Lasell University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE IMMERSE STUDENTS IN EXPERIENTIAL AND COLLABORATIVE LEARNING THAT FOSTERS LIFELONG INTELLECTUAL EXPLORATION AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
- Income
- $68.3 million
- Spending
- $71.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -5.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 85%
- Employees
- 1,010
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $494,709, 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: 33 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 54% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 34 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 2519 of 19 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 (4)
- $60.1 million spent. LASELL UNIVERSITY IS A COMPREHENSIVE COEDUCATIONAL UNIVERSITY WHICH OFFERS PROFESSIONALLY ORIENTED BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING MORE THAN 25 ACADEMIC MAJORS.OUR STUDENTS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE AND PREPARE FOR THE REAL WORLD THROUGH A PROJECT-BASED AND PROBLEM-BASED APPROACH TO TEACHING, THROUGH EXPOSURE TO DIVERSE CULTURES AND PEOPLES, THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL SKILLS SUCH AS WRITING AND SPEAKING IN FRONT OF GROUPS, AND THROUGH CONFRONTATION WITH ETHICAL AND MORAL QUESTIONS.LASELL UNIVERSITY IS KNOWN FOR HELPING STUDENTS MAKE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CLASSROOM LESSONS AND REAL LIFE THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES SUCH AS INTERNSHIPS, PRACTICAL, SERVICE LEARNING, AND MEANINGFUL PROJECTS. CONNECTED LEARNING AT LASELL UNIVERSITY INVOLVES STUDENTS DIRECTLY AND ACTIVELY IN THE FIELDS THEY ARE LEARNING. IN ALL MAJORS, STUDENTS EXPLORE REAL ISSUES, EVENTS, PROBLEMS, AND SOLUTIONS. LASELL UNIVERSITY FACULTY ARE COMMITTED TO CREATIVELY INTEGRATING CHALLENGING COURSEWORK WITH PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS LIFELONG INTELLECTUAL EXPLORATION, ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILTIY.
- $842,384 spent. PROVIDED MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO LASELL VILLAGE, INC., A TAX-EXEMPT AFFILIATE, FUNCTIONS THAT ARE INTEGRAL TO THE CONDUCT OF THE EXEMPT FUNCTIONS OF LASELL VILLAGE, INC.
- $756,036 spent. PROVIDED FACILITIES FOR OTHER EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND TO PROVIDE HOUSING TO STUDENTS.
- $446,628 spent. PROVIDED COLLABORATIVE POLICE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES WITH ANOTHER LOCAL COLLEGE, FUNCTIONS THAT ARE INTEGRAL TO THE CONDUCT OF THE EXEMPT FUNCTIONS OF THAT COLLEGE, WITH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICES TO EACH COLLEGE CAMPUS IN A COST EFFECTIVE MANNER.
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 May 1928.
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.