Is Skidmore College Legit?

Skidmore College demonstrates a generally stable financial position, with assets consistently exceeding liabilities, indicating long-term solvency. Over the past decade, the organization has seen significant growth in its asset base, from $676 million in 2014 to over $1 billion in its latest filing, reflecting strong financial management and potentially successful fundraising or investment strategies. Revenue has also shown a positive trend, with the latest reported revenue at $486 million, a substantial increase from previous years, though the 202305 filing shows $269 million, suggesting some variability or different reporting periods for the 'latest revenue' figure provided. The college consistently operates with a surplus, as evidenced by revenues exceeding expenses in all reported periods, contributing to its growing asset base. Spending efficiency appears reasonable, with expenses generally staying below revenue. For instance, in 202305, expenses were $246 million against $269 million in revenue, indicating a healthy operational margin. The consistent reporting of 0% for officer compensation across all filings is unusual for an organization of this size and suggests that executive compensation might be reported under different categories or that the provided 'Officer Comp' data specifically refers to a particular type of compensation not applicable here, which could impact transparency if not clarified. Further details on functional expenses (program, administrative, fundraising) would provide a more complete picture of spending efficiency. Regarding transparency, the consistent availability of IRS 990 filings is a positive indicator. However, the lack of reported officer compensation in the provided data points raises a question about how executive salaries are disclosed, which is a key aspect of financial transparency for non-profits. A detailed breakdown of functional expenses would further enhance the understanding of how funds are allocated across its mission-related activities, administration, and fundraising efforts.