Universities Research Association Inc
Universities Research Association, Inc. (URA) is a Washington, DC-based public charity and a consortium of more than 90 research-oriented universities. Founded in 1965, it works to establish and operate research facilities in the national interest and supports research, development, education, and STEM workforce development in connection with national laboratories and university partnerships.
Universities Research Association Inc at a glance
In short: Universities Research Association Inc gave $361K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), top state Texas. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $361,358
- +10.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,208
- +10.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,176
- Total assets
- $22,971,541
- +9.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (5 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (18% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Universities Research Association Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 1140 19Th Street Nw 900, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 293-1382
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Universities Research Association Inc
Who Universities Research Association Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Mississippi ($39K). Together the top 10 received $263K.
Grant Size Distribution
89 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 89 grants of 89 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
URA is based in Washington, DC. Its 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares of grant dollars went to Texas (18%), Mississippi (11%), Illinois (11%), New Jersey (9%), and New York (7%). These figures describe the distribution of 2025 grant dollars and do not establish a stated geographic preference.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Universities Research Association Inc open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 21 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $17K first-time, $14K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $200K (2021) to $361K (2025). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $361K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Mississippi University, MS | Research | $39,243 |
| University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX | Research | $31,000 |
| Rutgers State Univ of New Jersey Piscataway, NJ | Research | $30,910 |
| University of Illinois Chicago, IL | Research | $28,514 |
| University of Houston Houston, TX | Research | $27,585 |
| Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY | Research | $25,944 |
| University of Kentucky Lexington, KY | Research | $22,952 |
| University of Oregon Eugene, OR | Research | $20,000 |
| Regents of University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN | Research | $19,870 |
| College of William & Mary Williamsburg, VA | Research | $16,821 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 filing reported 21 grants; the 2024 filing reported 21, and the 2023 filing reported 17.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $22,971,541 | $6,846,655 | $6,224,561 | $361,358 | 21 | $1,313,100 |
| 2024 | $21,005,395 | $5,131,159 | $7,370,158 | $328,081 | 21 | $522,103 |
| 2023 | $20,400,511 | $5,770,537 | $6,296,625 | $322,069 | 17 | $679,371 |
| 2022 | $18,569,709 | $6,414,512 | $4,375,289 | $289,909 | 17 | $736,701 |
| 2021 | $19,819,998 | $5,982,811 | $3,917,725 | $200,468 | 13 | $632,887 |
| 2020 | $16,112,676 | $5,868,471 | $3,763,067 | $298,135 | 19 | $293,083 |
| 2019 | $13,944,288 | $5,758,133 | $3,390,746 | $355,246 | 21 | $270,034 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
URA’s stated mission is to establish and operate laboratories and facilities for research, development, and education in the physical and biological sciences, expanding knowledge, fostering innovation, and educating future generations of scientists. Its website also describes a commitment to STEM workforce development and to more inclusive research ecosystems.
URA’s institutional grants in 2025 were designated for research. Examples of supported organizations include the University of Mississippi, whose grant purpose was listed as research, and the University of Texas at Arlington, likewise listed for research. Other 2025 recipients included the University of Tennessee, which describes its mission as promoting and aiding scientific, social, and educational investigation and research by assisting technology marketing; Illinois Institute of Technology, which describes its mission as providing distinctive and relevant education amid scientific, technological, and professional knowledge creation and innovation; and the University of Cincinnati, whose stated mission concerns serving patients, visitors, and staff of University Hospital of Cincinnati.
Grantmaking
URA reported 21 grants totaling $361,358 in 2025. Grants ranged from $5,059 to $39,243, with a median of $15,176. The largest awards included $39,243 to the University of Mississippi, $31,000 to the University of Texas at Arlington, $30,910 to Rutgers State University of New Jersey, $28,514 to the University of Illinois, and $27,585 to the University of Houston. Each was listed for research.
URA’s Visiting Scholars Program provides competitive awards to faculty and graduate students from member universities to conduct research at Fermilab. The program’s website describes applications as being accepted in fall and spring, with proposals evaluated for scientific merit and cost-effectiveness. The website also describes a URA-Sandia Graduate Student Summer Fellowship administered through ORISE; its stated application deadline for summer 2025 was December 1, 2024, a past cycle.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Timothy D. Sands as chair of the board of trustees and William H. Joyce as vice chair. Listed board members were Barry Barish, Neeli Bendapudi, Gregory L. Fenves, Lisa Freeman, Rex Geveden, Jonathan Holloway, David Leebron, and Harris Pastides.
Universities Research Association Inc is led by John C. Mester, President & CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2022); 10 of 23 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John C. Mester
President & CEO
President → President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2022
38 hrs/week
$131K (2022) → $555K (2025)
Timothy D. Sands
Chair & Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees Member → Chair & Board of Trustees, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Schultz
Director & Usso
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$252K (2022) → $340K (2025)
Claudette Rosado-Reyes
Director, Programs & Partnerships
Director for Programs & Partnerships → Director, Programs & Partnerships, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$160K (2024) → $168K (2025)
Cindy Achat-Mendes
Director & Stem Initiatives
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$160K (2025)
Mary H. Egger
Chief Counsel
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$139K (2019) → $354K (2025)
Davetta M. Trujillo
Business, Finance Manager & Usso
Usso Business & Finance → Usso Business & Finance Manager, 2023
Usso Business & Finance Manager → Business, Finance Manager & Usso, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$105K (2020) → $136K (2025)
Ted M. Wackler
Vice President & Secretary
Deputy Executive Director → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → Vice President & Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
39 hrs/week
$268K (2020) → $379K (2025)
Navneet Kaur
CFO & Treasurer
CFO & Treasurer - Current → CFO & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$59K (2023) → $265K (2025)
Lourdes Garcia-Ruiz
Senior Program Associate
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$113K (2025)
Tigi Gebeyehu
Senior Finance & Operations Analyst
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$159K (2025)
Gregory L. Fenves
Board of Trustees Member
Board Trustee → Board of Trustees Member, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harris Pastides
Board of Trustees Member
Board Trustee → Board of Trustees Member, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William H. Joyce
Vice Chair & Board of Trustees
Vice Chair → Vice Chair & Board of Trustees, 2020
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barry Barish
Board of Trustees Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Leebron
Board of Trustees Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Holloway
Board of Trustees Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa C. Freeman
Board of Trustees Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert C. Robbins
Board of Trustees Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Garnett S. Stokes
Board of Trustees Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rex D. Geveden
Board of Trustees Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John T. Lucas
General Counsel
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Neeli Bendapudi
Board of Trustees Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Gene Block (2019–2024) — Board of Trustees Member
- Former: Mary Sue Coleman (2021–2024) — Board of Trustees Member
- Former: Tigist Gebeyehu (2022–2024) — Senior Finance & Operations Analyst
- Former: Lourdes Ruiz Garcia (2024) — Senior Program Associate
- Former: Martha Rubenstein (2019–2023) — CFO & Treasurer - Past
- Former: Norman R. Augustine (2019–2023) — Board of Trustees Member
- Former: Eric Barron (2019–2022) — Executive Chair & Board of Trustees
- Former: Marta Cehelsky (2019–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Joe B. Wyatt (2019–2021) — Board of Trustees Member
- Former: Mark Schlissel (2019–2021) — Board of Trustees Member
- Former: Richard J. Swift (2019–2021) — Board of Trustees Member
- Former: Ian Anderson (2020–2021) — Director & Usso
- Former: Anthony Frank (2019–2020) — Board of Trustees Member
- Former: Daniel B. Pondeman (2019–2020) — Board of Trustees Member
- Former: Nance Dicciani (2019–2020) — Board of Trustees Member
- Former: Lou Anna Simon (2019) — Board Trustee
- Former: Pete Salovey (2019) — Board Trustee
- Former: Robert Skaggs (2019) — Board Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $555K, to John C Mester (President & CEO). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Universities Research Association Inc
How much does Universities Research Association Inc give each year?
Universities Research Association Inc gave $361K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $328K across 21 grants.
What is Universities Research Association Inc's typical grant size?
Universities Research Association Inc's median grant in 2025 was $15,176, and its average grant was $17,208, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Universities Research Association Inc that year got $16K on average.
Where does Universities Research Association Inc give grants?
Universities Research Association Inc's top state is Texas, with 18% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Mississippi (11%) and Illinois (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does Universities Research Association Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Universities Research Association Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research" (21 grants).
Who are Universities Research Association Inc's largest grantees?
Universities Research Association Inc's largest 2025 grantees include University of Mississippi ($39,243), University of Texas at Arlington ($31,000) and Rutgers State Univ of New Jersey ($30,910), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Universities Research Association Inc?
Universities Research Association Inc reported $23.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.8M.
What does Universities Research Association Inc fund?
URA’s stated mission is to establish and operate laboratories and facilities for research, development, and education in the physical and biological sciences, expanding knowledge, fostering innovation, and educating future generations of scientists. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Universities Research Association Inc?
Universities Research Association Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Universities Research Association Inc's EIN?
Universities Research Association Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-0816670. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 6, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 15, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Universities Research Association Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 29, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/universities-research-association-inc-morg_027c59f7e82e49539e7abdd61af1b15c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_520816670_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Universities Research Association Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/universities-research-association-inc-morg_027c59f7e82e49539e7abdd61af1b15c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-29. 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 Universities Research Association Inc'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.
Universities Research Association Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?