2026-05-19T14:28:22-05:00 2025-09-30 521186096 RUBINO AND COMPANY CHARTERED 6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE SUITE 300 BETHESDA MD 208171818 990 2024-10-01 341986692 BUSINESS - HIGHER EDUCATION FORUM BUSI 2023671189 ONE DUPONT CIRCLE 360 WASHINGTON DC 20036 KRISTEN FOX CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 2023671189 2026-05-19 1 0 KAY VOLLANS CPA P01404047 3015643636 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z KRISTEN FOX ONE DUPONT CIRCLE 360 WASHINGTON DC 20036 2713551 0 X WWW.BHEF.COM X 2004 DC TO ADVANCE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO AMERICA'S EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE CHALLENGES AND DEVELOP A SKILLED AND RESILIENT WORKFORCE THAT DRIVES INNOVATION, FUELS ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS TO THRIVE IN MEANINGFUL CAREERS. 13 13 10 13 0 0 1097012 1469653 850043 1207894 22367 19204 0 16800 1969422 2713551 16000 10000 0 0 1627452 1594642 0 0 0 1072580 948722 2716032 2553364 -746610 160187 1614580 1611925 1361685 1193481 252895 418444 X THE BUSINESS-HIGHER EDUCATION FORUM IS A NATIONAL NETWORK THAT CONNECTS CORPORATE AND COLLEGE LEADERS TO IDENTIFY AND BUILD THE TALENT SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS PRIORITY TALENT NEEDS FOR EMPLOYERS AND THE AMERICAN ECONOMY. CORPORATE EXECUTIVES AND UNIVERSITY LEADERS JOIN BHEF TO ANTICIPATE SKILLS NEEDS AND IMPROVE PATHWAYS BETWEEN HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE. BHEF HELPS MEMBERS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS: IDENTIFY HIGH-VALUE EMERGING SKILLS, DEVELOP PATHWAYS THAT QUICKLY SOURCE HIGH-VALUE TALENT, AND LEAD ACTION-ORIENTED AND PARTNERSHIPS. OUR WORK FOCUSES ON THREE MAIN OUTCOMES:- ALIGN SKILLS AND CREDENTIALS: INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LEARNERS/ EARNERS COMPLETING WITH HIGH-VALUE SKILLS, CREDENTIALS ALIGNED TO EMPLOYER NEEDS AND TO EMPOWER A COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE- BUILD TALENT-READY MODELS: EXPAND ACCESS AND ADOPTION OF WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING MODELS THAT QUICKLY CONNECT AND PREPARE TALENT FOR EMERGING AND HIGH-DEMAND ROLES AND LAUNCH EARLY CAREER TALENT 0 0 771196 10000 ONE OF BHEF'S NATIONAL INITIATIVES, THE FUTUREREADY STATES INITIATIVE IS SUPPORTED BY LUMINA FOUNDATION, ECMC FOUNDATION, AND THE TRELLIS FOUNDATION. BHEF SUPPORTS THREE STATES IN ACTIVATING CROSS-SECTOR, ACTION-ORIENTED STATE TEAMS TO ADVANCE SHORT-TERM CREDENTIAL ATTAINMENT, STRENGTHEN EDUCATION ALIGNMENT WITH INDUSTRY NEEDS, AND EXPAND ACCESS TO HIGH-VALUE PATHWAYS THAT SUPPORT ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND STATE WORKFORCE COMPETITIVENESS. BHEF PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE TEAMS TO REVIEW AND ASSESS CURRENT POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND INVESTMENTS; SET CLEAR, DATA-INFORMED ATTAINMENT GOALS; AND DEVELOP STRATEGIC ACTION PLANS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND IMPACT OF SHORT-TERM CREDENTIALS. 541505 1207894 NETWORK MEMBERSHIP - BHEF INCURS EXPENSES RELATED TO THE BUSINESS OF DRIVING MEMBERSHIP NETWORK ACTIVITY, WHICH INVOLVES RECRUITMENT, ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNICATION, AND SERVICE DELIVERY. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL CONVENINGS, COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND PROGRAMMATIC INITIATIVES AND COMMUNICATION TO FOSTER PARTNERSHIP AND BUILD TALENT SOLUTIONS WITH OUR BUSINESS AND EDUCATION PARTNERS. 82986 ONE OF BHEF'S REGIONAL TALENT INITIATIVES, TECH TALENT ACCELERATOR IS FUNDED BY CONNECTICUT'S OFFICE OF WORKFORCE STRATEGY. LED BY BHEF WITH SUPPORT FROM THE NEW ENGLAND BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION (NEBHE), THIS PROGRAM STRENGTHENS BUSINESS HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS TO DEVELOP AND SCALE AI-FOCUSED EDUCATION AND TRAINING PATHWAYS ALIGNED WITH EMPLOYER NEEDS. BHEF OVERSEES GRANTS TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO EDUCATORS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE, AND EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO ENSURE PROGRAMS ARE INDUSTRY-VALIDATED, EXPAND AI-FOCUSED WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND CREATE PATHWAYS FOR CONNECTICUT'S INCUMBENT WORKERS AND STUDENTS TO ACCESS IN-DEMAND AI SKILLS AND CREDENTIALS. NUMBER 4: FUNDED BY THE TRELLIS FOUNDATION, THE WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE -TEXAS (WPI-TEXAS) BOOSTS EMPLOYERCOMMUNITY COLLEGE PARTNERSHIPS IN TEXAS TO CO-DEVELOP INDUSTRY-ALIGNED TALENT PATHWAYS IN HIGH-DEMAND FIELDS. IMPLEMENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE AND THE TEXAS BUSINESS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, WPITEXAS PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TOOLS TO STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY TO PARTNER WITH INDUSTRY, ADVANCE SHORT-TERM CREDENTIALS OF VALUE, EXPAND WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND SCALE PARTNERSHIP MODELS THAT IMPROVE ACCESS TO TALENT AND WORKFORCE OUTCOMES.NUMBER 5: FUNDED BY ELLUCIAN OUR REPORT GATHERS INTELLIGENCE FROM EMPLOYERS TO IDENTIFY THE EMERGING SKILLS AND PARTNERSHIP MODELS THAT ARE NEEDED TO DRIVE CLOSER ALIGNMENT ACROSS CURRICULUM AND TALENT PIPELINES. RELEASED IN THE FORM OF A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE REPORT, "FORGING PARTNERSHIPS TO ALIGN EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY FOR THE WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW," THIS RESOURCE SHARES DATA INSIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE EXAMPLES TO ENABLE HIGHER EDUCATION PATHWAYS TO BE DEVELOPED TO BETTER ALIGN TO INDUSTRY NEEDS. NUMBER 6: FUNDED BY THE ECMC FOUNDATION, BHEF'S FACULTY INNOVATION FELLOWSHIP PREPARES FACULTY AS CHANGE AGENTS TO ADVANCE EMPLOYER-ALIGNED EDUCATION AND TALENT PATHWAYS TO STUDENT SUCCESS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES COHORT-BASED TRAINING IN CHANGE MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP, AND EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT TO SUPPORT THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INDUSTRY-ALIGNED PROGRAMS. CAPSTONE PROJECTS FOCUS ON PROGRAM, COURSE, AND RESEARCH INNOVATIONS THAT STRENGTHEN ALIGNMENT WITH WORKFORCE NEEDS, BUILD INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY, AND IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES.NUMBER 7: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FROM THE STRADA EDUCATION FOUNDATION ENABLED BHEF TO STRENGTHEN ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY, EXPAND ITS NATIONAL NETWORK, AND ADVANCE WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING (WIL) INITIATIVES. THE FUNDING SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO HELP EMPLOYERS AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS SCALE HIGH-QUALITY WIL PROGRAMS, CONVENE CROSS-SECTOR LEADERS, AND INCREASE VISIBILITY AND ENGAGEMENT. THIS INVESTMENT STRENGTHENED BHEF'S ROLE AS AN INTERMEDIARY CONNECTING EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY AND EXPANDED ACCESS TO WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT IMPROVE WORKFORCE OUTCOMES.NUMBER 8: BHEF PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO COMPUTING FOR ALL UNDER THE WASHINGTON JOBS INITIATIVE TO ADVANCE PATHWAYS INTO HIGH-DEMAND TECHNOLOGY CAREERS. BHEF SUPPORTS STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS IT WORKFORCE NEEDS, ENGAGES EMPLOYERS TO DEFINE SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES FOR ROLES IMPACTED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND FACILITATES COORDINATION ACROSS EDUCATION, INDUSTRY, AND WORKFORCE PARTNERSNUMBER 9. BHEF WAS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE NATIONAL PATHWAYS INSTITUTE CONVENING. THIS EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER LEADERS FROM BUSINESS, EDUCATION, PHILANTHROPY AND GOVERNMENT TO CONVENE AND ADVANCE PROGRESS ON MATTERS CORE TO BHE'S MISSION: TRANSFORMING EDUCATION MODELS TO BETTER PREPARE ALL STUDENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN OUR RAPIDLY EVOLVING ECONOMY AND KEEPING PACE WITH MODERN WORKFORCE DEMANDS.CONFERENCES: BHEF CONDUCTS SEMI-ANNUAL CONVENINGS TO CATALYZE DIALOGUE AND ACTION BETWEEN ITS CORPORATE AND ACADEMIC NETWORK AND FOUNDATION AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS ON ISSUES RELATED TO BUSINESS TALENT NEEDS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND HIGHER EDUCATION INNOVATION TO MEET THESE NEEDS. POLICYMAKERS FROM STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS ARE OFTEN INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE DISCUSSIONS. ACADEMIC, BUSINESS, AND PHILANTHROPIC LEADERS AT THE CUTTING-EDGE OF TECHNOLOGIES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING PARTICIPATE. MANY GIVE PRESENTATIONS ON SUCCESSFUL LOCAL EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS THAT MAY BE APPLICABLE ON A BROADER REGIONAL OR NATIONAL SCALE. BHEF ALSO HOSTS VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON CONVENINGS ON AI, WORK-BASED LEARNING AND OTHER TOPICS AT THE INTERSECTION OF BUSINESS AND HIGHER EDUCATION. 1395687 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 0 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 13 13 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 X STACEY BROWN 2023671189 ONE DUPONT CIRCLE 360 WASHINGTON DC 20036 KRISTEN D FOX CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 40.00 X 305938 0 0 JENNIFER THORNTON SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT 40.00 X 216411 0 26230 STACEY BROWN CFO 40.00 X 184235 0 20966 FRANK AVERY SENIOR DIRECTOR 40.00 X 143702 0 18055 CANDACE WILLIAMS DIRECTOR REGIONAL INITIATIVES 40.00 X 130143 0 8823 SUZANNE AMOONARQUAH OPERATIONS DIRECTOR 40.00 X 109944 0 14058 STEPHANIE BLOCHINGER DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP / SECRETARY 40.00 X 109828 0 7674 LAURA K IPSEN CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 JEFFREY D ARMSTRONG VICE CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 TIMOTHY D SANDS PAST CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 JAE LYNN AKIN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOSEPH E AOUN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 TERRANCE CHENG BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN J DEGIOIA BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 LISA GEVELBER BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 EARL F MARTY MARTIN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 RYAN OAKES BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 CHRIS REBER BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 JAY A PERMAN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 MADELINE PUMARIEGA BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 1200201 0 95806 7 0 1 0 DEBORAH HODGE 800 4TH STREET SW WASHINGTON DC 20024 CONSULTANT 151755 1 1469653 1469653 MEMBERSHIP DUES 611710 1155394 1155394 FEE FOR SERVICES 611710 52500 52500 1207894 19204 19204 MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE 900099 16800 16800 16800 2713551 1207894 0 36004 X 10000 10000 621248 248499 372749 798699 443487 355212 41773 23586 18187 24077 15056 9021 108845 53524 55321 3641 3641 16500 16500 344090 213357 130733 119471 81944 37527 10880 4797 6083 142169 142169 94485 38779 55706 209809 137015 72794 7677 7677 OVERHEAD/G&A ALLOCATION 0 125643 -125643 2553364 1395687 1157677 0 172713 416353 56573 0 8853 144593 11517 27549 22074 22074 0 0 658003 431531 706921 591899 1614580 1611925 131702 138786 454979 395000 775004 659695 1361685 1193481 X -252113 -127227 505008 545671 252895 418444 1614580 1611925 160187 5362 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 940944 1567438 1245584 1097012 1469653 6320631 940944 1567438 1245584 1097012 1469653 6320631 2657883 3662748 17190 23180 19153 22367 19204 101094 6 16800 16806 6438531 5297095 0.56890 0.61780 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 22074 22074 0 0 OPERATING LEASE ROU ASSET 591899 591899 OPERATING LEASE LIABILITY 659695 659695 X 2718913 5362 5362 2713551 0 2713551 2553364 0 2553364 0 2553364 PART X, LINE 2: THE FORUM IS EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAXES ON ITS EXEMPT ACTIVITIES UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS OTHER THAN A PRIVATE FOUNDATION BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS). THE ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES ADDRESSES THE DETERMINATION OF WHETHER TAX BENEFITS CLAIMED OR EXPECTED TO BE CLAIMED ON A TAX RETURN SHOULD BE RECORDED IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. UNDER THAT GUIDANCE, THE FORUM MAY RECOGNIZE THE TAX BENEFIT FROM AN UNCERTAIN TAX POSITION ONLY IF IT IS MORE LIKELY THAN NOT THAT THE TAX POSITION WILL BE SUSTAINED ON EXAMINATION BY TAXING AUTHORITIES BASED ON THE TECHNICAL MERITS OF THE POSITION. EXAMPLES OF TAX POSITIONS INCLUDE THE TAX-EXEMPT STATUS OF THE FORUM AND VARIOUS POSITIONS RELATED TO POTENTIAL SOURCES OF UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME TAX (UBIT). THE TAX BENEFITS RECOGNIZED IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FROM SUCH A POSITION ARE MEASURED BASED ON THE LARGEST BENEFIT THAT HAS A GREATER THAN 50% LIKELIHOOD OF BEING REALIZED UPON ULTIMATE SETTLEMENT. THERE WERE NO UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS IDENTIFIED OR RECORDED AS LABILITIES FOR FISCAL YEARS 2025 AND 2024. THE FORUM'S POLICY WOULD BE TO RECOGNIZE INTEREST AND PENALTIES, IF ANY, ON TAX POSITIONS RELATED TO ITS UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS IN INCOME TAX EXPENSE IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. NO INTEREST AND PENALTIES WERE ASSESSED OR RECORDED DURING THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 AND 2024. GENERALLY, THE TAX YEARS BEFORE 2022 ARE NO LONGER SUBJECT TO EXAMINATION BY FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL TAXING AUTHORITIES. 0 TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATION INITIATIVE 1304 SAN ANTONIO STREET AUSTIN TX 78701 562358912 501(C)(3) 10000 0 SUBAWARD GRANT 1 0 1 X X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 KRISTEN D FOX CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 305938 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 305938 0 0 0 JENNIFER THORNTON SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT 216411 0 0 0 0 0 12985 0 13245 0 242641 0 0 0 STACEY BROWN CFO 184235 0 0 0 0 0 11054 0 9912 0 205201 0 0 0 FRANK AVERY SENIOR DIRECTOR 143702 0 0 0 0 0 8622 0 9433 0 161757 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 3 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES CEO COMPENSATION BASED A NUMBER OF FACTORS. INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT, COMPENSATION STUDIES, COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS AND AFTER ASSESSED MUST BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND IS INCORPORATED INTO A WRITTEN CONTRACT. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 1 -SCALE AND IMPLEMENT PROMISING NATIONAL PRACTICES IN LOCAL CONTEXTS VIA REGIONAL NETWORKS AND LEADERS FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 THE FORUM HAS MULTIPLE CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP WITH NO RESTRICTIONS ON THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS. MEMBERS CONSIST OF CORPORATE LEADERS SUCH AS CEOS OR OTHER APPROPRIATE SENIOR EXECUTIVES OF MAJOR AMERICAN BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS, PRESIDENTS AND CHANCELLORS OF RECOGNIZED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AS WELL AS OTHER APPROPRIATE SENIOR EXECUTIVES OF SEVERAL FOUNDATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS OF PRESIDENTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS. AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES ENABLE MISSION-ALIGNED NON-PROFIT, GOVERNMENTAL AND OTHER ENTITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BHEF NETWORK AS WELL. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A ALL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ARE ELECTED BY THE FORUM'S MEMBERSHIP. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7B ACTIONS MAY BE TAKEN BY MEMBERS OF THE FORUM AT A SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING, VIA TELECONFERENCE OR E-MAIL OR BY ANY OTHER MECHANISM THAT THE CHAIR MAY DESIGNATE; SUCH ACTIONS MAY BE APPROVED BY A VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF MEMBERS PRESENT OR PARTICIPATING. THE CHAIR SHALL GIVE MEMBERS REASONABLE NOTICE OF SUCH VOTES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B A COPY OF THE FORM 990 IS PRESENTED TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRIOR TO IT BEING FILED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C ALL EMPLOYEES AND BOARD MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN A COI AND UPDATE ANNUALLY. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES THE CEO'S SALARY USING AN EXTERNAL COMPENSATION CONSULTANT. THE BOARD MAINTAINS RECORDS OF CEO SALARY INCREASES AND BOARD APPROVALS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON WRITTEN REQUEST. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G CONSULTING/CONTRACTING: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 196,500. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 127,420. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 323,920. PROFESSIONAL FEES: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 16,857. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 3,313. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 20,170. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.