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Trustees of the Smith College

EIN 04-1843040 · Northampton, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

SMITH COLLEGE EDUCATES WOMEN OF PROMISE FOR LIVES OF DISTINCTION AND PURPOSE. A COLLEGE OF AND FOR THE WORLD, SMITH COLLEGE LINKS THE POWER OF THE LIBERAL ARTS TO EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP, DEVELOPING LEADERS FOR SOCIETY'S CHALLENGES. SEE SCHEDULE O.

Income
$532.5 million
Spending
$446.3 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 46%
Employees
4,519
Volunteers
6,000
Highest pay
$1.7 million, chief investment officer

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 30 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (5)
  1. $320.0 million spent. UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SERVING 2,500 STUDENTS. SMITH COLLEGE OFFERS 1,000 COURSES IN MORE THAN 50 AREAS OF STUDY. SMITH'S PROGRAMS IN FLORENCE, GENEVA, HAMBURG AND PARIS COMBINE RIGOROUS ACADEMICS WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF LIVING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY AND DISCOVERING A NEW CULTURE. FOR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, THE COLLEGE HAS MORE THAN 100 CHARTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS WITH A RANGE OF SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES, A DOZEN VARSITY SPORTS AND EXTENSIVE INTRAMURAL AND CLUB SPORTS PROGRAMS. THE CAMPUS SCHOOL (K TO 6) AND THE CENTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SERVE AS LABORATORIES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION & CHILD STUDY.
  2. $13.1 million spent. THE SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL WORK OFFERS A MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK (MSW) DEGREE FOCUSED ON CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK AND DIRECT FIELD WORK PRACTICE. THE PROGRAM STRESSES THE INTEGRATION OF CLINICAL THEORY & PRACTICE WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOCIAL CONTEXT IN WHICH PEOPLE LIVE. IT ALSO EMPHASIZES AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOCIAL POLICIES AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE THAT INFLUENCE THE SCHOOL'S SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE SCHOOL OFFERS A PH.D. PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PREPARE MSWS FOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN CLINICAL RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND PRACTICE. IT ALSO PROVIDES EXTENSIVE POSTGRADUATE OFFERINGS THROUGH ITS CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM.
  3. $6.1 million spent. GRADUATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFER WOMEN & MEN ADVANCED DEGREES OF MASTERS OF ARTS IN TEACHING (ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL), MASTER OF FINE ARTS, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, AND MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EXERCISE AND SPORT STUDIES. IN SPECIAL ONE-YEAR PROGRAMS, INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS MAY QUALIFY FOR A CERTIFICATE OF GRADUATE STUDIES OR A DIPLOMA IN AMERICAN STUDIES. EACH YEAR 100 MEN & WOMEN PURSUE SUCH ADVANCED WORK. INDIVIDUALS MAY ALSO ENROLL AS NON-DEGREE STUDENTS BY REGISTERING FOR ONE OR MORE COURSES. MOST GRADUATE COURSES ARE PLANNED FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS WHO ARE DEGREE CANDIDATES.
  4. $29.2 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O
  5. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUMMER PROGRAMS: OUTREACH PROGRAMS EXTEND SMITH COLLEGE'S ACADEMIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY, BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY. THE COLLEGE OFFERS PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN & THEIR FAMILIES, FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, AS WELL AS EDUCATORS. PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHT SMITH'S LEADERSHIP IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING EDUCATION, REFLECT THE COLLEGE'S COMMITMENT TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN, UTILIZING ITS WORLD-CLASS MUSEUM, GARDENS, AND CAMPUS. FACULTY ENGAGE IN SPONSORED AND COLLEGE FUNDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH. SMITH EXECUTIVE EDUCATION FOR WOMEN: SMITH EXECUTIVE EDUCATION FOR WOMEN IS DESIGNED TO GROW WOMEN LEADERS. PARTICIPANTS IN SMITH'S EXECUTIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM BENEFIT FROM COURSES, SEMINARS & DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE CUSTOMIZED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SPONSORING CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL ATTENDEES. WORLD CLASS FACULTY FROM THE WORLD'S LEADING BUSINESS SCHOOLS AND CORPORATIONS ARE SELECTED BASED ON THEIR EXPERTISE.

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 April 1934.

    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.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.