Trustees Of Columbia University
Columbia University maintains strong financial health with consistent revenue growth and substantial assets.
EIN: 135598093 · New York, NY · NTEE: B430 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $10.0B |
| Total Expenses | $6.4B |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| Net Assets | $18.7B |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Trustees Of Columbia University Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Trustees Of Columbia University directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Trustees Of Columbia University
Trustees Of Columbia University (EIN: 135598093) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code B430. The organization reported total revenue of $10.0B and total assets of $24.8B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Trustees Of Columbia University's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Trustees Of Columbia University is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 52 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 2.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $6.7B |
| Total Expenses | $6.4B |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$218.5M |
| Total Assets | $23.6B |
| Total Liabilities | $4.9B |
| Net Assets | $18.7B |
| Operating Margin | 3.3% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 20.7% |
| Months of Reserves | 43.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Trustees Of Columbia University reported a surplus of $218.5M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 43.9 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 20.7% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Trustees Of Columbia University's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -6.4% | +7.8% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | +7.3% | +7.0% | -5.9% |
| 2021 | +11.5% | +0.8% | +17.7% |
| 2020 | +7.0% | +5.0% | +5.2% |
| 2019 | -5.7% | +4.9% | +1.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1974 |
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 Trustees Of Columbia 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: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Trustees Of Columbia University 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 $218.5M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 20.7%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The IRS 990 filings consistently report 0% officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of this size and complexity. This suggests executive compensation may be reported through related entities or in a manner not directly reflected in this specific line item on the 990, requiring further investigation for a complete understanding.
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 Trustees Of Columbia University's IRS 990 filings:
- Officer compensation consistently reported as 0% on 990s, requiring deeper investigation into executive pay structures.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Trustees Of Columbia University:
- Strong and consistent revenue generation, with latest revenue at $6,654,842,677.
- Significant and growing asset base, reaching $23,551,142,933 in 202306.
- Consistent financial surpluses, indicating sound financial management.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings, demonstrating regulatory compliance and transparency.
- Large scale of operations, indicative of a major educational institution.
Frequently Asked Questions about Trustees Of Columbia University
Is Trustees Of Columbia University a legitimate charity?
Trustees Of Columbia University (EIN: 135598093) 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: $10.0B. 1 red flag identified. 5 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Trustees Of Columbia University spend its money?
Trustees Of Columbia University directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Trustees Of Columbia University tax-deductible?
Trustees Of Columbia University is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 135598093). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Trustees Of Columbia University's spending goes to programs?
Trustees Of Columbia University directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Trustees Of Columbia University compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Trustees Of Columbia 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 Trustees Of Columbia University located?
Trustees Of Columbia University is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 135598093. It is classified under NTEE code B430.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Trustees Of Columbia University have?
Trustees Of Columbia 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 $10.0B in total revenue.
Is Trustees Of Columbia University a good charity?
Based on its financial health, consistent revenue generation, and significant asset growth, Trustees Of Columbia University appears to be a financially sound and well-managed institution. Its primary mission as a university (NTEE B430) is inherently program-focused. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation on the 990s, while requiring further investigation for full transparency, doesn't inherently indicate poor performance.
How has Columbia University's financial position changed over the last decade?
Over the last decade, Columbia University's financial position has significantly strengthened. Revenues have grown from $4,471,027,733 in 201406 to $6,654,842,677 in 202306, and assets have increased from $15,957,288,201 to $23,551,142,933 in the same period, demonstrating substantial growth and stability.
What is the organization's spending efficiency?
In the latest period (202306), expenses were $6,436,351,941 against revenues of $6,654,842,677, indicating that approximately 96.7% of revenue was spent. This suggests a high level of spending relative to income, which for a university often reflects direct program costs like education and research, indicating good efficiency in deploying resources towards its mission.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Trustees Of Columbia University showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Trustees Of Columbia University's revenue has grown by 41.3%, moving from $4.7B to $6.7B. Total assets increased by 75.8% over the same period, from $13.4B to $23.6B. Total functional expenses rose by 79.7%, from $3.6B to $6.4B. In its most recent filing year (2023), Trustees Of Columbia University reported a surplus of $218.5M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $4.9B in liabilities against $23.6B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 20.7%), resulting in net assets of $18.7B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $6.7B | $6.4B | $23.6B | $4.9B | — | — |
| 2022 | $7.1B | $6.0B | $23.2B | $4.8B | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $6.6B | $5.6B | $24.7B | $5.1B | — | — |
| 2020 | $5.9B | $5.5B | $21.0B | $4.7B | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $5.6B | $5.3B | $19.9B | $3.9B | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $5.9B | $5.0B | $19.6B | $3.9B | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $5.7B | $4.8B | $18.5B | $3.8B | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $4.7B | $4.4B | $16.7B | $3.5B | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $4.9B | $4.1B | $16.8B | $3.2B | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $4.5B | $3.9B | $16.0B | $2.9B | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $4.4B | $3.8B | $14.6B | $3.0B | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $4.2B | $3.7B | $13.6B | $3.1B | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $4.7B | $3.6B | $13.4B | $2.8B | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $6.7B, expenses of $6.4B, and assets of $23.6B (revenue -6.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $7.1B, expenses of $6.0B, and assets of $23.2B (revenue +7.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $6.6B, expenses of $5.6B, and assets of $24.7B (revenue +11.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $5.9B, expenses of $5.5B, and assets of $21.0B (revenue +7.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $5.6B, expenses of $5.3B, and assets of $19.9B (revenue -5.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $5.9B, expenses of $5.0B, and assets of $19.6B (revenue +4.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $5.7B, expenses of $4.8B, and assets of $18.5B (revenue +20.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $4.7B, expenses of $4.4B, and assets of $16.7B (revenue -4.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $4.9B, expenses of $4.1B, and assets of $16.8B (revenue +9.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $4.5B, expenses of $3.9B, and assets of $16.0B (revenue +0.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $4.4B, expenses of $3.8B, and assets of $14.6B (revenue +6.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $4.2B, expenses of $3.7B, and assets of $13.6B (revenue -11.7% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $4.7B, expenses of $3.6B, and assets of $13.4B.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Trustees Of Columbia University:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Trustees Of Columbia 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.