See part III, line 1.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
86¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 7 volunteers and 8 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $518K a year · 56% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
86%
of spending
Looks good: 86% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$246K
to officers and key staff · 34% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 34% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.3 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $905K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$7K
1% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 8 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$919K
-47% vs prior year
Spent
$716K
To programs
86%
Net assets
$487K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$919K
FY2025▼ -47%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$19K
FY2021$420K
FY2022$1.7M
FY2023$802K
FY2024$1.7M
FY2025$919K
Expenses
$716K
FY2025▼ -58%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.6M
FY2021$1.6M
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$1.7M
FY2024$1.7M
FY2025$716K
Net assets
$487K
FY2025▲ +72%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.0M
FY2021$861K
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$266K
FY2024$284K
FY2025$487K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending March 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Feb 2017.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

86 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 86% · $613K Management & general 8% · $55K Fundraising 7% · $48K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

9 people listed on the 990; $246K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Then Exec. Dir. (transition 6/1/24)
$148,732Pt VII · Sec A
Then Member (transition 5/31/24)
$97,687Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Tanya Ang - Managing Dir’s $149K as Then Exec. Dir. (transition 6/1/24) is at the 95th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1613 $100K–1M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 7 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Julie Peller—$231,971$243,328$225,537$223,607$214,241
Tanya Ang - Managing Dir$148,732—————
Amy Ellen Duke-Banfield—$147,546————
Tanya Ang—$133,732$144,117———
Emily Bouck———$133,414$130,913$130,553
Nia Davis————$107,116—
Julie Peller - Exec Dir$97,687—————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Higher Learning Advocates INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Advocates for policies supporting today's students through research, testimony, and educating policymakers.

Questions for Higher Learning Advocates INC

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $549K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Communications

Through media and public engagement, today's student coalition works to build support for reforming the nation's postsecondary education policies and elevate new perspectives through elevating a diverse set of voices.

$266Kprogram expense
02

Today's Students Coalition

To educate the public about the importance of increased postsecondary attainment and a postsecondary system that is learner-centered, supports all learners, including those historically underserved, outcomes-based, and quality driven and the need to increase access to, and affordability of, postsecondary education.

$184Kprogram expense
03

Policy and Advocacy

Today's student coalition conducts rigorous policy analysis, provides expert testimony, and educates policymakers on key issues related to its mission.

$99Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Ecmc FoundationFY2024$650K
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$905K
See all 4 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$919K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$876K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$28K
Other incomeLn 4–11$8K
Money outPt IX
$716K
Ln 25
Programscol B$613K
Managementcol C$55K
Fundraisingcol D$48K
Owns and owesPt X
$487K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$76K
Total assetsLn 16$495K
LiabilitiesLn 26$7K
PeoplePt VI, VII
9
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$876K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$28K
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Other incomeLn 4–11$8K
Total revenueLn 12$919K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$7K
SavingsLn 2$69K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$76K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$10K
Total assetsLn 16$495K
LiabilitiesLn 26$7K
Net assetsLn 32$487K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 58
VolunteersI 67
Fiscal year endsHeaderMarch
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$287K$76K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$19K$10K
Total assetsLn 16$327K$495K
LiabilitiesLn 26$43K$7K
Net assetsLn 32$284K$487K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$203K$134K$37K$32K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$175K$169K$4K$3K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$3K$3K$297$259
Other employee benefitsLn 9$45K$45K$250$91
Payroll taxesLn 10$29K$23K$3K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$67K$57K$5K$5K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$32K$32K
Office expensesLn 13$7K$6K$232$110
Information technologyLn 14$31K$28K$2K$2K
TravelLn 17$6K$6K$134$63
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$37K$37K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$10K$9K$787$686
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$70K$64K$4K$3K
Total functional expensesLn 25$716K$613K$55K$48K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $919K$716K$203K$487K 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.7M$1.7M$17K$284K 990 PDF
FY2023 $802K$1.7M−$922K$266K 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.7M$1.3M$327K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $420K$1.6M−$1.2M$861K 990 PDF
FY2020 $19K$1.6M−$1.5M$2.0M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $919,245 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,673,256$876,446
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $44,500$28,000
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $679$7,267
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$7,532
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,718,435$919,245
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,032,113$455,214
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $669,669$260,731
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,701,782$715,945
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $16,653$203,300
Part VI · Governance 8 of 8 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members8
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $919,245 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$1,053
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$875,393
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$876,446
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $28,000$28,000
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $7,267$7,267
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $7,532$7,532
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $28,000 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $14,799$919,245
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $715,945 across 13 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $133,935 · Management $36,528 · Fundraising $32,469$202,932
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $169,056 · Management $3,530 · Fundraising $2,673$175,259
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $2,561 · Management $297 · Fundraising $259$3,117
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $45,034 · Management $250 · Fundraising $91$45,375
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $23,443 · Management $2,715 · Fundraising $2,373$28,531
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $57,171 · Management $5,271 · Fundraising $4,596$67,038
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $32,399$32,399
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $6,290 · Management $232 · Fundraising $110$6,632
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $27,626 · Management $1,907 · Fundraising $1,663$31,196
IX-17 TravelPrograms $5,528 · Management $134 · Fundraising $63$5,725
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $37,480$37,480
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $8,535 · Management $787 · Fundraising $686$10,008
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $63,576 · Management $3,567 · Fundraising $3,110$70,253
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $612,634 · Management $55,218 · Fundraising $48,093$715,945
Part X · Balance sheet $494,563 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearing$6,565
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $286,558$69,243
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$384,950
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $19,006$20,721
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $18,560$10,394
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $2,690$2,690
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $326,814$494,563
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $42,710$7,159
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $42,710$7,159
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year −$300,000−$230,852
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $584,104$718,256
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $284,104$487,404
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $326,814$494,563
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $487,404 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$919,245
XI-2 Total expenses$715,945
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$203,300
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$284,104
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$487,404

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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