCE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS ALIGNED WITH THE UNIVERSITY'S STRATEGIC PLAN. THE UC IRVINE FOUNDATION ALSO AIMS TO BUILD STRONGER NETWORKS OF SUPPORT AROUND DEANS, DIRECTORS AND HEALTH LEADERS TO ADVANCE UCI'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REGION; ENGAGES WITH THE SCHOOLS, UNITS AND DEPARTMENTS IN STRATEGIC ADVISORY AND ADVOCACY ROLES; AND FACILITATES REGIONAL AND GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT EXPAND UCI'S CAPACITY TO IMPROVE LIVES.

Income
$230.7 million
Spending
$107.3 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
0
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$854,690, chancellor

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 53% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 84% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    70 of 73 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $100.0 million spent. THE UCI FOUNDATION CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF FACULTY, SUPPORT OF STUDENTS AND THE BUILDING OF FACILITIES THAT ALLOWS UC IRVINE TO SOLIDIFY ITS STEADY GROWTH AS ONE OF THE NATION'S PREMIER RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES. GRANT SUPPORT HAS BEEN GIVEN FOR A VAST ARRAY OF RESEARCH INCLUDING MEDICINE, SCIENCE, HUMANITIES AND TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS MERIT BASED SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS AND INSTRUCTION. THE UCI FOUNDATION HAS ENDOWED CHAIRS, SUPPORTED NEW RESEARCH, TEACHING FACILITIES AND OTHER CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS.DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025 THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING TO THE UNIVERSITY.SCHOOL OF MEDICINE $ 20,971,105OTHER 18,506,590COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE 11,898,676UCI MEDICAL CENTER 11,553,646HENRY SAMUELI SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING 10,823,508NON-ACADEMIC UNITS 6,072,413OFFICE OF RESEARCH 2,765,072SOCIAL SCIENCES 1,577,161SOCIAL ECOLOGY 1,497,246CHARLIE DUNLOP SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 1,441,388SCHOOL OF LAW 1,424,534PAUL MERAGE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS 1,299,999CLAIRE TREVOR SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 1,229,729PHYSICAL SCIENCES 1,187,439HUMANITIES 1,185,077DONALD BREN SCHOOL OF INFORMATION AND COMPUTER SCIENCE 1,000,264ATHLETICS 792,914SCHOOL OF EDUCATION 775,604PHARMACY & PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 455,323WEN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH 437,791CENTER FOR NEUROBIOLOGY OF LEARNING & MEMORY 299,003UCI LIBRARIES 261,713SUE & BILL GROSS SCHOOL OF NURSING 124,409TOTAL $ 97,580,594

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 September 1968.

    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.

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.