Council Of Independent Colleges
Council Of Independent Colleges maintains substantial assets and reports zero officer compensation.
EIN: 16004776 · Washington, DC · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Council Of Independent Colleges Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Council Of Independent Colleges directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Council Of Independent Colleges
Council Of Independent Colleges (EIN: 16004776) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC. The organization reported total revenue of $28.6M and total assets of $88.1M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Council Of Independent Colleges's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Council Of Independent Colleges is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 69 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -8.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $16.3M |
| Total Expenses | $17.1M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-792,564 |
| Total Assets | $88.3M |
| Total Liabilities | $28.9M |
| Net Assets | $59.4M |
| Operating Margin | -4.9% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 32.7% |
| Months of Reserves | 62.0 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Council Of Independent Colleges reported a deficit of $793K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 62.0 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 32.7% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Council Of Independent Colleges's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -8.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -11.9% | -2.8% | +25.2% |
| 2022 | +15.6% | +53.1% | -19.8% |
| 2021 | +29.2% | -14.1% | +18.4% |
| 2020 | -11.8% | -6.1% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | -41.0% | -0.1% | +14.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1957 |
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 Council Of Independent Colleges 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: 10%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Council Of Independent Colleges allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. With 80% 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 deficit of $793K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 32.7%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers received compensation from the organization. This is highly unusual for an organization of this size with assets nearing $90 million and annual revenues in the tens of millions, suggesting that executive salaries may be covered by a related entity or through other means not disclosed in the officer compensation section of the 990.
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 Council Of Independent Colleges's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation for an organization of this size, which may obscure actual executive remuneration methods.
- Significant fluctuations in annual revenue without clear explanations in the provided data.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Council Of Independent Colleges:
- Strong asset base, consistently exceeding liabilities (e.g., $88,292,444 assets vs. $28,885,713 liabilities in 2023).
- Long history of consistent IRS 990 filings (13 filings), indicating good compliance.
- Expenses generally track revenue, suggesting responsible financial management relative to income.
Frequently Asked Questions about Council Of Independent Colleges
Is Council Of Independent Colleges a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Council Of Independent Colleges (EIN: 16004776) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Council Of Independent Colleges spend its money?
Council Of Independent Colleges directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Council Of Independent Colleges tax-deductible?
Council Of Independent Colleges is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 16004776). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does the Council Of Independent Colleges fund its executive leadership if officer compensation is consistently reported as 0%?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests that executive salaries may be covered by a related entity, through a different compensation structure not categorized as 'officer compensation' on the 990, or that leadership serves in an uncompensated capacity. Further investigation into their operational structure would be needed to clarify this.
What is the primary source of the Council Of Independent Colleges' revenue fluctuations?
Revenue has shown significant fluctuations, for example, a jump from $14,057,152 in 2019 to $23,841,672 in 2018, and then back down to $12,399,028 in 2020. This volatility could be due to large grants, specific project funding cycles, or membership dues that vary year-to-year. Without detailed breakdowns of revenue sources, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact cause.
Is the Council Of Independent Colleges financially stable given its asset and liability trends?
The organization appears financially stable, with assets consistently far exceeding liabilities. For instance, in 2023, assets were $88,292,444 against liabilities of $28,885,713. This strong asset base provides a significant buffer and indicates good long-term financial health.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Council Of Independent Colleges showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Council Of Independent Colleges's revenue has declined by 65%, moving from $46.5M to $16.3M. Total assets increased by 64.1% over the same period, from $53.8M to $88.3M. Total functional expenses rose by 100.5%, from $8.5M to $17.1M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Council Of Independent Colleges reported a deficit of $793K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $28.9M in liabilities against $88.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 32.7%), resulting in net assets of $59.4M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $16.3M | $17.1M | $88.3M | $28.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $18.5M | $17.6M | $70.5M | $12.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $16.0M | $11.5M | $88.0M | $18.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $12.4M | $13.4M | $74.3M | $19.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $14.1M | $14.2M | $76.7M | $20.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $23.8M | $14.3M | $67.1M | $13.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $13.6M | $13.7M | $64.6M | $12.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $15.2M | $14.0M | $63.0M | $14.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $13.3M | $12.7M | $69.3M | $18.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $11.6M | $11.4M | $67.7M | $15.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $10.2M | $10.4M | $58.1M | $11.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $9.4M | $10.3M | $56.0M | $13.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $46.5M | $8.5M | $53.8M | $7.7M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $16.3M, expenses of $17.1M, and assets of $88.3M (revenue -11.9% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $18.5M, expenses of $17.6M, and assets of $70.5M (revenue +15.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $16.0M, expenses of $11.5M, and assets of $88.0M (revenue +29.2% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $12.4M, expenses of $13.4M, and assets of $74.3M (revenue -11.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $14.1M, expenses of $14.2M, and assets of $76.7M (revenue -41.0% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $23.8M, expenses of $14.3M, and assets of $67.1M (revenue +75.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $13.6M, expenses of $13.7M, and assets of $64.6M (revenue -10.8% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $15.2M, expenses of $14.0M, and assets of $63.0M (revenue +14.6% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $13.3M, expenses of $12.7M, and assets of $69.3M (revenue +14.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $11.6M, expenses of $11.4M, and assets of $67.7M (revenue +14.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $10.2M, expenses of $10.4M, and assets of $58.1M (revenue +8.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $9.4M, expenses of $10.3M, and assets of $56.0M (revenue -79.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $46.5M, expenses of $8.5M, and assets of $53.8M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Council Of Independent Colleges:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Council Of Independent Colleges 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.