Brandeis University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AS A RESEARCH UNIVERSITY, BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY IS DEDICATED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE HUMANITIES, ARTS AND SOCIAL, NATURAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES. AS A LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE, BRANDEIS AFFIRMS THE IMPORTANCE OF A BROAD AND CRITICAL EDUCATION IN ENRICHING THE LIVES OF STUDENTS.
- Income
- $496.9 million
- Spending
- $548.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 74%
- Employees
- 4,859
- Volunteers
- 1,515
- Highest pay
- $1.4 million, president (thru 11/1/24)
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: 45 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2543 of 45 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
10 of 10Gave 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
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $367.3 million spent. INSTRUCTIONAL AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT:BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY IS A RARE COMBINATION OF A LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE AND A GLOBAL RESEARCH UNIVERSITY. OUR STUDENT BODY NUMBERS 4,900, INCLUDING UNDERGRADUATES AND GRADUATE STUDENTS. WE HAVE A GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES AND TWO PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS, THE HELLER SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL POLICY AND MANAGEMENT AND THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL. THE RABB SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES OFFERS GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS FOR PART-TIME STUDENTS. MANY ACADEMIC PROGRAMS ARE ENRICHED BY MYRIAD INTERACTIONS WITH THE NUMEROUS OTHER LEADING UNIVERSITIES IN THE AREA. WE WORK TO CONNECT THEORY AND PRACTICE THROUGH FIELD WORK AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.
- $66.6 million spent. SPONSORED PROGRAMS INCLUDE VARIOUS RESEARCH AND INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS FUNDED BY EXTERNAL PARTIES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FOREIGN AND STATE GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS AND CORPORATIONS. BRANDEIS RESEARCH IS AT THE HEART OF MANY SOCIETAL, ARTISTIC, INTELLECTUAL AND SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES. RESEARCH AT BRANDEIS IS INTERDISCIPLINARY, BOLD AND COLLABORATIVE. IT'S AN APPROACH THAT ENABLES THE FACULTY TO LEVERAGE THE RELATIVELY SMALL SIZE OF THE UNIVERSITY TO ACHIEVE AN IMPACT WELL BEYOND THE SUM OF ITS PARTS. BRANDEIS IS WHOLLY COMMITTED TO THE PROPOSITION THAT BASIC RESEARCH IS THE ENGINE OF INNOVATION IN HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
- $43.6 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES: BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY SERVES THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF STUDENTS AND HAS BROAD RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES THAT ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF STUDENT LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. THESE SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO COMMUNITY LIVING, DINING SERVICES, HEALTH CENTER, PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING CENTER, AND INTERFAITH CHAPLAINCY.
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
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 June 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 September 1941.
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.