Boston College Trustees
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
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
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $1.8 billion
- Spending
- $1.5 billion
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 62%
- Employees
- 12,879
- Volunteers
- 55
- Highest pay
- $3.4 million, head coach, fball (from 2/24)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2547 of 49 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 (4)
- $697.9 million spent. INSTRUCTION - INCLUDES EXPENDITURES TO PROVIDE COURSEWORK FOR STUDENTS AND TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL AID IN THE FORM OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS. ENROLLMENTS WERE 15,474 AND THE NUMBER OF DEGREES CONFERRED WAS 4,500.
- $264.6 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES - INCLUDES EXPENDITURES FOR THE SELF-SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES OF THE UNIVERSITY SUCH AS THE OPERATIONS OF 36 RESIDENCE HALLS, 16 DINING FACILITIES, 31 NCAA DIVISION I ATHLETIC TEAMS, BOOKSTORE AND HEALTH SERVICES.
- $249.2 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT - INCLUDES ACTIVITIES OF WHICH THE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE STUDENTS' EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING AND TO HIS/HER INTELLECTUAL, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. OPERATED 9 UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FACILITIES CONTAINING OVER 3.400 MILLION VOLUMES, OVER 205 THOUSAND SERIAL TITLES SERVING THE UNIVERSITY AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
- OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES EXPENDITURES FOR RESEARCH, PUBLIC SERVICE AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAM REVENUES AND EXPENSES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.