Clark University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CLARK UNIVERSITY'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS TO BE IMAGINATIVE AND CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS OF THE WORLD, AND TO ADVANCE THE FRONTIERS OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING THROUGH RIGOROUS SCHOLARSHIP AND CREATIVE EFFORT. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
- Income
- $235.5 million
- Spending
- $266.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- -3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 84%
- Employees
- 2,700
- Volunteers
- 366
- Highest pay
- $933,628, president
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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 12% 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 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2530 of 31 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 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)
- $96.5 million spent. INSTRUCTION AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT: CLARK'S FALL 2024 ENROLLMENT CONSISTED OF 2,266 UNDERGRADUATES AND 1,665 GRADUATE STUDENTS. OUR MOTTO - AND MISSION - IS "CHALLENGE CONVENTION; CHANGE OUR WORLD", AND OUR FACULTY MEMBERS WORK TO INSPIRE THEIR STUDENTS TO UTILIZE THEIR LIBERAL ARTS BASED EDUCATION TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE AND WORK. WE ALSO HAVE STRONG GRADUATE PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDE MASTERS' LEVEL DEGREES AND EIGHT PHD PROGRAMS.
- $93.8 million spent. FINANCIAL AID: CLARK IS COMMITTED TO BEING AFFORDABLE TO THOSE STUDENTS ABLE TO MEET THE HIGH ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS OF OUR FACULTY. APPROXIMATELY 97% OF ALL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS RECEIVE SOME LEVEL OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS DISTRIBUTED ON THE BASIS OF BOTH MERIT AND FINANCIAL NEED.
- $14.8 million spent. RESEARCH: CLARK IS COMMITTED TO A PROGRAM OF RESEARCH AND HAS A VERY PROFESSIONALLY ACTIVE FACULTY, VIRTUALLY ALL OF WHOM ARE ENGAGED IN SPONSORED OR UNSPONSORED RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACTIVITY. UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE EXTENSIVELY IN FACULTY-DIRECTED RESEARCH. RESEARCH IS FUNDED BY BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC GRANTS.
- $40.3 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES INCLUDES PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY RESIDENCE HALLS, FOOD SERVICE, AND CAMPUS STORE SERVICES TO CLARK STUDENTS. STUDENT SERVICES PROGRAM SUPPORTS AN ENVIRONMENT FOR THE STUDENTS THAT ENCOURAGES THEM TO BECOME ACTIVE, INVOLVED AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITIES. RESOURCES ARE EXPENDED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE STUDENTS IN ACHIEVING THEIR NON-ACADEMIC GOALS AND PROVIDING A BALANCE AND HEALTHY SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT.
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 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 May 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 December 1937.
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.