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Bennington College

EIN 03-0179414 · Bennington, VT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO BROUGHT BENNINGTON COLLEGE INTO BEING SOUGHT TO CREATE A COLLEGE THAT WOULD EMPHASIZE "THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT AND HER DEVELOPING INTERESTS," LEARNING "BY ACTIVITY AND LIVING", A COMMUNITY LIFE DESIGNED TO "BREAK DOWN ARTIFICIAL BARRIERS BETWEEN TEACHER AND STUDENT AND BETWEEN CURRICULUM AND EXTRA CURRICULUM, AND "A CONSCIOUS ELASTICITY IN EDUCATIONAL PLANS."THE PRINCIPLE OF LEARNING BY PRACTICE AND THE EMPHASIS ON THE INDIVIDUAL UNDERLIE EVERY MAJOR FEATURE OF A BENNINGTON EDUCATION: THE CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STUDENT AND TEACHER, THE INSISTENCE ON SELF-DETERMINATION, THE COMMITMENT TO LEARNING ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES, AND THE FIELD WORK TERM, WHICH GIVES STUDENTS WORK EXPERIENCE AND CONNECTS THEM TO THE GREATER COMMUNITY. THE PLAN PROCESS, THROUGH WHICH STUDENTS DESIGN THEIR ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES AND NAVIGATE THEIR BENNINGTON EDUCATION, EMBODIES THE COLLEGE'S MISSION.

Income
$90.8 million
Spending
$95.0 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 74%
Employees
526
Volunteers
160
Highest pay
$615,436, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 25 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $80.0 million spent. UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM: BENNINGTON COLLEGE HOLDS A DISTINGUISHED PLACE AMONG AMERICAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. IT WAS THE FIRST TO INCLUDE THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS IN A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION, AND IT IS THE ONLY COLLEGE TO REQUIRE THAT ITS STUDENTS SPEND SEVEN WEEKS - EVERY YEAR - AT WORK IN THE WORLD (FIELD WORK TERM).BENNINGTON'S CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF PUBLIC ACTION IS AN EXPRESSION OF THE COLLEGE'S COMMITMENT TO ENGAGING THE WORLD; BY EMBEDDING IN THE CURRICULUM AN ONGOING DYNAMIC BETWEEN PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND PRIVATE AMBITIONS, BENNINGTON AIMS TO ENSURE THAT ITS GRADUATES ARE COMMITTED TO, AND CAPABLE OF, EFFECTIVE ACTION IN THE WORLD. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)BENNINGTON STUDENTS DRAW IN THE FULL BREADTH OF THE COLLEGE'S CURRICULUM WHICH OFFERS CLASSES IN THE HUMANITIES, NATURAL SCIENCES, MATHEMATICS, SOCIAL SCIENCE, AND VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS - TO DESIGN INDIVIDUAL COURSES OF STUDY THAT ARE UNIFIED AND FUELED BY THEIR INTELLECT AND IMAGINATION, GUIDED BY THEIR FACULTY, AND SHAPED BY THEIR EXPERIENCE WORKING IN THE WORLD EACH YEAR.
  2. $2.9 million spent. GRADUATE PROGRAMS: BENNINGTON'S GRADUATE PROGRAMS ARE BUILT ON THE BELIEF THAT MAKING NEW WORK IS AT THE HEART OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. THE COLLEGE'S GRADUATE PROGRAMS ARE SMALL, INTENSIVE, AND SELECTIVE. BENNINGTON OFFERS A LOW-RESIDENCY MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN WRITING PROGRAM, WHICH IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED, AS WELL AS AN ON-CAMPUS MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN PERFORMING ARTS. IN 2023-2024, THESE PROGRAMS SERVED APPROXIMATELY 100 STUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1957.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

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