Council of Graduate Schools
The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) is a public charity based in Washington, DC. It advances graduate education and research through grant-funded initiatives, research, advocacy, professional development, member services, and opportunities for graduate education leaders to exchange ideas.
Council of Graduate Schools at a glance
In short: Council of Graduate Schools gave $310K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), top state Florida. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $310,000
- +93.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- -10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $17,222
- +115.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,000
- Total assets
- $18,134,283
- +6.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Florida (19% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Council of Graduate Schools
- Contact
Mailing address: One Dupont Circle Nw 230, Washington, DC 20036-1146
Phone: (202) 223-3791
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Council of Graduate Schools funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Regents of the University of Minnesota ($37K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $261K.
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 73 grants of 73 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant recipients were located in multiple states. The largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Florida (19%), Minnesota (12%), California (12%), Oklahoma (10%), and Illinois (10%). The 2025 RFP invited U.S.-based member institutions to apply for that project.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Council of Graduate Schools gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $60K (2020) to $310K (2024). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $310K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City, OK | GED Subawards | $30,000 |
| Regents of the University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN | GED Subawards | $30,000 |
| Univ Central Florida Board Trustees Orlando, FL | GED Subawards | $30,000 |
| Univ Illinois Urban-Champaign Urbana, IL | GED Subawards | $30,000 |
| Univ Nevada Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV | GED Subawards | $30,000 |
| Univ of California Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | GED Subawards | $30,000 |
| Univ of California-San Diego Orlando, FL | GED Subawards | $30,000 |
| University at Albany-SUNY Albany, NY | GED Subawards | $30,000 |
| California State University Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA | Masters Subawards | $7,000 |
| Georgia State University Research Foundation Atlanta, GA | Masters Subawards | $7,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 filing says that only the Art Award fund qualifies as a true endowment; other funds previously reported as endowments were reclassified as purpose-restricted funds. It states that the correction did not affect total net assets.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $18,134,283 | $8,111,862 | $8,184,288 | $310,000 | 18 | $835,000 |
| 2023 | $17,062,660 | $5,756,217 | $6,417,151 | $160,000 | 20 | $263,567 |
| 2022 | $17,335,775 | $6,749,858 | $5,511,331 | $300,000 | 20 | $296,899 |
| 2021 | $16,106,067 | $5,111,442 | $4,408,998 | $215,000 | 11 | $703,057 |
| 2020 | $15,477,083 | $4,356,151 | $4,317,549 | $60,000 | 4 | $370,095 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CGS states that it is dedicated to improving and advancing graduate education. Its strategic priorities describe a mission to advance graduate education and research in the U.S. and globally through policy advocacy, research, and developing and sharing best practices.
The organization’s filing says its grants support initiatives involving graduate student success, financial education, international experiences, diversity and inclusion, and the workforce impact of graduate education. In 2024, listed grantees included universities and related organizations. For example, Hood College describes its own mission as integrating liberal arts and professions to prepare students to meet personal, professional, and global challenges. CSU Bakersfield Auxiliary for Sponsored Programs Administration says it assists faculty and staff in securing external support for research and service projects and administering awards.
Grantmaking
CGS reported 18 grants totaling $310,000 in filing year 2024. Grant amounts ranged from $7,000 to $30,000, with a median of $7,000. The largest listed awards were $30,000 each, with the purpose identified as “GED Subawards,” to Oklahoma State University, the Regents of the University of Minnesota, the University of Central Florida Board of Trustees, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Nevada Las Vegas, the University of California Los Angeles, the University of California-San Diego, and the University at Albany-SUNY. The filing also lists $7,000 “Masters Subawards” to California State University Bakersfield, Georgia State University Research Foundation, and Hood College.
A 2025 CGS request for proposals invited U.S.-based member institutions to participate in a multi-institutional project on inclusive graduate research environments. The proposal deadline was July 1, 2025, and is past. The RFP described data collection using surveys, focus groups, and a program inventory, and required participating institutions to designate the graduate dean or equivalent as project director, communicate the project on campus, and secure required local IRB documentation or approval and administrative agreements. It stated that subawardees would submit data to CGS.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Susan Carvalho as chair, Chevelle Newsome as chair-elect, and Mary Farmer-Kaiser as past chair. It also lists Lisa Boehm, Jeni Hart, Chris Nelson, Michael Solomom, and affiliate board member Joshua Barker. Suzanne T Ortega is listed as president, and Keith I Peregonov as vice president of finance, HR and operations.
Council of Graduate Schools is led by Suzanne T Ortega, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 8 of 16 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Suzanne T Ortega
President
President → President & CEO, 2022
President & CEO → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$478K (2020) → $580K (2024)
Susan Carvalho
Chair
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Shank
Director, Meetings & Member Services
Senior Director & Meetings → Director, Meetings & Member Services, 2021
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$115K (2020) → $134K (2024)
Janice Goggins
Director, Member Engagement, Recruitment & Retention
On filings since 2021
35 hrs/week
$116K (2021) → $135K (2024)
Julia Kent
Vice President, Best Practices & Strategic Initiatives
Vice President, Best Practices & Strategic Initatives → Vice President, Best Practices & Strategic Initiatives, 2024
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$160K (2020) → $197K (2024)
Keith I Peregonov
Vice President Finance, Hr & Operations
Vice President for Finance, Human Resources & Operations → Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, 2023
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer → Vice President Finance, Hr & Operations, 2024
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$234K (2020) → $273K (2024)
Adrienne Vincent
Assistant Vice President for Membership & Alliances
On filings since 2022
35 hrs/week
$122K (2022) → $148K (2024)
Amy Scott
Associate Vice President, Gov't Relations & Public Policy
Associate Vice President, Gov't Relations & Public Policy → Associate Vice President & Gov't Relations, 2023
Associate Vice President & Gov't Relations → Associate Vice President, Gov't Relations & Public Policy, 2024
On filings since 2022
35 hrs/week
$187K (2022) → $200K (2024)
Anna Naranjo
Executive Assistant
New on the 2024 filing
35 hrs/week
$131K (2024)
Jeni Hart
Board Member
Board of Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chevelle Newsome
Chair-Elect
Board of Director → Chair-Elect, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Farmer-Kaiser
Past Chair
Board of Director → Past Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Nelson
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Barker
Affiliate Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Boehm
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Solomom
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (24)
- Former: Graham Hammill (2020–2023) — Chair
- Former: April Boulton (2021–2023) — Board of Director
- Former: Michael Cunningham (2021–2023) — Chair Elect
- Former: Daniel Kleinman (2023) — Board of Director
- Former: Gary Amstrong (2023) — Controller
- Former: James Soto Antony (2023) — Board of Director
- Former: Michael JSolomon (2023) — Board of Director
- Former: Andrew Campbell (2020–2022) — Board of Director
- Former: Julie Coonrod (2020–2022) — Chair
- Former: Suzanne Barbour (2020–2022) — Board of Director
- Former: H. Dele Davies (2021–2022) — Board of Director
- Former: Sheryl Tucker (2021–2022) — Board of Director
- Former: Cari Moorhead (2022) — Board of Director
- Former: Peggy Wu (2020–2021) — Senior Comptroller & Manager of Grants Financial Reporting
- Former: Thomas Jeitschko (2020–2021) — Board of Director
- Former: James Marshall (2021) — Board of Director
- Former: Julio Marcelino (2021) — Director of It Systems Improvement Project
- Former: Dele H Davies (2020) — Board of Director
- Former: Elizabeth Watkins (2020) — Board of Director
- Former: Hironao Okahana (2020) — Vice President of Research & Knowledge Development
- Former: Joanne Romagni (2020) — Board of Director
- Former: Lauren Inouye (2020) — Vice President, Public Policy & Government Affairs
- Former: Sarah Pratt (2020) — Chair
- Former: William Tate (2020) — Board of Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $580K, to Suzanne T Ortega (President). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Council of Graduate Schools
How much does Council of Graduate Schools give each year?
Council of Graduate Schools gave $310K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $160K across 20 grants.
What is Council of Graduate Schools's typical grant size?
Council of Graduate Schools's median grant in 2024 was $7,000, and its average grant was $17,222, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Council of Graduate Schools give grants?
Council of Graduate Schools's top state is Florida, with 19% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Minnesota (12%) and California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Orlando, FL (2 grants) and Minneapolis, MN (2 grants).
Does Council of Graduate Schools give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Council of Graduate Schools's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Masters Subawards" (10 grants) and "GED Subawards" (8 grants).
Who are Council of Graduate Schools's largest grantees?
Council of Graduate Schools's largest 2024 grantees include Regents of the University of Minnesota ($37,000 across 2 grants), Oklahoma State University ($30,000) and Univ Central Florida Board Trustees ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Council of Graduate Schools?
Council of Graduate Schools reported $18.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.1M.
What does Council of Graduate Schools fund?
CGS states that it is dedicated to improving and advancing graduate education. Its strategic priorities describe a mission to advance graduate education and research in the U.S. and globally through policy advocacy, research, and developing and sharing best practices. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Council of Graduate Schools?
Council of Graduate Schools has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Council of Graduate Schools's EIN?
Council of Graduate Schools's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2175852. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Council of Graduate Schools's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Council of Graduate Schools funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/council-of-graduate-schools-morg_6c28a65ee08b429bbaa5af6966423222
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_522175852_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Council of Graduate Schools funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/council-of-graduate-schools-morg_6c28a65ee08b429bbaa5af6966423222},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Council of Graduate Schools's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Council of Graduate Schools down — hundreds of funders to go?