Common Application Inc
84% goes to programs Strong reserves Growing revenue
Common Application Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Arlington, Virginia, registered in 2002, with $65,847,203 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it C, and it directs about 84% of spending to programs.
3003 Washington Blvd Ste 1000, Arlington, VA, 22201 EIN 91-2170737 Since 2002
Revenue (FY2024)
$65.8M
▲ 7.4% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2024)
$53.1M
Net assets
$84.6M
Employees
196
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
C
★★★★
Rated on 4 of 4 criteria.
Held down by its weakest criterion — a strong score on one criterion can't hide a weak one.
How the rating works →FProgram efficiency40% of the rating84% to programs
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Common Application Inc: 84% to programs earns a F on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating19 mo reserves · +19% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Common Application Inc: 19 mo reserves · +19% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Common Application Inc: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Common Application Inc: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
The common application promotes access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process.
What they do
Initiated a national free application for federal student aid (fafsa)campaign to improve college affordability and enrollment.
Started a pilot program to increase the awareness of scholarships available through scholar snapp.
Contact & location
- Address
- 3003 Washington Blvd Ste 1000, Arlington, VA, 22201
- City
- Arlington
- State
- Virginia
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Educational Services
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $14.9M (FY2013) to $65.8M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $14.6MNet assets $84.6M
Operating margin
19.4%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$99.2M
Total liabilities
$14.6M
Net assets
$84.6M
Salaries & benefits
$30.9M
58% of expenses
Board members
17
17 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $65,847,203▲7.4% | $53,059,962▲10.8% | $84,578,871▲18.6% | $99,213,303▲17.7% | 990 |
| 2023 | $61,324,166▲13.4% | $47,895,550▲11.4% | $71,319,265▲26.2% | $84,273,954▲28.1% | 990 |
| 2022 | $54,059,175▲3.3% | $42,997,205▲12.9% | $56,531,213▲25.5% | $65,791,208▲24.2% | 990 |
| 2021 | $52,316,500▲17.4% | $38,091,653▲7.9% | $45,043,266▲42.5% | $52,971,416▲28.1% | 990 |
| 2020 | $44,580,320▲20.2% | $35,314,479▲10.8% | $31,615,967▲44.6% | $41,352,160▲33.6% | 990 |
| 2019 | $37,078,079▲28.3% | $31,862,050▲14.6% | $21,869,869▲31.5% | $30,953,197▲19.3% | 990 |
| 2018 | $28,896,462▲20.8% | $27,795,527▲34.7% | $16,631,160▲7.7% | $25,937,661▲4.3% | 990 |
| 2017 | $23,917,010▲18.2% | $20,633,683▲11.5% | $15,448,936▲27.8% | $24,874,488▲9.0% | 990 |
| 2016 | $20,236,041▲8.7% | $18,499,480▼6.6% | $12,089,448▲18.9% | $22,820,128▲0.8% | 990 |
| 2015 | $18,608,082▲10.6% | $19,816,543▼10.3% | $10,171,379▼12.5% | $22,631,446▼9.6% | 990 |
| 2014 | $16,826,502▲12.8% | $22,087,687▲24.9% | $11,618,936▼31.8% | $25,035,277▼10.0% | 990 |
| 2013 | $14,918,883 | $17,679,699▲64.7% | $17,026,520▼13.4% | $27,824,820▲24.8% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $10,734,193▲18.3% | $19,658,627▲24.9% | $22,287,217▲13.3% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $9,072,559▲18.6% | $15,738,935▲34.0% | $19,671,333▲47.5% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $7,650,012▲27.6% | $11,743,989▲49.6% | $13,335,110▲48.7% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $5,993,561 | $7,852,033 | $8,966,741 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Jenny Rickard — $810,169 (1.53% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jenny Rickard | Ceo | 40 | $810,169 |
| Marc Saitta | Treasurer (to 04/25) & President | 40 | $528,002 |
| Ileana Rodriguez | Senior Vp Constituent Engagement | 40 | $402,907 |
| Bettina Donohue | Senior Vp Product Strategy | 40 | $398,561 |
| Swathi Gabbita | Senior Vp Technology Services | 40 | $394,317 |
| Kathleen King | Sr Vp Finance & Ops, Treasurer 04/25 | 40 | $369,543 |
| Stephanie Sample | Board Secretary and Senior Vp Communications and M | 40 | $348,470 |
| Mark Freeman | Vp Data Analytics and Research | 40 | $312,048 |
| Mary Ann Hill | Vp Marketing and Branding | 40 | $304,593 |
| Stephanie Owens | Vp Student Success | 40 | $258,107 |
| Georgina Crawley | Vp General Counsel | 40 | $257,641 |
| Rebecca Riebling | Vp People Ops | 40 | $252,944 |
| Christopher Wright | Former Vp Member Impact Thru 3/15/24 | 40 | $217,883 |
| Adele Brumfield | Director | 2 | — |
| Adrienne Oddi | Director | 2 | — |
| Anna Takahashi | Director | 2 | — |
| Carolyn Blair | Director | 2 | — |
| Dale Bittinger | Director | 2 | — |
| Des Potier | Director | 2 | — |
| Jeff Gates | Director | 2 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Web Services | Web Hosting | $1,061,382 |
| Liaison International | Software Development Services | $1,040,902 |
| 3pillar Global Inc | Contractor Services | $822,177 |
| Bognet Construction Associates Inc | Renovation General Contractor | $642,933 |
| The Bridgespan Group | Consulting Services | $570,743 |
Grants received · $3.8M total
7 grants to Common Application Inc totaling $3.8M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Non-profit Management Foundation | Technology | 2021 | $500,000 |
| Blue Meridian Partners Inc | To support education investments | 2020 | $2,700,000 |
| Ecmc Foundation | College success | 2020 | $500,000 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2020 | $9,031 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2020 | $9,031 |
| College Board | College guidance | 2019 | $50,000 |
| California Community Foundation | Education | 2018 | $10,000 |
Grants made · $35K in FY2023
1 grant totaling $35K in FY2023. All grants made by Common Application Inc →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| President and Fellows of Harvard College | To support common app's student context inventory pilot year 2. | $34,697 |
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Compare Common Application Inc
Frequently asked questions
- Is Common Application Inc a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Common Application Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 91-2170737, based in Arlington, Virginia. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Common Application Inc's EIN?
- Common Application Inc's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 91-2170737.
- How much revenue does Common Application Inc report?
- Common Application Inc reported $65,847,203 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Common Application Inc's spending goes to programs?
- Common Application Inc spends about 84% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Common Application Inc have?
- CharityIndex grades Common Application Inc C, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Common Application Inc's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Common Application Inc's latest Form 990 is $810,169, paid to Jenny Rickard (Ceo).
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Data for Common Application Inc (EIN 91-2170737) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.