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Gordon College

EIN 04-2104258 · Wenham, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$82.6 million
Spending
$83.0 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 74%
Employees
1,545
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$674,138, 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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 21 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $53.1 million spent. HIGHER EDUCATION: OUR LARGEST PROGRAM SERVICE IS PROVIDING EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION TO INDIVIDUALS GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO EARN AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE, GRADUATE DEGREE, OR GRADUATE CERTIFICATE. THE COLLEGE WELCOMES DUAL-ENROLLMENT STUDENTS AND LEARNERS PURSUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AFTER COLLEGE. GORDON COLLEGE IS THE ONLY NONDENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE IN NEW ENGLAND. IT OFFERS 35 MAJORS AND CONFERS 3 DISTINCT UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES: BACHELOR OF ARTS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BACHELOR OF MUSIC. UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT OF 1,501 STUDENTS (DEGREE SEEKING AND NON-DEGREE SEEKING) IS DRAWN FROM 43 STATES AND 38 COUNTRIES. GRADUATE ENROLLMENT IN 2024-25 WAS 544 STUDENTS. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O). (CONTINUATION) IN 2024-2025, GORDON COLLEGE ISSUED 317 UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES (WITH A SIX-YEAR GRADUATION RATE OF 71%). GORDON HAD A FACULTY TO STUDENT RATIO OF 11 TO 1 WITH 63% OF THE STUDENTS FROM OUTSIDE MASSACHUSETTS. OF THE 91 FULL-TIME FACULTY, 76% HAVE EARNED A DOCTORATE OR OTHER TERMINAL DEGREE. GORDON COLLEGE STUDENTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A WIDE VARIETY OF OFF-CAMPUS PROGRAMS, BOTH DOMESTIC AND ABROAD. DURING 2024-25, 100 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN OFF-CAMPUS PROGRAMS AND SHORT-TERM INTERNATIONAL SEMINARS.FORM 990, PART V, LINE 2A: EMPLOYEE BREAKOUT: STAFF - 758 STUDENT - 787 TOTAL - 1545
  2. $15.4 million spent. AUXILIARY PROGRAMS RELATED TO THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS FOR DORMITORY HOUSING, FOOD SERVICE, BOOKSTORE, LAVIDA OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE, BALANCE AND MOBILITY CENTER, SUMMER ATHLETIC CAMPS AND OTHER SUMMER PROGRAMS. THERE WERE 1,131 RESIDENT STUDENTS IN THE FALL SEMESTER 2024 AND 1,079 IN THE SPRING SEMESTER 2025.
  3. $1.8 million spent. HIGHER EDUCATION: AS OF THE 2024-25 ACADEMIC YEAR, GORDON COLLEGE OFFERS GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN EDUCATION, MUSIC EDUCATION, CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP, THEOLOGY, AND PUBLIC HEALTH CONFERRING DEGREES IN MASTERS OF EDUCATION, EDUCATION SPECIALIST IN EDUCATION, MASTERS OF MUSIC EDUCATION, MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION SPECIALIST IN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP, MASTER OF THEOLOGY FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION, AND MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH. THE TOTAL OF UNDUPLICATED GRADUATE STUDENTS WAS 544 DRAWN FROM 37 STATES AND 16 COUNTRIES. GORDON COLLEGE CONFERRED 100 MASTER'S DEGREES IN 2024-25.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1941.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.