American Council on Education

What it reported doing in 2024

Professional development programsace connect serves as ace's central hub for community strategy and engagement, building partnerships and fostering collaboration across the higher education ecosystem. Through signature networks, strategic convenings, and digital engagement tools, ace connect creates spaces for leaders to share expertise, strengthen relationships, and advance solutions to the sector's most pressing challenges.as the unit responsible for ace's major convenings, ace connect leads the planning and execution of the ace experience, ace's flagship event series with its annual meeting as the featured centerpiece of engagement. The ace experience convenes nearly 700 higher education leaders for dialogue on critical issues shaping the future of the sector and, beyond the annual meeting, features components such as ace on the hill, the university network summit as a partner conference, the ace women's network leadership conference, and the council of fellows gathering. All these combine to elevate the ace experience as a catalyst for collaboration, advocacy, and innovation.ace connect also manages three cornerstone communities: -the ace council of fellows (cof), representing alumni of the ace fellows program, a leadership development initiative with more than 2,000 graduates since 1965. The cof convenes fellows annually and provides ongoing opportunities for peer learning and engagement, including a special gathering during the ace experience 2026. -established in 1977 the ace women's network, a system of state-based networks reaching thousands of women and allies annually, dedicated to diversifying the leadership pipeline. The women's network leadership conferenceheld during the ace experiencerecently surpassed its registration goal, underscoring the continued demand for gender-focused leadership development. -the commission on faith-based colleges and universities, which convenes leaders from faith-based institutions to address shared challenges and opportunities. In 2025, the commission convened over 130 presidents and leaders. Its third annual meeting, scheduled for june 8, 2026, will introduce a new forum for general counsels to explore legal issues unique to faith-based campuses, strengthening institutional resilience and compliance strategies.to extend the reach of these efforts, ace connect leverages ace engage, ace's digital platform for virtual networking and learning. Through webinars, workshops, and a robust resource library, ace engage complements in-person convenings and publications such as the recent white paper, dual mission institutions: bridging traditional and workforce learning for regional impact, which generated significant engagement within weeks of release.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 81.8%; rating input score 82
• Program expense ratio: 62.8%; rating input score 63
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.86 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 82.8%; rating input score 83; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -20.6%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.26; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.24; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 11.8%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -3.3% per year; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -3.5% per year; rating input score 0; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 0% per year; rating input score 100; 10th percentile among comparable filings