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Franklin W Olin College of Engineering Inc

EIN 06-1519057 · Needham, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak33 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OLIN COLLEGE PREPARES STUDENTS TO BECOME EXEMPLARY ENGINEERING INNOVATORS WHO RECOGNIZE NEEDS, DESIGN SOLUTIONS, AND ENGAGE IN CREATIVE ENTERPRISES FOR THE GOOD OF THE WORLD. OLIN IS DEDICATED TO CONTINUAL DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE LEARNING APPROACHES AND ENVIRONMENTS, AND TO CO-DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL TRANSFORMATION WITH COLLABORATORS AROUND THE GLOBE.

Income
$40.8 million
Spending
$66.2 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 78%
Employees
456
Volunteers
157
Highest pay
$792,962, president/trustee (ex-officio)

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: 33 out of 100. Higher than 5% 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 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 62% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 48 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

    12 of 13 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 (2)
  1. $51.6 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1997, FRANKLIN W. OLIN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, INC. (OLIN OR THE COLLEGE) IS AN UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING INSTITUTION WITH A MISSION TO TRANSFORM ENGINEERING EDUCATION TOWARD A WORLD IN WHICH ENGINEERING SERVES EVERYONE. THE COLLEGE HAS APPROXIMATELY 387 STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND HAS ATTRACTED 1,154 APPLICANTS FOR THE FALL 2025 ENTERING CLASS. OLIN'S INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO ENGINEERING EDUCATION STRESSES PROJECT-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING AND FOCUSES ON HELPING ENGINEERS UNDERSTAND THE REAL-WORLD IMPACT OF THEIR WORK, AS WELL AS DEVELOP SKILLS TO TACKLE THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEMS, AND BE PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING PEOPLE, SOCIETY, AND THE PLANET. EVERY ADMITTED STUDENT RECEIVES AN EIGHT SEMESTER HALF TUITION MERIT SCHOLARSHIP OVER FOUR YEARS. THE COLLEGE IS ACCREDITED BY THE NEW ENGLAND COMMISSION OF HIGHER EDUCATION (FORMERLY A PART OF NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES) AND THE COLLEGE'S THREE DEGREE PROGRAMS ARE ACCREDITED BY ABET, THE ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION FOR ENGINEERING PROGRAMS.
  2. $298,262 spent. OLIN IS COMMITTED TO ADVANCING A VISION OF ENGINEERING FOR EVERYONE THROUGH IMPACT-CENTERED EDUCATION, WHICH FOCUSES NOT ONLY ON PREPARING STUDENTS TO HAVE IMPACT BUT ALSO ON ENGAGING STUDENTS IN CREATING AUTHENTIC IMPACT AND IN MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. AS PART OF THIS STRATEGY, OLIN ENGAGES IN COLLABORATIVE ACTIVITIES WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD (INCLUDING NEIGHBORING BABSON AND WELLESLEY COLLEGES). OLIN'S EXTERNALLY FACING PROGRAMS INCLUDE FACULTY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES, AND LIFELONG LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR ALUMNI AND ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS, OLIN FULFILLS ITS ASPIRATION TO BE AN IMPORTANT AND CONSTANT CONTRIBUTOR TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION AND TO DO GOOD FOR HUMANKIND.

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 November 6, 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 September 1998.

    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 November 4, 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.