Syracuse University
Syracuse University shows consistent revenue and asset growth over the past decade, maintaining a healthy financial surplus.
EIN: 150532081 · Syracuse, NY · NTEE: B430 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $2.4B |
| Total Expenses | $1.6B |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $3.0B |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Syracuse University Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Syracuse University directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University (EIN: 150532081) is a nonprofit organization based in Syracuse, NY, classified under NTEE code B430. The organization reported total revenue of $2.4B and total assets of $4.7B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Syracuse University's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Syracuse University is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 88 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 3.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $1.7B |
| Total Expenses | $1.6B |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$133.2M |
| Total Assets | $4.3B |
| Total Liabilities | $1.2B |
| Net Assets | $3.0B |
| Operating Margin | 7.7% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 28.7% |
| Months of Reserves | 31.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Syracuse University reported a surplus of $133.2M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 31.9 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 28.7% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Syracuse University's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +0.6% | +7.6% | +5.8% |
| 2022 | +14.5% | +10.6% | +3.0% |
| 2021 | -0.8% | -4.4% | +11.2% |
| 2020 | +-0.0% | +3.1% | +9.9% |
| 2019 | +8.0% | +6.6% | +5.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1938 |
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 Syracuse University with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). 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, Syracuse University 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.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $133.2M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 28.7%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The provided data consistently reports 0% for Officer Comp across all listed fiscal periods, which is unusual for an organization of this size and complexity. This suggests that executive compensation details are either not captured in this specific data point or are reported elsewhere in the full 990 filing, making it impossible to assess relative to the organization's scale from this summary.
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 Syracuse University's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of explicit officer compensation reporting in summary data, hindering full transparency assessment.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Syracuse University:
- Consistent revenue growth, from $1.2B in 2014 to $1.7B in 2023.
- Significant asset accumulation, increasing from $2.6B in 2014 to $4.2B in 2023.
- Healthy financial surplus maintained annually (e.g., $133,223,447 in 2023).
- Strong asset-to-liability ratio, indicating financial stability.
Frequently Asked Questions about Syracuse University
Is Syracuse University a legitimate charity?
Syracuse University (EIN: 150532081) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $2.4B. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Syracuse University spend its money?
Syracuse University directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Syracuse University tax-deductible?
Syracuse University is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 150532081). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Syracuse University's spending goes to programs?
Syracuse University directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Syracuse University compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Syracuse 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 Syracuse University located?
Syracuse University is headquartered in Syracuse, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 150532081. It is classified under NTEE code B430.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Syracuse University have?
Syracuse 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 $2.4B in total revenue.
Is Syracuse University a good charity?
Based on the provided financial data, Syracuse University demonstrates strong financial health with consistent revenue growth and increasing assets. Its ability to maintain a surplus year over year suggests effective financial management. However, without a detailed breakdown of program vs. administrative spending and clear executive compensation figures, a complete assessment of 'good charity' status is limited, though its primary mission as an educational institution implies significant program spending.
How has Syracuse University's financial health changed over the last decade?
Syracuse University's financial health has significantly improved over the last decade. Revenue grew from $1,226,485,952 in 2014 to $1,739,194,343 in 2023, and assets increased from $2,656,991,491 to $4,268,712,597 in the same period, indicating substantial growth and stability.
What is the trend in Syracuse University's liabilities?
Syracuse University's liabilities have generally increased over the decade, from $820,333,805 in 2014 to $1,225,485,910 in 2023. However, this growth has been outpaced by asset growth, maintaining a healthy financial position.
What is the organization's NTEE code and what does it signify?
Syracuse University's NTEE code is B430, which typically signifies 'Colleges, Universities, & Professional Schools'. This indicates its primary mission is higher education.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Syracuse University showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Syracuse University's revenue has grown by 58.7%, moving from $1.1B to $1.7B. Total assets increased by 90.6% over the same period, from $2.2B to $4.3B. Total functional expenses rose by 58.4%, from $1.0B to $1.6B. In its most recent filing year (2023), Syracuse University reported a surplus of $133.2M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1.2B in liabilities against $4.3B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 28.7%), resulting in net assets of $3.0B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.7B | $1.6B | $4.3B | $1.2B | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $1.7B | $1.5B | $4.0B | $1.2B | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $1.5B | $1.3B | $3.9B | $1.1B | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.5B | $1.4B | $3.5B | $1.2B | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $1.5B | $1.4B | $3.2B | $847.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.4B | $1.3B | $3.0B | $801.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.4B | $1.3B | $2.9B | $833.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.3B | $1.2B | $2.7B | $864.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $1.3B | $1.2B | $2.7B | $826.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.2B | $1.1B | $2.7B | $820.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.1B | $1.1B | $2.4B | $727.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.1B | $1.1B | $2.3B | $747.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $1.1B | $1.0B | $2.2B | $634.4M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $1.7B, expenses of $1.6B, and assets of $4.3B (revenue +0.6% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1.7B, expenses of $1.5B, and assets of $4.0B (revenue +14.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.5B, expenses of $1.3B, and assets of $3.9B (revenue -0.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.5B, expenses of $1.4B, and assets of $3.5B (revenue +-0.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.5B, expenses of $1.4B, and assets of $3.2B (revenue +8.0% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.4B, expenses of $1.3B, and assets of $3.0B (revenue +3.8% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.4B, expenses of $1.3B, and assets of $2.9B (revenue +7.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.3B, expenses of $1.2B, and assets of $2.7B (revenue -0.2% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $1.3B, expenses of $1.2B, and assets of $2.7B (revenue +3.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.2B, expenses of $1.1B, and assets of $2.7B (revenue +6.8% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.1B, expenses of $1.1B, and assets of $2.4B (revenue +6.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.1B, expenses of $1.1B, and assets of $2.3B (revenue -1.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $1.1B, expenses of $1.0B, and assets of $2.2B.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Syracuse University:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Syracuse 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.