Colby Sawyer College
Colby Sawyer College maintains stable finances with growing assets and consistent surpluses, but executive compensation reporting is unclear.
EIN: 20222120 · New London, NH · NTEE: B420 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $71.5M |
| Total Expenses | $63.8M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $71,476,594 |
| Net Assets | $103.6M |
| Transparency Score | 75/100 |
Is Colby Sawyer College Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Colby Sawyer College directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Colby Sawyer College
Colby Sawyer College (EIN: 20222120) is a nonprofit organization based in New London, NH, classified under NTEE code B420. The organization reported total revenue of $71.5M and total assets of $144.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Colby Sawyer College's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Colby Sawyer College is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 85 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 1.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $69.1M |
| Total Expenses | $63.8M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$5.2M |
| Total Assets | $135.0M |
| Total Liabilities | $31.4M |
| Net Assets | $103.6M |
| Operating Margin | 7.6% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 23.3% |
| Months of Reserves | 25.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Colby Sawyer College reported a surplus of $5.2M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 25.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 23.3% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Colby Sawyer College's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -1.6% | +5.6% | +9.6% |
| 2022 | -4.3% | +7.4% | -2.3% |
| 2021 | +21.2% | +1.5% | +18.7% |
| 2020 | +3.5% | +1.9% | +3.2% |
| 2019 | +7.0% | -5.9% | +2.9% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1941 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Colby Sawyer College 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: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Colby Sawyer College allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% 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:
- The organization reported a surplus of $5.2M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 23.3%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The IRS 990 filings consistently report 0% officer compensation, which is highly unusual for an institution of Colby Sawyer College's size and revenue (latest revenue $71,476,594). This suggests that executive compensation is either not reported in the 'officer compensation' section or is paid through other entities, making it difficult to assess the reasonableness of executive pay.
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 Colby Sawyer College's IRS 990 filings:
- Unclear executive compensation reporting (0% officer comp consistently reported despite significant revenue)
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Colby Sawyer College:
- Consistent revenue generation (latest revenue $71,476,594)
- Growing asset base (from $101M in 2014 to $134M in 2023)
- Positive operating margins in recent years (e.g., $5.2M surplus in 2023)
- Stable liabilities relative to assets
Frequently Asked Questions about Colby Sawyer College
Is Colby Sawyer College a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Colby Sawyer College (EIN: 20222120) some concerns. Mission Score: 75/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Colby Sawyer College spend its money?
Colby Sawyer College directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Colby Sawyer College tax-deductible?
Colby Sawyer College is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 20222120). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Colby Sawyer College CEO make?
Colby Sawyer College's highest-compensated officer earns $71,476,594 annually. The organization reported $71.5M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Colby Sawyer College's spending goes to programs?
Colby Sawyer College directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Colby Sawyer College compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 75/100 (Good), Colby Sawyer College is above average for NTEE category B420 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Colby Sawyer College located?
Colby Sawyer College is headquartered in New London, New Hampshire and files with the IRS under EIN 20222120. It is classified under NTEE code B420.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Colby Sawyer College have?
Colby Sawyer College 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 $71.5M in total revenue.
How does Colby Sawyer College manage to report 0% officer compensation consistently?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings is highly unusual for an organization of this scale. It suggests that compensation for key executives might be reported under different categories (e.g., salaries and wages for all employees) or that the college's governance structure does not include 'officers' as defined for this specific reporting line on the 990. Further investigation into their detailed financial statements would be needed to understand executive remuneration.
What is the trend in Colby Sawyer College's net assets?
Colby Sawyer College has shown a positive trend in net assets. Total assets have increased from $101,032,483 in 2014 to $134,968,854 in 2023, while liabilities have remained relatively stable or decreased in recent years (e.g., $31,417,901 in 2023 compared to $40,854,933 in 2020), indicating a healthy growth in net assets.
Is Colby Sawyer College financially sustainable?
Based on the provided data, Colby Sawyer College appears financially sustainable. It has consistently generated surpluses in recent years (e.g., $69,063,751 revenue vs. $63,833,439 expenses in 2023) and has a strong asset base of $144,211,285, which has been growing over time. This indicates a robust financial position capable of supporting its operations.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Colby Sawyer College showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Colby Sawyer College's revenue has grown by 23.7%, moving from $55.8M to $69.1M. Total assets increased by 63.7% over the same period, from $82.5M to $135.0M. Total functional expenses rose by 15.4%, from $55.3M to $63.8M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Colby Sawyer College reported a surplus of $5.2M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $31.4M in liabilities against $135.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 23.3%), resulting in net assets of $103.6M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $69.1M | $63.8M | $135.0M | $31.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $70.2M | $60.5M | $123.2M | $31.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $73.3M | $56.3M | $126.1M | $33.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $60.5M | $55.5M | $106.2M | $40.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $58.4M | $54.5M | $102.9M | $40.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $54.6M | $57.9M | $100.0M | $42.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $71.9M | $61.7M | $100.9M | $41.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $65.7M | $68.1M | $94.3M | $38.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $70.1M | $72.4M | $99.6M | $38.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $72.3M | $73.0M | $101.0M | $37.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $71.0M | $68.4M | $96.6M | $38.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $63.7M | $61.7M | $90.9M | $39.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $55.8M | $55.3M | $82.5M | $30.9M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $69.1M, expenses of $63.8M, and assets of $135.0M (revenue -1.6% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $70.2M, expenses of $60.5M, and assets of $123.2M (revenue -4.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $73.3M, expenses of $56.3M, and assets of $126.1M (revenue +21.2% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $60.5M, expenses of $55.5M, and assets of $106.2M (revenue +3.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $58.4M, expenses of $54.5M, and assets of $102.9M (revenue +7.0% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $54.6M, expenses of $57.9M, and assets of $100.0M (revenue -24.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $71.9M, expenses of $61.7M, and assets of $100.9M (revenue +9.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $65.7M, expenses of $68.1M, and assets of $94.3M (revenue -6.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $70.1M, expenses of $72.4M, and assets of $99.6M (revenue -3.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $72.3M, expenses of $73.0M, and assets of $101.0M (revenue +1.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $71.0M, expenses of $68.4M, and assets of $96.6M (revenue +11.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $63.7M, expenses of $61.7M, and assets of $90.9M (revenue +14.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $55.8M, expenses of $55.3M, and assets of $82.5M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Colby Sawyer College:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Colby Sawyer College 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.