Wellesley College
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
TO PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION FOR WOMEN WHO WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
- Income
- $486.7 million
- Spending
- $374.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 11.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 42%
- Employees
- 3,003
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $1.9 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% 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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2533 of 34 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 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)
- $194.0 million spent. OUTSTANDING EDUCATION: WELLESLEY COLLEGE IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT OUR EXCELLENT LIBERAL ARTS CURRICULUM IS BOTH INTELLECTUALLY AND CULTURALLY BROAD TO PREPARE OUR GRADUATES FOR THEIR LIVES AFTER COLLEGE. WELLESLEY OFFERS MORE THAN 50 DEPARTMENTAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL MAJORS TO APPROXIMATELY 2,300 STUDENTS. THE AVERAGE CLASS SIZE IS 17 TO 20 STUDENTS WITH A 7:1 STUDENT- FACULTY RATIO.
- $82.8 million spent. WELLELSEY COLLEGE HAS A LONG TRADITION OF NEED-BLIND ADMISSION FOR U.S. CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS, MAKING ADMISSION DECISIONS WITHOUT REGARD TO A FAMILY'S FINANCIAL SITUATION. THROUGH ITS FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM, THE COLLEGE MEETS 100 PERCENT OF A STUDENT'S DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED. RESOURCES DEDICATED TO THE FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM ENSURE THAT WELLESLEY IS SUCCESSFUL IN RECRUITING AND ENROLLING A STRONG AND DIVERSE STUDENT BODY WITH CONTINUED ATTENTION TO ISSUES OF FUNDING AND AFFORDABILITY. APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE STUDENT BODY RECEIVES FINANCIAL AID.
- $11.9 million spent. SPONSORED RESEARCH: WELLESLEY PRIDES ITSELF ON ITS COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THE TEACHER-SCHOLAR IDEAL, ENABLING OUR GIFTED FACULTY MEMBERS TO INTEGRATE THEIR LOVE OF TEACHING AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH STUDENTS WITH THEIR PURSUIT OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE THROUGH THEIR WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1946.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.