Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
|
Total |
||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | ||||||
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf.... | ||||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | ||||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | ||||||
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f).. | ||||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | ||||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | ||||||
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | ||||||
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | ||||||
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | ||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | ||||||
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | ||||||
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | ||||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | ||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | ||||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | ||||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | ||||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included in line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | ||||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | ||||||
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
||||
| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
||||
| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
|||||
| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 1-1/2% of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by .035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | ||
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
||
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | ||
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | ||
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required) | ||
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | ||
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | ||
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
||
| 9 Distributable amount for 2019 from Section C, line 6 | ||
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | ||
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2019 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2019 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2019 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2019 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI). See instructions. |
||||
| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2019: | ||||
| a From 2014....... | ||||
| b From 2015....... | ||||
| c From 2016....... | ||||
| d From 2017....... | ||||
| e From 2018....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2019 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2014 not applied (see instructions) |
||||
| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2019 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2019 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2019, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
||||
|
6
Remaining underdistributions for 2019. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
||||
|
7 Excess distributions carryover to 2020. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
||||
| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2015..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2016..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2017..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2018..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2019..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
|---|
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|
| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| PART I LINE 3: | THE COOPER UNION IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FREE FROM UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT AND TO FOSTERING A NURTURING AND VIBRANT SCHOOL FOUNDED UPON THE FUNDAMENTAL DIGNITY AND WORTH OF ALL ITS MEMBERS. CONSISTENT WITH THIS COMMITMENT AND WITH APPLICABLE LAWS, IT IS THE POLICY OF THE COOPER UNION NOT TO TOLERATE UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION OR HARASSMENT IN ANY FORM. PROCEDURES ARE PUBLISHED IN THE STAFF HANDBOOK AND ALSO AVAILABLE AT: HTTP://WWW.COOPER.EDU. |
| PART I LINE 6A: | BUNDY AID $41,569 |
| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Organization's Mission | 990 Part III, Line 1: Vision: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is dedicated to Peter Cooper's radical commitment to diversity and his founding vision that fair access to an inspiring free education and forums for courageous public discourse foster a just and thriving world. Mission: Our mission is to sustain the Cooper Union as a free center of learning and civic discourse that inspires inventive, creative, and influential voices in architecture, art, and engineering to address the critical challenges and opportunities of our time. |
| 990 PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B: | The form 990 is prepared and reviewed internally before being reviewed by the university's external audit firm's tax specialists (Grant Thornton). Subsequent to revisions, the Form 990 is provided first to the audit committee for review and approval and then to the full board prior to filing. The audit committee and full board receive the entire Form 990 except for Schedule B which is not provided to protect the confidentiality of donors. Should a committee or board member desire to see Schedule B they can request to do so. Gifts or donors appearing on Schedule B that are out of the ordinary are discussed in board/committee meetings as a matter of the university's gift acceptance policy. |
| 990 PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C: | THE COOPER UNION CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND PROCEDURES AS FOLLOWS: THE COOPER UNION PROHIBITS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, OFFICERS AND STAFF FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE GOVERNING BODY'S DELIBERATIONS AND DECISION-MAKING REGARDING TRANSACTIONS THAT MAY PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST UNDER THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. AN ANNUAL POLICY QUESTIONNAIRE IS SENT TO ALL TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS. ALL COMPLETED CONFLICT OF INTEREST QUESTIONNAIRES ARE RETURNED TO AND REVIEWED BY THE CORPORATE SECRETARY. A LIST OF ALL ACTUAL OR APPARENT CONFLICTS DISCLOSED ON THE QUESTIONNAIRES ARE THEN SUBMITTED TO THE CHAIR OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. ANY DISCLOSURES THAT THE AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIR DETERMINES ARE ACTUAL OR APPARENT CONFLICTS ARE REVIEWED BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AND, IF NECESSARY, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, DOCUMENTS, THROUGH MEETING MINUTES, ANY DECISIONS RELATED TO TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING AN ACTUAL OR POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAINTAINS A LIST OF CONFLICTS DISCLOSED BY TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, AND STAFF ANNUALLY. COOPER UNION CONDUCTS A PERIODIC REVIEW OF TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING SIGNIFICANT EXPENDITURES TO ENSURE ANY COMPENSATION PAID CONTINUES TO BE REASONABLE. |
| 990 PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 | THE BOARD COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOARD, FOLLOWS THE PROCEDURES REFERRED TO IN I.R.C. 4958 TO ESTABLISH A "REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION OF REASONABLENESS" WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPENSATION OF THE PRESIDENT. THE COMMITTEE REVIEWS COMPARABLE COMPENSATION DATA FROM INDUSTRY SURVEYS TO EVALUATE THE REASONABLENESS OF THE COMPENSATION AMOUNTS. THE RESULTS OF THIS PROCESS ARE RECORDED IN THE COMMITTEE'S MINUTES. ALL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PRESIDENT'S COMPENSATION ARE APPROVED BY THE BOARD. 990 PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19: THE COOPER UNION WILL MAKE ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST AT MANAGEMENT'S DISCRETION. |
| 990 PART XI, LINE 9 | OTHER CHANGES IN NET ASSETS OR FUND BALANCES: -$5,985,125 AMOUNT NOT YET RECOGNIZED AS A COMPONENT OF NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COST |
| 990 PART III, LINE 4A: | Instruction: (continued) The college admits undergraduates solely on merit and historically awarded full-tuition scholarships to all enrolled students. Following a provisional reduction in 2014 of scholarships to 50% of tuition due to fiscal reasons, the college is now executing a board-approved plan to resume its practice of awarding full-tuition scholarships to all enrolled students. The institution provides students close contact with a distinguished, creative faculty and fosters rigorous, humanistic learning that is enhanced by the process of design and augmented by the urban setting. Enrollment for the 2019-2020 academic year was 881 undergraduate students and 104 graduate students. |
| 990 PART VII, SECTION A, LINE 11 | Charlotte Wessell served as Manager of Alumni Communications for The Cooper Union until accepting the position of Secretary of the Board, effective March 2020. Accordingly, the 2019 compensation reported on Form 990 Part VII-A is related to her employment with The Cooper Union in the full-time position of Manager of Alumni Communications rather than to her service as Secretary of the Board. |
| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |