Quick charity verification for Vassar College (EIN: 141338587)
Verdict: Vassar College appears trustworthy
75/100Mission Score
$722.8MRevenue
$1.9BAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is unusual for an organization of this size and may indicate a lack of transparency in executive pay disclosure within the provided data.
Occasional operating deficits (e.g., 2023, 2020, 2016) where expenses exceeded revenue, though this is often managed by large endowments.
Strengths
Significant and consistent growth in assets, from $1.59 billion in 2014 to $1.84 billion in 2023, indicating strong financial stewardship and endowment performance.
Substantial asset base ($1.93 billion latest reported) provides long-term financial stability and capacity for its educational mission.
Generally stable revenue streams over the past decade, supporting ongoing operations.
Spending Breakdown
How Vassar College allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
5%
Fundraising
Within typical range
How to read this: Well-run charities typically spend 75% or more on programs, keep admin under 25%, and fundraising under 15%. A high program ratio means more of every dollar goes directly to the mission.
How to Interpret This Report
What Red Flags Mean
Red flags are potential warning signs identified by AI analysis of IRS 990 filings. They may indicate issues like declining revenue, high executive pay relative to program spending, lack of transparency, or governance concerns. A single red flag does not necessarily mean an organization is untrustworthy, but multiple flags warrant further investigation before donating.
What Mission Score Measures
The Mission Score (0-100) evaluates how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated purpose. It combines multiple factors: program spending efficiency (how much goes to programs vs. overhead), financial health and sustainability, governance quality, transparency in reporting, and consistency of operations over time. A score of 70+ indicates strong alignment with the organization’s mission.
Using This Data for Donation Decisions
Use this report as one input in your decision. Look at the overall Mission Score for a quick assessment, review red flags and strengths for specific concerns, check the spending breakdown to see where money goes, and compare executive compensation to the organization’s size. Consider viewing the full transparency report for deeper analysis, and always verify tax-exempt status with the IRS before making large donations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vassar College
Is Vassar College a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Vassar College (EIN: 141338587) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Vassar College a good charity to donate to?
Vassar College has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $722.8M. Assets: $1.9B. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Vassar College?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Vassar College is 141338587. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS.
What is a Mission Score?
The Mission Score is a 0-100 rating that measures how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated mission. It factors in program spending efficiency, financial transparency, governance practices, and outcome reporting. Scores above 70 indicate strong mission alignment, 40-69 suggest mixed performance, and below 40 signals potential concerns.
How does Vassar College spend its money?
Vassar College allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Vassar College's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Vassar College's tax-exempt status using EIN 141338587 on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. You can also request copies of their Form 990 directly from the organization, as they are required by law to provide them upon request.
AI Transparency Report
Vassar College demonstrates consistent financial activity typical of a large educational institution. Over the past decade, its assets have grown significantly, from $1.59 billion in 2014 to $1.84 billion in 2023, indicating sound financial management and endowment growth. While there have been periods where expenses slightly exceeded revenue, such as in 2023 ($305M expenses vs. $284M revenue), these fluctuations are common for organizations of this scale and are often offset by endowment returns or capital campaigns not fully reflected in annual operating revenue. The organization's substantial asset base provides a strong foundation for its long-term sustainability.
Spending efficiency appears to be focused on its core educational mission, though specific program, administrative, and fundraising breakdowns are not provided in the raw data. 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 institution's leadership is compensated through other means not captured in this specific field, which could impact transparency if not clarified elsewhere. Further detail on functional expenses would be necessary for a more precise assessment of spending efficiency.
Overall, Vassar College appears financially stable with a growing asset base. However, the lack of detailed functional expense breakdowns and the consistent 0% officer compensation reported in the provided data limit a full assessment of its spending efficiency and transparency regarding executive pay. Additional information from the full IRS 990 forms would be beneficial to fully understand these aspects.