Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute consistently generates revenue surpluses, maintaining strong assets despite fluctuating liabilities.
EIN: 141340095 · Troy, NY · NTEE: B430 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (EIN: 141340095) is a nonprofit organization based in Troy, NY, classified under NTEE code B430. The organization reported total revenue of $1.1B and total assets of $1.7B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 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: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The provided data consistently reports 0% for 'Officer Comp' across all filing periods, which is highly unusual for an institution with over a billion dollars in revenue and assets. This suggests executive compensation is either not reported under this specific line item or is not being disclosed in a standard manner, making it difficult to assess relative to the organization's size.
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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's IRS 990 filings:
- Unusual 0% reported for 'Officer Comp' across all filings, raising questions about executive compensation transparency.
- Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data, hindering precise efficiency assessment.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute:
- Consistent revenue surpluses, with revenues generally exceeding expenses (e.g., $666.5M revenue vs. $642.5M expenses in 202306).
- Strong and growing asset base, reaching $1.69 billion in 202306, indicating financial stability.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), suggesting a commitment to regulatory compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (EIN: 141340095) some concerns. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute spend its money?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute tax-deductible?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 141340095). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How is executive compensation reported if 'Officer Comp' is consistently 0%?
The consistent reporting of 0% for 'Officer Comp' across all filings is highly unusual for an organization of RPI's scale. It suggests that executive compensation might be reported under other expense categories or is not being fully disclosed in the provided summary data, requiring a deeper dive into the full IRS 990 forms for clarity.
What is the detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
The provided data does not offer a detailed functional expense breakdown. While the NTEE code B430 implies a strong program focus, without specific percentages, it's difficult to precisely assess spending efficiency across these categories.
What caused the significant increase in assets in 202106 to $1.91 billion, followed by a decrease?
RPI's assets peaked at $1,913,143,793 in 202106, a notable increase from previous years, before decreasing to $1,697,301,020 in 202306. This fluctuation could be due to market performance of investments, capital projects, or changes in endowment value, and would require further analysis of the financial statements.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's revenue has grown by 64.2%, moving from $405.9M to $666.6M. Total assets increased by 14.7% over the same period, from $1.5B to $1.7B. Total functional expenses rose by 31.4%, from $489.1M to $642.6M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute reported a surplus of $24.0M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $854.1M in liabilities against $1.7B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 50.3%), resulting in net assets of $843.2M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $666.6M | $642.6M | $1.7B | $854.1M | — | — |
| 2022 | $703.2M | $582.2M | $1.7B | $915.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $616.6M | $562.6M | $1.9B | $980.7M | — | — |
| 2020 | $653.0M | $619.3M | $1.6B | $1.1B | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $650.3M | $593.3M | $1.5B | $988.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $591.7M | $560.4M | $1.5B | $975.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $588.7M | $543.9M | $1.5B | $1.0B | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $537.9M | $518.5M | $1.4B | $1.1B | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $531.1M | $507.4M | $1.5B | $1.1B | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $499.1M | $503.1M | $1.5B | $991.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $484.0M | $502.1M | $1.4B | $1.0B | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $437.3M | $490.1M | $1.4B | $1.1B | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $405.9M | $489.1M | $1.5B | $980.8M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $666.6M, expenses of $642.6M, and assets of $1.7B (revenue -5.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $703.2M, expenses of $582.2M, and assets of $1.7B (revenue +14.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $616.6M, expenses of $562.6M, and assets of $1.9B (revenue -5.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $653.0M, expenses of $619.3M, and assets of $1.6B (revenue +0.4% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $650.3M, expenses of $593.3M, and assets of $1.5B (revenue +9.9% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $591.7M, expenses of $560.4M, and assets of $1.5B (revenue +0.5% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $588.7M, expenses of $543.9M, and assets of $1.5B (revenue +9.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $537.9M, expenses of $518.5M, and assets of $1.4B (revenue +1.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $531.1M, expenses of $507.4M, and assets of $1.5B (revenue +6.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $499.1M, expenses of $503.1M, and assets of $1.5B (revenue +3.1% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $484.0M, expenses of $502.1M, and assets of $1.4B (revenue +10.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $437.3M, expenses of $490.1M, and assets of $1.4B (revenue +7.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $405.9M, expenses of $489.1M, and assets of $1.5B.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 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.