The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art reported $115.3 million in revenue and $144.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $73.95 went to program services, $23.85 to management and general costs and $2.20 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was investment income: 42.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $636,901 (PRESIDENT TILL 9/24). 123 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 4% 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 $145MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 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 $115MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 74.0% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 23.8% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.2% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.17 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 16.7% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 39.6% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $636,901 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.44% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 123 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 42.3 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 19 | 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 expenseInstruction: the Cooper Union for the advancement of science and art is among the united states' oldest and most distinguished higher education institutions. It is comprised of three professional schools: architecture, art, and engineering; and a faculty of humanities and social sciences. (continued on schedule o)the college admits undergraduates solely on merit and historically awarded full-tuition scholarships to all enrolled undergraduate students. Following a provisional reduction in 2014 of scholarships to 50% of tuition due to fiscal reasons, the college is now executing a…
Residence life: the Cooper Union student residence offers apartment-style housing to 156 students. The facility is staffed by professional and graduate student staff and 8 undergraduate resident assistants. The residential life staff hosts social, educational, and cultural programs aimed at building a strong community, increasing appreciation for diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and helping students transition to life in new york city and at the Cooper Union
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 TILL 9/24 Officer, 33.00 hrs/week | $467,542 | $0 | $169,359 | $636,901 |
| VP-ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Key employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $427,886 | $0 | $40,021 | $467,907 |
| DEAN/PROF. OF ENGINEERING Key employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $414,864 | $0 | $30,580 | $445,444 |
| VP-FIN/ADMIN, TREASURER Officer, 29.00 hrs/week | $337,050 | $0 | $76,345 | $413,395 |
| CHIEF TALENT OFFICER Key employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $343,294 | $0 | $40,684 | $383,978 |
| VP-ENROLLMENT TILL 10/24 Key employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $292,289 | $0 | $75,986 | $368,275 |
| INTERIM PRES. FROM 7/24 Officer, 33.00 hrs/week | $275,220 | $0 | $72,005 | $347,225 |
| PROF. OF ART Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $259,740 | $0 | $72,854 | $332,594 |
123 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $4.1M (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–1b19 · 17 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 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,073
- Volunteers Part I, line 6100
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| UNIVERSAL PROTECTION SERV Security | $1,949,276 |
| PATTERSON BELKNAP WEBB & TYLER LLP Legal services | $1,665,988 |
| UG2 LLC Custodial | $1,441,520 |
| PRESERV BUILDING RESTORATION MANAGEMENT Construction | $1,054,482 |
| GIBSON DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP Legal services | $703,438 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 34 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
24 private foundations reported grants to The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art totaling $4.6M 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 The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art spent in FY2025, $73.95 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art reported that 74.0% of its $144.8 million in expenses went to program services, 23.8% to management and general and 2.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $636,901, for the role of PRESIDENT TILL 9/24 (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art get its money?
Of $115.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 16.7% came from contributions and grants (including 1.4% from government grants) and 39.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-5562985 as a 501(c)(3) organization (school), 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 202621339349302897 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541339349308904 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411319349304156 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311319349301576 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202231339349308213 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111339349305151 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-5562985: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.