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Hampshire College Trustees

EIN 04-6130872 · Amherst, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE IS TO FOSTER A LIFELONG PASSION FOR LEARNING, INQUIRY, AND ETHICAL CITIZENSHIP THAT INSPIRES STUDENTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO KNOWLEDGE, JUSTICE, AND POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE WORLD AND, BY DOING SO, TO TRANSFORM HIGHER EDUCATION.

Income
$69.4 million
Spending
$76.7 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 82%
Employees
907
Volunteers
290
Highest pay
$449,331, president (until 06/25)

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: 44 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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 25

    19 of 23 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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. $58.2 million spent. INSTRUCTIONAL AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE PROVIDES INSTRUCTION FOR 800 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND EMPLOYS 55 FTE FACULTY. EDUCATIONAL DELIVERY ALSO INCLUDES STUDENT FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS. FINANCIAL AID INCLUDES GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND GOVERNMENT AID AWARDS TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN THE FINANCIAL COST OF ATTENDING HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE. 100% OF OUR FACULTY HAVE PH.D OR OTHER TERMINAL DEGREES IN THEIR FIELDS. ACCREDITATION: HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE IS FULLY ACCREDITED BY THE NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. MEMBERSHIP IN THE ASSOCIATION INDICATES THAT THE INSTITUTION HAS BEEN CAREFULLY EVALUATED AND FOUND TO MEET STANDARDS AGREED UPON QUALIFIED EVALUATORS.
  2. $7.2 million spent. INCLUDES THE COST OF HEALTH SERVICES, RECREATIONAL ATHLETICS, DEAN OF STUDENT'S OFFICE EXPENSES AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES FOR STUDENTS. HAMPSHIRE IS ONE OF 44 COLLEGES PROFILED IN COLLEGES THAT CHANGE LIVES (CTCL) FOR "DEVELOPING POTENTIAL, VALUES, INITIATIVE, AND RISK-TAKING" IN STUDENTS. CTCL SAYS OF HAMPSHIRE, "NO COLLEGE HAS STUDENTS WHOSE INTELLECTUAL THYROIDS ARE MORE ACTIVE OR WHOSE MINDS ARE MORE COMPASSIONATELY ENGAGED." BEING PART OF HAMPSHIRE IS A WHOLE NEW WAY OF LIFE, CENTERED ON COMMUNITY. STUDENTS ARE INTEGRAL TO EVERY PART OF THE COLLEGE, SERVING ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, HIRING COMMITTEES, BUDGET COMMITTEES), AND MORE. 85% OF STUDENTS LIVE ON CAMPUS. OVER 100 CLUBS, SPORTS, AND ORGANIZATIONS.
  3. $816,104 spent. SPONSORED RESEARCH AND RESTRICTED EXPENSES: INCLUDES ALL PRIVATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS RECEIVED FOR SPONSORED RESEARCH AND RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES. GRANTS FROM CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, INDIVIDUAL FACULTY RESEARCH, AND ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1965.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.

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