named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Advocacy Day
Organizes annual advocacy events at the state capitol where students and institutional leaders lobby for student aid and supportive higher education policies
Campus Profiles Dashboard
Online resource providing detailed information about each of the 100+ member institutions
Data and Research Reports
Produces research on higher education economics, student outcomes, workforce impact, and policy issues affecting independent institutions in New York State
Economic Impact Dashboard
Interactive data visualization tool showing the economic contributions of independent colleges by region across New York State
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Professional Association Capacity Building 1 activity
- Capacity building for member institutions and leadershipSupports member colleges through forums, affinity group meetings, and partnerships with organizations like Google to enhance institutional operations, governance, and access to emerging technologies such as AI.
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Economic and Financial Research 1 activity
- Research and data analysis on higher education impactConducts and publishes research on the economic impact of independent colleges, including job creation, payroll, research spending, patent activity, and technology transfer, to inform policymakers and support advocacy efforts.
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Education Policy Advocacy & Reform 1 activity
- State and federal advocacy for higher education policyEngages in advocacy at the state and federal levels to influence higher education policy, student aid programs, and budget decisions, including organizing Student Aid Advocacy Day events and delivering testimony before legislative committees.
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Admissions and Enrollment Support Services 1 activity
- Student and family support services for college accessProvides resources and guidance to prospective students and families on financial aid, college application procedures, and FAFSA completion, supporting access to independent colleges in New York.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.60M
Contributions & grants$113K4%
Program service revenue$2.21M85%
Investment income$206K8%
Other revenue$75K
expenses
Total expenses$2.47M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.94M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$9.62M
Cash$1.65M
Investments$5.57M
Liabilities$2.56M
Net assets$7.06M
Liquid reserves35.1 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -0.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 5
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOLA BRABHAM | PRESIDENT | 36 | $375K |
| EDICECIL SAMANIEGO | CFO | 38 | $187K |
| KEITH CUSHING | VP RESEARCH/ADMIN | 38 | $185K |
| CLAIRE MILLER | VP STRATEGIC DEV/CHIEF OF STAFF | 38 | $158K |
| THOMAS SCHNURR | DIRECTOR OF GOV AFFAIRS | 36 | $136K |
board members · 20
- ANTHONY CROWELL — TRUSTEE
- BASSAM DEEB — TRUSTEE (TO MARCH)
- CHARLES GIBBS — SECRETARY (FROM MARCH)
- CHARLES SEIFERT — CHAIR
- CINNAMON CARLARNE — TRUSTEE
- DAVID HARRIS — VICE-CHAIR (TO MARCH)
- ELIZABETH PAUL — TRUSTEE (TO MARCH)
- FRANCES BRONET — TRUSTEE (TO MARCH)
- HANK FOLEY — TRUSTEE (TO MARCH)
- JAMES LENTINI — VICE-CHAIR
- KENNETH DALY — TRUSTEE
- KIMBERLY CLINE — TRUSTEE
- LA JERNE TERRY CORNISH — TRUSTEE
- LEON BOTSTEIN — TRUSTEE (TO MARCH)
- LORRIE CLEMO — SECRETARY (TO MARCH)
- LYNN ORTALE — TRUSTEE
- MARC CONNER — TRUSTEE
- MARVIN KRISLOV — TRUSTEE
- MATTHEW GIORDANO — TRUSTEE (FROM MARCH)
- MATTHEW SHAFTEL — TRUSTEE
relationships · 29
Who they work with
- Albany Black Chamber of Commerce Partner — President Brabham serves as a Board Director for the organization.
- Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program Partner — Advocates for funding and support for the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) as part of its student access initiatives.
- Bond Schoeneck & King Partner — Provides legal compliance updates to CICU member institutions on federal and state regulatory requirements.
- COMMISSION ON INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES Network — Council of Governing Boards is an affiliate of CICU.
- Center for Women in Government and Civil Society Partner — President Brabham serves as a Board Director for the organization.
- City University of New York (CUNY) Government — Collaborates within New York State's broader higher education ecosystem alongside SUNY and CUNY systems.
- City University of New York (CUNY) Government — Engages with the Chancellor of the City University (CUNY) as part of its formal liaison role.
- Council of Governing Boards (CGB) Partner — Coordinates advocacy efforts with CGB, a statewide association representing over 3,000 independent college and university trustees.
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Partner — President Brabham is a member and advocates for equity, access, and opportunity through the organization.
- Download the report here Network — Hosts and disseminates research reports on the independent sector
- Empire Justice Center Partner — President Brabham serves as a Board Director for the organization.
- Google Partner — Co-hosted the Elevate Ed: New York's AI in Higher Education Summit in NYC.
- Google Partner — Co-hosted the Elevate Ed: New York's AI in Higher Education Summit with CICU.
- Google Partner — Collaborates with CICU on a phased initiative to expand access to AI training and tools for New York’s private, not-for-profit higher education institutions.
- HEOPPO Partner — Participated in HEOPPO’s 2024 Fall Training Workshop.
- Liberty Partnership Program Partner — Advocates for funding and support for the Liberty Partnership Program (LPP) to promote college access and success for at-risk students.
- Maria College Partner — Michael Cassidy, a trustee of Maria College, chairs the Council of Governing Boards.
- NAICU Network — Represented at NAICU’s Annual Meeting & Advocacy Day.
- New York State Board of Regents Government — Serves as the formal organizational liaison with the New York State Board of Regents.
- New York State Department of Education Government — President Brabham serves on the Advisory Council on Higher Education.
- New York State Department of Health Government — President Brabham serves on the Board for Professional Medical Conduct.
- New York State Education Department Government — Maintains a formal liaison relationship with the New York State Education Department.
- Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency Partner — Offers expertise on changes to federal financial aid and private loan solutions for students at CICU member institutions.
- Point Park University Partner — Shares expertise on long-term care benefits through participation in a CICU-hosted discussion with industry experts.
- Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy Partner — President Brabham serves as a Board Director and is an alumna of the institution.
- Science Technology Entry Program Partner — Advocates for funding and support for the Science Technology Entry Program (STEP) and its collegiate counterpart (C-STEP) to expand access for underrepresented students in STEM fields.
- State University of New York (SUNY) Government — Collaborates within New York State's broader higher education ecosystem alongside SUNY and CUNY systems.
- State University of New York (SUNY) Government — Engages with the Chancellor of the State University (SUNY) as part of its formal liaison role.
- US Department of Education Government — Source of federal financial aid resources and FAFSA administration.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Equity-Centered Advocacy for Policy Changemethodology: equity-centered advocacyBy advocating for policies that promote fairness, equity, and humanity, we expand access and opportunity in higher education because systemic change is necessary to address structural barriers faced by marginalized communities.
- Financial Aid as a Lever for Access and Affordabilitymethodology: affordability_through_aidBy connecting students to financial aid programs and combining need-based and merit-based aid, we increase access to and persistence in higher education because high tuition costs are a primary barrier to enrollment, especially for disadvantaged and undocumented students.
- Inclusive Admissions Policies to Broaden Accessmethodology: inclusive_admissionsBy adopting test-blind, test-optional, or open admissions policies, we increase access to higher education because standardized testing disproportionately disadvantages underrepresented and low-income students, and removing barriers leads to more equitable enrollment.
- Performance-Based Funding to Sustain Institutional Capacitymethodology: performance-based fundingBy advocating for state funding tied to degree completion, we strengthen institutional capacity and student support systems because aligning public investment with educational outcomes incentivizes colleges to improve retention and graduation rates.
- Virtual Learning to Expand Educational Accessmethodology: virtual_learning_accessBy promoting virtual learning, we expand access to higher education because flexible, technology-mediated instruction removes geographic and scheduling barriers, particularly benefiting non-traditional and working students.