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Council for Aid to Education Inc

EIN 95-4570253 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO HELP SECONDARY AND POST SECONDARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES BY ASSESSING CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION AND TO ADVANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR A QUALITY EDUCATION BY CONDUCTING EDUCATION POLICY RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATING INFORMATION BASED ON THIS RESEARCH.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
20
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$435,000, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 100% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 (2)
  1. $2.3 million spent. CAE CONDUCTS RESEARCH AND CREATES INNOVATIVE ASSESSMENTS WITH FUNDING FROM PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND CORPORATIONS FOCUSED ON EDUCATION POLICY AND ANALYSIS OF EDUCATION ISSUES. THE RESEARCH SPURS IMPROVEMENT AND VALIDATION OF CAE'S ASSESSMENTS AND ALLOWS FOR SHARING POLICY AND INSTRUCTIONAL INSIGHTS WITH EDUCATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS.
  2. $568,292 spent. USING ITS UNIQUE ASSESSMENTS, CAE HELPS SECONDARY AND POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS MEASURE STUDENTS' CRITICAL THINKING AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS. THESE SKILLS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND BY EMPLOYERS AND CAE'S RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THESE SKILLS ARE PREDICTIVE OF POSITIVE POST SECONDARY AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES.SINCE CAE'S INCEPTION, OVER 825,000 STUDENTS AT OVER 1300 INSTITUTIONS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE ASSESSMENTS ALLOWING STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND ADMNISTRATORS TO USE THE RESULTS TO IMPROVE CURRICULUM AND INFORM EDUCATION POLICY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 2008.

    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.