Clarkson University

Clarkson University maintains stable financial health with growing assets, though executive compensation reporting is unclear.

EIN: 150543659 · Potsdam, NY · NTEE: B430 · Updated: 2026-03-28

$278.0MRevenue
$230.8MGross Revenue
$464.1MAssets
75/100Mission Score (Good)
B430

Resolve This Donation Decision

Should someone trust, compare, or avoid Clarkson University?

This page is being rebuilt as a decision workflow: verify the public record, understand where money goes, compare better nearby or category peers, then save the evidence into a report or watchlist when the decision matters.

Source Check Matrix

What Has Been Verified vs. What Needs Human Review

Identity resolved verified

Clarkson University is mapped to EIN 150543659.

IRS BMF exempt record needs review

Open IRS TEOS or BMF source before relying on exemption status.

IRS Pub 78 deductibility needs review

Pub 78 eligibility should be verified in IRS TEOS before money changes hands.

IRS automatic revocation needs review

Check the official auto-revocation bulk source or cached evidence before relying on current exemption.

IRS Form 990 index verified

13 stored filing years available.

Raw 990 source linked

Open ProPublica to verify the raw filing record and PDFs.

Filing depth verified

13 stored filing years available.

State charity registration manual confirmation

Open New York charities registry; the workflow stops for human confirmation unless a stable source is cached.

Candid / GuideStar profile api pending

Candid API access is not configured; open manually and do not count as verified evidence.

Charity Navigator rating api pending

Charity Navigator API access is not configured; open manually and do not count as verified evidence.

Source and Resolution Links

Finish the Investigation Outside Our Dataset

When the answer lives with the IRS, ProPublica, Candid, Charity Navigator, or the nonprofit itself, NonprofitSpending links out instead of trapping the user on a partial answer.

IRS tax-exempt lookup

Verify exemption status and deductibility directly with the IRS.

IRS bulk evidence downloads

Check Pub 78, automatic revocation, 990-N, and Form 990 bulk evidence sources.

IRS EO BMF extract

Open the official Business Master File extract source for tax-exempt organization records.

ProPublica 990 source

Open the raw filing record and filing PDFs outside NonprofitSpending.

New York charities registry

Confirm state charity registration or solicitation status where applicable.

Candid profile search

Look for GuideStar/Candid profile details, programs, leadership, and seals.

Charity Navigator search

Check whether another evaluator has ratings or impact context.

Workflow Engine

Queries We Should Resolve, Not Just Answer

Search Console demand points to task completion. Each workflow can run calculations, source checks, external lookups, comparisons, and report/export capture around this nonprofit.

Verify tax status Runnable

Triggered by: 501(c)(3), tax deductible, EIN

IRS status check plus source links

Verify official evidence Runnable

Triggered by: IRS Pub 78, BMF, revocation, 990 index, state registration

Official-source evidence matrix with human stops where a state portal must be checked.

Resolve tax deductibility Runnable

Triggered by: is my donation tax deductible, Pub 78, donor receipt

Pub 78, BMF, and revocation checks turned into a donor-safe deductibility path.

Check state solicitation Runnable

Triggered by: allowed to solicit, charity registration, state compliance

Official state regulator route with human confirmation when no reliable API exists.

Find source filings Runnable

Triggered by: 990 PDF, annual report, filing record

13 stored filing years plus ProPublica source

Crunch money signals Runnable

Triggered by: program expense ratio, CEO salary, revenue, grants

75% program spend, health grade B

Compare alternatives Runnable

Triggered by: best charities, similar nonprofits, compare

4 peer options surfaced

Resolve leadership and board Runnable

Triggered by: executive team, trustees, officer pay

Use 990 compensation disclosures and external profile links.

Analyze executive compensation Runnable

Triggered by: CEO salary, excessive compensation, officer pay

Officer-pay context against revenue, filings, state/category compensation, and source records.

Donation decision copilot Runnable

Triggered by: should I donate, give or compare, charity safety

Eligibility, money signals, sources, peer context, and next action.

Grantmaker due diligence Runnable

Triggered by: foundation review, grant risk, grantee capacity

Foundation-style packet across filings, finances, governance, and gaps.

Build grant/funder shortlist Runnable

Triggered by: find funders, grantee shortlist, mission fit

Geography, cause, evidence gaps, and peers converted into a funder/grantee action path.

Impact evidence finder Runnable

Triggered by: outcomes, annual report, cost effectiveness

Separate actual impact evidence from raw 990 financial cleanliness.

Room for more funding Runnable

Triggered by: would my donation help, funding gap, marginal impact

Revenue trend, runway, surplus/deficit, and source follow-ups.

Operator transparency diagnostic Runnable

Triggered by: how does my nonprofit look to donors

Profile, filing, impact, and transparency improvements to earn trust.

Create compliance monitor Runnable

Triggered by: watch new 990, revocation, Pub 78, registration changes

Monitoring plan for IRS status, new filings, revocation signals, and state follow-ups.

Clarkson University Financial Summary
MetricValue
Total Revenue$278.0M
Total Expenses$250.5M
Program Spending75%
Net Assets$351.8M
Transparency Score75/100

Search Intent Cockpit

Clarkson University Form 990, Revenue, CEO Pay, and IRS Filing Signals

Clarkson University is surfaced here as a decision-ready nonprofit financial profile, not just a charity listing. The page consolidates IRS Form 990 revenue, expenses, assets, tax-exempt classification, executive compensation, mission score, red flags, and year-by-year filing history so donors, researchers, journalists, and grant teams can answer the common search questions around Clarkson University in one place.

Form 990 Filing Summary

13 filing years are available, with latest revenue of $233.4M and expenses of $250.5M.

Revenue and Expenses

Clarkson University reported $233.4M in revenue and $250.5M in expenses, a deficit of $17.1M.

Executive Compensation

Officer, director, trustee, and key employee pay is reviewed from IRS 990 compensation disclosures when present.

Charity Score and Red Flags

75/100 mission score, 1 red flag, and 3 strengths are shown from structured and AI review.

Is Clarkson University Legit?

Some Concerns

GoodFiling Consistency
ExcellentSpending Efficiency
GoodTransparency
1 FoundRed Flags

Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →

IRS 990 Data Cockpit

Where the Money Comes From and Where It Goes

PendingDonor/Grant Funding
75%Program Expense
$0Grants Paid
13Stored Filing Years

Revenue Source Mix

Revenue-source line items are not available on the stored filing yet. Future ingestion now preserves contribution, program-revenue, and investment-income fields when ProPublica provides them.

Expense Deployment

Clarkson University Expense Deployment
Program services$187.9M (75%)

Across stored filings, Clarkson University shows contribution history pending. Next enrichment targets: revenue-source fields, IRS BMF classification.

Decision Cockpit

One-Stop Donor, Research, and Peer Context Hub

Clarkson University Donor Decision Matrix
Decision LensSignalWhat to Inspect Next
LegitimacySome ConcernsGood filing record; 1 red flag identified
Mission spend75% to programsExcellent
Financial durabilityGrade B13 stored filing years
Peer contextCompare with Healthy Capital District InitiativeNew York and Education context

Trust Check

Review legitimacy, deductibility, red flags, and filing consistency.

Open charity check →

Peer Benchmark

Compare against real state and category peers.

Compare with Healthy Capital District Initiative →
All New York nonprofits
All Education

Local and Sector Spokes

Move into this nonprofit's local market, category, and sector maps.

Potsdam, NY nonprofits
Education in New York
Education in New York

Follow the Money

Jump into spending, compensation, rankings, and filing-year evidence.

State spending analysis
State compensation analysis
Education spending
Best Education charities in New York
Relevant rankings

Donation Decision Flow

From Trust Check to Better Alternatives

1

Verify

Some Concerns. Check deductibility, filings, and red flags.

2

Understand money

75% of spending goes to programs.

3

Compare

Benchmark against Healthy Capital District Initiative.

4

Decide

Build a shortlist, compare alternatives, and review the latest filing before giving.

Alternative Shopping

Similar Nonprofits Donors Should Compare

Browse the full Education peer market in New York →

Next Best Actions

Keep the Investigation Moving

Verify legitimacy

Open the focused charity-check flow before donating.

Compare a peer

Benchmark against Healthy Capital District Initiative.

Find best peers

See best Education charities in New York.

Inspect local compensation

See whether pay levels look unusual in this state.

Research Workflow

Turn this Form 990 profile into a donor-ready report

Request a concise report for Clarkson University with revenue, expenses, executive compensation, red flags, peer context, and IRS source links. You can also request CSV exports or watchlist updates for future filings.

Get spending reportDonor-ready PDF summary.
Request CSV exportFiling-year data for research.
Watch this nonprofitUpdates when public data changes.

Early access request only. Reports and exports are informational and based on public IRS records, not financial or legal advice.

Clarkson University directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.

About Clarkson University

Clarkson University (EIN: 150543659) is a nonprofit organization based in Potsdam, NY, classified under NTEE code B430. The organization reported total revenue of $278.0M and total assets of $464.1M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Clarkson University's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

Organization Overview

71Years Operating
MajorSize Classification
13Years of Filings
MixedRevenue Trajectory

Clarkson University is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 71 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 2.3%.

Key Financial Metrics (2023)

From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:

Total Revenue$233.4M
Total Expenses$250.5M
Surplus / Deficit$-17,060,175
Total Assets$480.8M
Total Liabilities$129.0M
Net Assets$351.8M
Operating Margin-7.3%
Debt-to-Asset Ratio26.8%
Months of Reserves23.0 months

Financial Health Grade: B

In 2023, Clarkson University reported a deficit of $17.1M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 23.0 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 26.8% (moderate leverage).

Financial Trends

Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Clarkson University's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.3%.

YearRevenue ChangeExpense ChangeAsset Change
2023-11.0%-4.0%-0.9%
2022-2.8%+7.7%-2.6%
2021+9.2%+1.7%+10.5%
2020+0.9%-0.4%+1.2%
2019+6.5%+2.6%+2.6%

IRS Tax-Exempt Classification

IRS Classification Codes2000
IRS Ruling Date1955

Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.

AI Transparency Report

Clarkson University demonstrates a generally stable financial position over the past decade, with assets consistently growing from $391 million in 2014 to $480 million in 2023. Revenue has also shown a positive trend, reaching a high of $269 million in 2021, though it experienced a dip to $233 million in 2023. The organization's expenses have largely tracked revenue, indicating consistent operational spending. While the provided data does not detail specific program, administrative, or fundraising expenses, the overall financial health appears sound with a healthy asset base relative to liabilities. Spending efficiency, without a detailed breakdown, is difficult to fully assess. However, the consistent ratio of expenses to revenue suggests a predictable operational model. The 'Officer Comp=0%' reported across all filings is unusual for an organization of this size and likely indicates that compensation for officers is reported elsewhere or categorized differently within the 990, rather than a complete absence of executive compensation. This lack of direct reporting on officer compensation within the provided summary could be a point for further inquiry regarding transparency. Overall, Clarkson University appears to be a financially stable institution. The primary area for enhanced transparency would be a clearer breakdown of functional expenses and a more explicit reporting of executive compensation, even if it's zero, to avoid ambiguity. The consistent growth in assets and generally balanced revenue and expenses point to responsible financial management.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Clarkson University with a Mission Score of 75 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.

Spending Breakdown

  • admin: 15%
  • programs: 75%
  • fundraising: 10%

According to IRS 990 filings, Clarkson University allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.

Key Financial Metrics (2023)

From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:

$233.4MTotal Revenue
$250.5MTotal Expenses
$480.8MTotal Assets
$129.0MTotal Liabilities
$351.8MNet Assets
  • The organization reported a deficit of $17.1M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
  • Debt-to-asset ratio: 26.8%.

Executive Compensation Analysis

The consistent reporting of 'Officer Comp=0%' across all filings is highly unusual for an institution of Clarkson University's size and revenue, suggesting that executive compensation is either not reported in this specific field or is categorized under other expenses, which could impact transparency.

Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.

Red Flags

The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Clarkson University's IRS 990 filings:

  • Unclear reporting of executive compensation ('Officer Comp=0%' for an organization of this size is highly unusual and warrants further investigation).

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for Clarkson University:

  • Consistent asset growth, from $391 million in 2014 to $480 million in 2023, indicating financial stability.
  • Generally balanced revenue and expenses over the past decade, suggesting sound operational management.
  • Healthy asset base ($480,841,124 in 2023) relative to liabilities ($129,011,661 in 2023), indicating strong solvency.

Frequently Asked Questions about Clarkson University

Is Clarkson University a legitimate charity?

Clarkson University (EIN: 150543659) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 75/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $278.0M. 1 red flag identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.

How does Clarkson University spend its money?

Clarkson University directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.

Are donations to Clarkson University tax-deductible?

Clarkson University is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 150543659). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

What percentage of Clarkson University's spending goes to programs?

Clarkson University directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.

How does Clarkson University compare to similar nonprofits?

With a transparency score of 75/100 (Good), Clarkson University is above average for NTEE category B430 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.

Where is Clarkson University located?

Clarkson University is headquartered in Potsdam, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 150543659. It is classified under NTEE code B430.

How many years of IRS 990 filings does Clarkson University have?

Clarkson University has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $278.0M in total revenue.

How is executive compensation for Clarkson University's officers truly reported, given the 'Officer Comp=0%' across all filings?

The provided data consistently shows 'Officer Comp=0%', which is atypical for an organization of this scale. It suggests that executive compensation might be reported under different expense categories within the full IRS 990 form, or that the summary data provided does not capture this detail. Further investigation into the full 990 would be needed to understand how executive compensation is accounted for.

What is the detailed breakdown of Clarkson University's functional expenses (program, administrative, fundraising)?

The provided summary data does not offer a detailed breakdown of functional expenses. To assess spending efficiency accurately, a deeper dive into the full IRS 990 form would be required to see the allocation between program services, management and general, and fundraising expenses.

What caused the revenue dip from $262 million in 2022 to $233 million in 2023?

The provided data shows a decrease in revenue from $262,243,512 in 2022 to $233,432,357 in 2023. Without additional context from the full financial statements, the specific reasons for this nearly $29 million decline cannot be determined. It could be due to various factors such as enrollment changes, reduced grant funding, or investment performance.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Clarkson University showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:

Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Clarkson University's revenue has grown by 30.6%, moving from $178.7M to $233.4M. Total assets increased by 39.4% over the same period, from $344.8M to $480.8M. Total functional expenses rose by 49.1%, from $168.0M to $250.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Clarkson University reported a deficit of $17.1M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $129.0M in liabilities against $480.8M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 26.8%), resulting in net assets of $351.8M.

YearRevenueExpensesAssetsLiabilitiesOfficer Comp. %PDF
2023 $233.4M $250.5M $480.8M $129.0M
2022 $262.2M $260.9M $485.1M $133.2M View 990
2021 $269.9M $242.2M $497.8M $128.5M View 990
2020 $247.2M $238.0M $450.5M $134.6M View 990
2019 $245.0M $238.9M $445.0M $136.8M View 990
2018 $230.0M $232.9M $433.5M $142.8M View 990
2017 $248.2M $233.4M $427.5M $129.8M View 990
2016 $231.4M $225.4M $391.5M $120.3M View 990
2015 $231.6M $213.6M $391.3M $114.0M View 990
2014 $211.7M $200.6M $401.2M $114.9M View 990
2013 $191.8M $188.2M $371.1M $123.8M View 990
2012 $178.5M $190.1M $367.5M $128.1M View 990
2011 $178.7M $168.0M $344.8M $97.5M View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

  • 2023: Revenue of $233.4M, expenses of $250.5M, and assets of $480.8M (revenue -11.0% year-over-year).
  • 2022: Revenue of $262.2M, expenses of $260.9M, and assets of $485.1M (revenue -2.8% year-over-year).
  • 2021: Revenue of $269.9M, expenses of $242.2M, and assets of $497.8M (revenue +9.2% year-over-year).
  • 2020: Revenue of $247.2M, expenses of $238.0M, and assets of $450.5M (revenue +0.9% year-over-year).
  • 2019: Revenue of $245.0M, expenses of $238.9M, and assets of $445.0M (revenue +6.5% year-over-year).
  • 2018: Revenue of $230.0M, expenses of $232.9M, and assets of $433.5M (revenue -7.4% year-over-year).
  • 2017: Revenue of $248.2M, expenses of $233.4M, and assets of $427.5M (revenue +7.3% year-over-year).
  • 2016: Revenue of $231.4M, expenses of $225.4M, and assets of $391.5M (revenue -0.1% year-over-year).
  • 2015: Revenue of $231.6M, expenses of $213.6M, and assets of $391.3M (revenue +9.4% year-over-year).
  • 2014: Revenue of $211.7M, expenses of $200.6M, and assets of $401.2M (revenue +10.4% year-over-year).
  • 2013: Revenue of $191.8M, expenses of $188.2M, and assets of $371.1M (revenue +7.4% year-over-year).
  • 2012: Revenue of $178.5M, expenses of $190.1M, and assets of $367.5M (revenue -0.1% year-over-year).
  • 2011: Revenue of $178.7M, expenses of $168.0M, and assets of $344.8M.

View Individual Filing Years

Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Clarkson University:

2023 Filing 2022 Filing 2021 Filing 2020 Filing 2019 Filing 2018 Filing 2017 Filing 2016 Filing 2015 Filing 2014 Filing 2013 Filing 2012 Filing 2011 Filing

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for Clarkson University is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.

IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.

Other Nonprofits in New York

Explore more nonprofits based in New York with AI-powered transparency reports.

View all New York nonprofits →

Similar Organizations (NTEE B430)

Other nonprofits classified under NTEE code B430.

View all B430 nonprofits →

Explore Related Nonprofits

Browse by State