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Wesleyan University

EIN 06-0646959 · Middletown, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING AN EDUCATION IN LIBERAL ARTS BY BUILDING A DIVERSE, ENERGETIC COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF WHO VALUE INDEPENDENCE OF MIND AND GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT. SEE ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION IN SCHEDULE O.

Income
$443.2 million
Spending
$403.5 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
3,631
Volunteers
967
Highest pay
$1.4 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

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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

    39 of 40 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 (4)
  1. $258.0 million spent. INSTRUCTION AND RESEARCHWESLEYAN UNIVERSITY OFFERS MORE THAN 900 COURSES IN 47 MAJOR FIELDS OF STUDY, 32 MINOR FIELDS OF STUDY, AND 2 CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS, AND AWARDS THE BACHELOR OF ARTS, A MASTER OF ARTS AND A DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY. THIS RICH CATALOG REFLECTS WESLEYAN'S COMMITMENT TO A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO EXPLORE EVERYTHING FROM THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES TO SCIENCES AND SOCIAL STUDIES. INSTRUCTION AND RESEARCH INCLUDES ALL EXPENDITURES FOR COMPENSATION AND OTHER EXPENSES IN SUPPORT OF INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITY. THE STUDENT BODY IS MADE UP OF APPROXIMATELY 3,000 FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND 140 GRADUATE STUDENTS AS WELL AS AROUND 60 STUDENTS PER YEAR IN THE GRADUATE LIBERAL STUDIES PROGRAM. AN ONGOING FACULTY OF MORE THAN 400 IS JOINED EACH SEMESTER BY A DISTINGUISHED GROUP OF VISITING ARTISTS AND PROFESSORS. TODAY'S STUDENT/INSTRUCTOR RATIO IS 8 TO 1 AND ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF ALL COURSES ENROLL FEWER THAN 20 STUDENTS.
  2. $66.8 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES AND OTHERAUXILIARY SERVICES INCLUDE THE COSTS OF ROOM AND BOARD FOR APPROXIMATELY 3,000 STUDENTS RESIDING ON A 316 ACRE CAMPUS. THERE ARE 8 RESIDENCE HALLS, 7 APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND OVER 25 PROGRAM HOUSES IN ADDITION TO OVER 140 HOUSE UNITS ON CAMPUS FOR UPPER-CLASS STUDENTS. WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STUDENTS AND COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE WESLEYAN COMMUNITY, THE OFFICE OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE STRIVES TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT THAT COMPLEMENTS AND EXTENDS STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. STUDENT-CENTERED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON HOLISTIC INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, STUDENT LEADERSHIP, INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY, ADVOCACY OF ACADEMIC INQUIRY, AND FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, OPINION AND EXPRESSION IN THE SPIRIT OF MUTUAL RESPECT. THESE ARE THE HALLMARKS OF THE WESLEYAN RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCE, AND THEY PROVIDE THE ESSENTIAL FOUNDATION FOR A QUALITY LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION WITHIN A DIVERSE AND DYNAMIC COMMUNITY.
  3. $14.2 million spent. LIBRARIESLIBRARY EXPENSES INCLUDE ACQUISITION OF BOOKS, PERIODICALS AND OTHER MATERIALS, COMPENSATION OF STAFF, AND OTHER EXPENDITURES IN SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY. THE MISSION OF THE LIBRARY IS TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION SERVICES AND RESOURCES REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THE LEARNING, TEACHING, AND RESEARCH OF THE WESLEYAN COMMUNITY.TO CARRY OUT THIS MISSION THE LIBRARY WILL: - ORGANIZE AND PROVIDE INTELLECTUAL AND PHYSICAL ACCESS TO COLLECTIONS AND INFORMATION RESOURCES LOCALLY AND WORLD-WIDE- DEVELOP AND PRESERVE LOCAL COLLECTIONS - TEACH AND GUIDE USERS IN THE LIBRARY RESEARCH PROCESS - PROVIDE AN ATMOSPHERE CONDUCIVE TO STUDY, RESEARCH, AND LEARNING - CONTRIBUTE TO THE LARGER SCHOLARLY WORLDTHE WESLEYAN LIBRARY WILL PROVIDE UNEXCELLED SERVICES. IT IS A DYNAMIC PLACE WHERE LIBRARY STAFF PROVIDE USERS WITH THE INFORMATION THEY NEED, AS WELL AS A KEEN SENSE THAT THERE ARE MANY PATHS, AND A WIDE RANGE OF SKILLS NECESSARY FOR THE EFFECTIVE USE AND EVALUATION OF INFORMATION RESOURCES.
  4. $12.2 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES INCLUDES THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ADMINISTERING THEOFFICE OF ADMISSIONS, REGISTRAR, FINANCIAL AID, CAREER PLANNING, HEALTHSERVICES, INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND DEAN'S OFFICE.

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 April 1943.

    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.

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.