Council of Independent Colleges
Council of Independent Colleges reported $22.3 million in revenue and $20.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.39 went to program services, $14.39 to management and general costs and $6.22 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 59.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $870,773 (PRESIDENT). 16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 80% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $21MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $22MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.4% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.4% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.2% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 59.8% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 11.9% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $870,773 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 4.24% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 16 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 40.6 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 23 of 24 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseNetworks, programs, projects, and services cic's networks, programs, projects, and services support academic programs and institutional development in key areas through leadership development for mid-level and senior campus officers and faculty development as well as through programs and services for state council members.institutional development programs and services legacies of american slavery: reckoning with the pastthis initiative, generously funded by the andrew w. Mellon foundation and offered in partnership with the gilder lehrman center for the study of slavery, resistance, and…
Conferences and other events cic's institutes, conferences, seminars, and workshops provide ongoing professional development opportunities. The 2025 presidents institute explored the theme "engaging communities and participants explored ways colleges and universities can effectively engage communities and acquire tools to help reframe disruption and pursue new opportunities. Plenary panels offered direction and strategic advice on mitigating conflict, preserving cultures of free expression, and effectively navigating the federal policy agenda. Concurrent sessions and workshops provided…
Other programs and initiatives webinarscic offers webinars on a variety of topics, including a series on mergers and collaborations. Listservscic provides listservs for various campus constituencies. All of the listservs are reserved exclusively for employees from cic member institutions
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $787,804 | $0 | $82,969 | $870,773 |
| SR. VICE PRES. FOR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $263,487 | $0 | $66,870 | $330,357 |
| SR. VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF OF STAFF Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $271,280 | $0 | $58,725 | $330,005 |
| VICE PRESIDENT FOR NETWORKS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $223,518 | $0 | $38,012 | $261,530 |
| DIRECTOR OF CONFERENCES Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $196,532 | $0 | $56,620 | $253,152 |
| VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,723 | $0 | $56,496 | $242,219 |
| VICE PRESIDENT FOR MEMBER ENGAGEMENT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $191,796 | $0 | $23,462 | $215,258 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $163,053 | $0 | $31,097 | $194,150 |
16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Council of Independent Colleges (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.7M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b24 · 23 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 538
- Volunteers Part I, line 648
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| HILTON ATLANTA HOTEL Conference services | $901,496 |
| THE DIPLOMAT BEACH RESORT Conference services | $613,458 |
| RIIPEN NETWORKS INC Consulting services | $511,250 |
| HILTON PORTLAND DOWNTOWN Conference services | $365,872 |
| THE TAMPA WATER STREET HOTEL Conference services | $282,789 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 10 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
4 private foundations reported grants to Council of Independent Colleges totaling $613K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Council of Independent Colleges's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Council of Independent Colleges, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Council of Independent Colleges spent in FY2025, $79.39 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Pennsylvania Association of Regional Food BanksPittsburgh, PA · revenue $22M · programs 99.2% · FY2025
- New Horizons - Serving Individuals with Special NeedsNorth Hills, CA · revenue $22M · programs 90.9% · FY2025
- Eden HomeNew Braunfels, TX · revenue $22M · programs 72.0% · 2024
- The Caring Community of ConnecticutColchester, CT · revenue $22M · programs 93.3% · FY2025
- Clackamas County Children's CommissionMilwaukie, OR · revenue $22M · programs 92.2% · FY2025
All unclassified charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Council of Independent Colleges's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Council of Independent Colleges reported that 79.4% of its $20.5 million in expenses went to program services, 14.4% to management and general and 6.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Council of Independent Colleges pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Council of Independent Colleges reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $870,773, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Council of Independent Colleges get its money?
Of $22.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 59.8% came from contributions and grants and 11.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Council of Independent Colleges a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 01-6004776 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202601319349304050 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202500799349300215 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202410949349300421 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311359349312161 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202231239349302033 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202120349349301232 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 01-6004776: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.