Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art
Cooper Union maintains strong financial health with over $1.2 billion in assets and consistent revenue surpluses.
EIN: 135562985 · New York, NY · NTEE: B420 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $286.4M |
| Total Expenses | $120.4M |
| Program Spending | 75% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $1.2 |
| Net Assets | $839.1M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art (EIN: 135562985) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code B420. The organization reported total revenue of $286.4M and total assets of $1.2B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 72 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 9.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $147.3M |
| Total Expenses | $120.4M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$26.8M |
| Total Assets | $1.2B |
| Total Liabilities | $351.2M |
| Net Assets | $839.1M |
| Operating Margin | 18.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 29.5% |
| Months of Reserves | 118.6 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art reported a surplus of $26.8M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 118.6 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 29.5% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -2.0% | +3.1% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | +10.8% | +6.3% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | +12.6% | +0.9% | +6.9% |
| 2020 | -9.3% | +1.1% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | +20.9% | +0.6% | +5.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1954 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $26.8M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 29.5%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The provided data indicates 0% officer compensation across all listed filing periods, which is unusual for an organization of this size and asset base ($1.2 billion). This suggests that executive compensation may be reported under other expense categories or that the organization relies heavily on uncompensated leadership, which would require further investigation for clarity.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown in provided data
- Unusual 0% officer compensation reported, requiring further scrutiny
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art:
- Strong and growing asset base ($1.215 billion)
- Consistent revenue generation and positive net income (e.g., $26.82 million surplus in 2023)
- Effective expense management, with revenues consistently exceeding expenses
- Long-term financial stability demonstrated by asset growth over a decade
Frequently Asked Questions about Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art
Is Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art a legitimate charity?
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art (EIN: 135562985) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $286.4M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art spend its money?
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art tax-deductible?
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 135562985). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art CEO make?
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art's highest-compensated officer earns $1.2 annually. The organization reported $286.4M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art's spending goes to programs?
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art is above average for NTEE category B420 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art located?
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 135562985. It is classified under NTEE code B420.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art have?
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $286.4M in total revenue.
Is Cooper Union a good charity?
Based on its strong financial health, substantial assets ($1.2 billion), and consistent revenue surpluses, Cooper Union appears to be a well-managed and financially stable institution. Its ability to generate significant revenue ($147.25 million in 2023) and maintain a positive net income suggests effective resource management for its educational mission.
How does Cooper Union manage its expenses?
Cooper Union consistently manages its expenses below its revenues, as seen in the 2023 fiscal year where expenses were $120.43 million against revenues of $147.25 million. This indicates a disciplined approach to spending and contributes to its growing asset base.
What is the trend in Cooper Union's assets?
Cooper Union's assets have shown consistent growth over the past decade, increasing from $943.67 million in 2014 to $1.215 billion in the latest period. This upward trend reflects strong financial stewardship and successful asset accumulation.
Why is officer compensation reported as 0%?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all provided filings is unusual for an organization of Cooper Union's scale. This warrants further investigation into the detailed IRS Form 990 to understand how executive leadership is compensated, or if it is indeed entirely uncompensated.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art's revenue has grown by 192.3%, moving from $50.4M to $147.3M. Total assets increased by 33.8% over the same period, from $889.7M to $1.2B. Total functional expenses rose by 74.9%, from $68.9M to $120.4M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art reported a surplus of $26.8M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $351.2M in liabilities against $1.2B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 29.5%), resulting in net assets of $839.1M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $147.3M | $120.4M | $1.2B | $351.2M | — | — |
| 2022 | $150.2M | $116.8M | $1.2B | $348.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $135.6M | $109.8M | $1.2B | $374.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $120.5M | $108.8M | $1.1B | $364.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $132.8M | $107.6M | $1.1B | $366.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $109.8M | $107.0M | $1.0B | $373.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $101.0M | $111.6M | $1.0B | $375.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $91.5M | $110.3M | $1.0B | $388.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $57.4M | $76.2M | $1.0B | $378.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $58.7M | $72.1M | $943.7M | $312.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $54.8M | $66.5M | $904.5M | $314.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $51.7M | $68.1M | $894.5M | $318.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $50.4M | $68.9M | $889.7M | $313.6M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $147.3M, expenses of $120.4M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue -2.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $150.2M, expenses of $116.8M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue +10.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $135.6M, expenses of $109.8M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue +12.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $120.5M, expenses of $108.8M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue -9.3% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $132.8M, expenses of $107.6M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue +20.9% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $109.8M, expenses of $107.0M, and assets of $1.0B (revenue +8.7% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $101.0M, expenses of $111.6M, and assets of $1.0B (revenue +10.4% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $91.5M, expenses of $110.3M, and assets of $1.0B (revenue +59.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $57.4M, expenses of $76.2M, and assets of $1.0B (revenue -2.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $58.7M, expenses of $72.1M, and assets of $943.7M (revenue +7.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $54.8M, expenses of $66.5M, and assets of $904.5M (revenue +6.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $51.7M, expenses of $68.1M, and assets of $894.5M (revenue +2.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $50.4M, expenses of $68.9M, and assets of $889.7M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.