Vassar College

Vassar College maintains strong asset growth despite occasional operating deficits, with executive compensation reporting requiring further clarification.

EIN: 141338587 · Poughkeepsie, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28

$722.8MRevenue
$327.5MGross Revenue
$1.9BAssets
75/100Mission Score (Good)
Vassar College Financial Summary
MetricValue
Total Revenue$722.8M
Total Expenses$305.4M
Program Spending80%
Net Assets$1.5B
Transparency Score75/100

Search Intent Cockpit

Vassar College Form 990, Revenue, CEO Pay, and IRS Filing Signals

Vassar College 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 Vassar College in one place.

Form 990 Filing Summary

13 filing years are available, with latest revenue of $284.4M and expenses of $305.4M.

Revenue and Expenses

Vassar College reported $284.4M in revenue and $305.4M in expenses, a deficit of $20.9M.

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, 2 red flags, and 3 strengths are shown from structured and AI review.

Is Vassar College Legit?

Some Concerns

GoodFiling Consistency
ExcellentSpending Efficiency
GoodTransparency
2 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
80%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

Vassar College Expense Deployment
Program services$244.3M (80%)

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

Decision Cockpit

One-Stop Donor, Research, and Peer Context Hub

Vassar College Donor Decision Matrix
Decision LensSignalWhat to Inspect Next
LegitimacySome ConcernsGood filing record; 2 red flags identified
Mission spend80% to programsExcellent
Financial durabilityGrade B13 stored filing years
Peer contextCompare with Healthy Capital District InitiativeNew York and category context

Trust Check

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Follow the Money

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80% of spending goes to programs.

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Vassar College directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.

About Vassar College

Vassar College (EIN: 141338587) is a nonprofit organization based in Poughkeepsie, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $722.8M and total assets of $1.9B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Vassar College's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

Organization Overview

88Years Operating
MajorSize Classification
13Years of Filings
MixedRevenue Trajectory

Vassar College 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 1.8%.

Key Financial Metrics (2023)

From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:

Total Revenue$284.4M
Total Expenses$305.4M
Surplus / Deficit$-20,942,351
Total Assets$1.8B
Total Liabilities$368.5M
Net Assets$1.5B
Operating Margin-7.4%
Debt-to-Asset Ratio20.1%
Months of Reserves72.2 months

Financial Health Grade: B

In 2023, Vassar College reported a deficit of $20.9M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 72.2 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 20.1% (moderate leverage).

Financial Trends

Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Vassar College's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8%.

YearRevenue ChangeExpense ChangeAsset Change
2023-7.4%+3.6%+2.8%
2022-2.5%+3.8%-9.0%
2021+21.2%+2.4%+18.2%
2020-13.8%-0.2%-0.1%
2019+7.7%+1.5%+3.0%

IRS Tax-Exempt Classification

IRS Classification Codes2000
IRS Ruling Date1938

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

AI Transparency Report

Vassar College demonstrates consistent financial activity typical of a large educational institution. Over the past decade, its assets have grown significantly, from $1.59 billion in 2014 to $1.84 billion in 2023, indicating sound financial management and endowment growth. While there have been periods where expenses slightly exceeded revenue, such as in 2023 ($305M expenses vs. $284M revenue), these fluctuations are common for organizations of this scale and are often offset by endowment returns or capital campaigns not fully reflected in annual operating revenue. The organization's substantial asset base provides a strong foundation for its long-term sustainability. Spending efficiency appears to be focused on its core educational mission, though specific program, administrative, and fundraising breakdowns are not provided in the raw data. The consistent reporting of 0% for officer compensation across all filings is unusual for an organization of this size and suggests that executive compensation might be reported under different categories or that the institution's leadership is compensated through other means not captured in this specific field, which could impact transparency if not clarified elsewhere. Further detail on functional expenses would be necessary for a more precise assessment of spending efficiency. Overall, Vassar College appears financially stable with a growing asset base. However, the lack of detailed functional expense breakdowns and the consistent 0% officer compensation reported in the provided data limit a full assessment of its spending efficiency and transparency regarding executive pay. Additional information from the full IRS 990 forms would be beneficial to fully understand these aspects.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Vassar 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: 15%
  • programs: 80%
  • fundraising: 5%

According to IRS 990 filings, Vassar College 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:

$284.4MTotal Revenue
$305.4MTotal Expenses
$1.8BTotal Assets
$368.5MTotal Liabilities
$1.5BNet Assets
  • The organization reported a deficit of $20.9M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
  • Debt-to-asset ratio: 20.1%.

Executive Compensation Analysis

The consistent reporting of 0% for officer compensation across all available filings is highly unusual for an institution of Vassar College's size and financial scale, suggesting that executive compensation is either reported under different categories or not captured in this specific field, which could be a transparency concern.

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 Vassar College's IRS 990 filings:

  • Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is unusual for an organization of this size and may indicate a lack of transparency in executive pay disclosure within the provided data.
  • Occasional operating deficits (e.g., 2023, 2020, 2016) where expenses exceeded revenue, though this is often managed by large endowments.

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for Vassar College:

  • Significant and consistent growth in assets, from $1.59 billion in 2014 to $1.84 billion in 2023, indicating strong financial stewardship and endowment performance.
  • Substantial asset base ($1.93 billion latest reported) provides long-term financial stability and capacity for its educational mission.
  • Generally stable revenue streams over the past decade, supporting ongoing operations.

Frequently Asked Questions about Vassar College

Is Vassar College a legitimate charity?

Vassar College (EIN: 141338587) 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: $722.8M. 2 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.

How does Vassar College spend its money?

Vassar College directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.

Are donations to Vassar College tax-deductible?

Vassar College is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 141338587). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

What percentage of Vassar College's spending goes to programs?

Vassar College directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.

Where is Vassar College located?

Vassar College is headquartered in Poughkeepsie, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 141338587.

How many years of IRS 990 filings does Vassar College have?

Vassar 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 $722.8M in total revenue.

How is executive compensation for Vassar College's leadership reported, given the 0% listed in the filings?

The provided IRS 990 data consistently shows 0% for officer compensation. This is highly unusual for an organization of Vassar College's size and suggests that executive compensation may be reported under different expense categories or through other mechanisms not captured in this specific field. Further review of the full IRS 990, specifically Part VII and Schedule J, would be necessary to understand how executive compensation is disclosed.

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

The provided summary data does not include a detailed breakdown of functional expenses. To accurately assess spending efficiency, a review of the full IRS 990, specifically Part IX (Statement of Functional Expenses), would be required to see the allocation between program services, management and general, and fundraising expenses.

How does Vassar College manage periods where expenses exceed revenue, such as in 2023?

In fiscal year 2023, Vassar College reported expenses of $305,388,420 against revenue of $284,446,069, resulting in an operating deficit. For large educational institutions with substantial endowments, such deficits are often covered by investment returns from the endowment, capital campaign contributions, or strategic use of reserves, which may not be fully reflected in the annual operating revenue figure. The college's growing asset base suggests these deficits are manageable within its overall financial strategy.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Vassar College showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:

Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Vassar College's revenue has grown by 23.9%, moving from $229.5M to $284.4M. Total assets increased by 38.3% over the same period, from $1.3B to $1.8B. Total functional expenses rose by 40.7%, from $217.0M to $305.4M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Vassar College reported a deficit of $20.9M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $368.5M in liabilities against $1.8B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 20.1%), resulting in net assets of $1.5B.

YearRevenueExpensesAssetsLiabilitiesOfficer Comp. %PDF
2023 $284.4M $305.4M $1.8B $368.5M
2022 $307.2M $294.8M $1.8B $362.3M View 990
2021 $315.0M $284.0M $2.0B $378.0M
2020 $260.0M $277.2M $1.7B $384.3M View 990
2019 $301.5M $277.7M $1.7B $349.1M View 990
2018 $279.9M $273.7M $1.6B $334.9M View 990
2017 $311.4M $258.4M $1.6B $346.6M View 990
2016 $223.0M $250.3M $1.5B $346.5M View 990
2015 $238.9M $242.2M $1.6B $348.0M View 990
2014 $247.7M $236.9M $1.6B $350.8M View 990
2013 $255.9M $226.9M $1.5B $340.4M View 990
2012 $201.3M $230.3M $1.3B $267.4M View 990
2011 $229.5M $217.0M $1.3B $254.9M View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

  • 2023: Revenue of $284.4M, expenses of $305.4M, and assets of $1.8B (revenue -7.4% year-over-year).
  • 2022: Revenue of $307.2M, expenses of $294.8M, and assets of $1.8B (revenue -2.5% year-over-year).
  • 2021: Revenue of $315.0M, expenses of $284.0M, and assets of $2.0B (revenue +21.2% year-over-year).
  • 2020: Revenue of $260.0M, expenses of $277.2M, and assets of $1.7B (revenue -13.8% year-over-year).
  • 2019: Revenue of $301.5M, expenses of $277.7M, and assets of $1.7B (revenue +7.7% year-over-year).
  • 2018: Revenue of $279.9M, expenses of $273.7M, and assets of $1.6B (revenue -10.1% year-over-year).
  • 2017: Revenue of $311.4M, expenses of $258.4M, and assets of $1.6B (revenue +39.6% year-over-year).
  • 2016: Revenue of $223.0M, expenses of $250.3M, and assets of $1.5B (revenue -6.6% year-over-year).
  • 2015: Revenue of $238.9M, expenses of $242.2M, and assets of $1.6B (revenue -3.6% year-over-year).
  • 2014: Revenue of $247.7M, expenses of $236.9M, and assets of $1.6B (revenue -3.2% year-over-year).
  • 2013: Revenue of $255.9M, expenses of $226.9M, and assets of $1.5B (revenue +27.1% year-over-year).
  • 2012: Revenue of $201.3M, expenses of $230.3M, and assets of $1.3B (revenue -12.3% year-over-year).
  • 2011: Revenue of $229.5M, expenses of $217.0M, and assets of $1.3B.

View Individual Filing Years

Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Vassar College:

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 Vassar 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.

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