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Salve Regina University

EIN 05-0259080 · Newport, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY, A CATHOLIC INSTITUTION FOUNDED BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY, SEEKS WISDOM AND PROMOTES UNIVERSAL JUSTICE. THE UNIVERSITY, THROUGH TEACHING AND RESEARCH, PREPARES MEN AND WOMEN FOR RESPONSIBLE LIVES BY IMPARTING AND EXPANDING (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION) KNOWLEDGE, DEVELOPING SKILLS AND CULTIVATING ENDURING VALUES. THROUGH LIBERAL ARTS AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS, STUDENTS DEVELOP THEIR ABILITIES FOR THINKING CLEARLY AND CREATIVELY, ENHANCE THEIR CAPACITY FOR SOUND JUDGEMENT, AND PREPARE FOR THE CHALLENGE OF LEARNING THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. IN KEEPING WITH THE TRADITIONS OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY, AND RECOGNIZING THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE STEWARDS OF GOD'S CREATION, THE UNIVERSITY ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO WORK FOR A WORLD THAT IS HARMONIOUS, JUST AND MERCIFUL.

Income
$159.1 million
Spending
$145.9 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
1,523
Volunteers
31
Highest pay
$456,953, 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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 29 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 (1)
  1. $127.8 million spent. SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY (THE "UNIVERSITY"), LOCATED IN NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, IS A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY WHICH OPENED IN 1947 AND IS ACCREDITED BY THE NEW ENGLAND COMMISSION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, INC., FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. THE UNIVERSITY WAS FOUNDED BY AND CONTINUES TO BE SPONSORED BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY. THE UNIVERSITY ENROLLS APPROXIMATELY 2,700 MEN AND WOMEN IN A VARIETY OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. THE UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT POPULATION IS PREDOMINATELY FROM THE NORTHEAST REGION OF THE UNITED STATES. THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON THE LIBERAL ARTS. THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS BACCALAUREATE AND MASTER DEGREES, A CERTIFICATE OF ADVANCED GRADUATE STUDY AND A PH.D. IN HUMANITIES AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.

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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 March 1946.

    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.

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