Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Fordham University

EIN 13-1740451 · Bronx, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FORDHAM UNIVERSITY, THE JESUIT UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, IS COMMITTED TO THE DISCOVERY OF WISDOM AND THE TRANSMISSION OF LEARNING, THROUGH RESEARCH AND THROUGH EDUCATION OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE SCHEDULE O.

Income
$1.2 billion
Spending
$1.2 billion
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
-4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 84%
Employees
8,154
Volunteers
2,991
Highest pay
$1.8 million, president & trustee

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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

    36 of 38 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

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • The university serves and educates approximately 10,200 undergraduate students.Work delivered
  • The university serves and educates approximately 5,200 graduate and professional students.Work delivered

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $952.8 million spent. HIGHER EDUCATION FORDHAM UNIVERSITY IS AN INDEPENDENT, NOT-FOR-PROFIT, COEDUCATIONAL, INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING, IN THE JESUIT TRADITION, WITH ITS PRINCIPAL CAMPUSES LOCATED IN NEW YORK CITY. FORDHAM UNIVERSITY SERVES AND EDUCATES APPROXIMATELY 10,200 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND 5,200 GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE SCHEDULE O. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: FORDHAM UNIVERSITY IS AN INDEPENDENT, NOT-FOR-PROFIT, COEDUCATIONAL, INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING, IN THE JESUIT TRADITION. FORDHAM UNIVERSITY SERVES AND EDUCATES APPROXIMATELY 10,200 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND 5,200 GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS. THE UNIVERSITY AWARDS BACCALAUREATE, GRADUATE, AND PROFESSIONAL DEGREES TO STUDENTS FROM FORDHAM COLLEGE AT ROSE HILL, FORDHAM COLLEGE AT LINCOLN CENTER, THE GABELLI SCHOOL OF BUSINESS (UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE), THE SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING STUDIES, THE GRADUATE SCHOOLS OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, EDUCATION, RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, SOCIAL SERVICE, AND THE SCHOOL OF LAW. A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO ENABLE QUALIFIED STUDENTS TO STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY. THE UNIVERSITY'S PRINCIPAL LOCATIONS INCLUDE RESIDENTIAL CAMPUSES IN NEW YORK CITY AND LONDON, A CAMPUS IN WEST HARRISON, NEW YORK, AND A BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION IN ARMONK, NEW YORK. IN ADDITION TO THESE LOCATIONS, THE UNIVERSITY HOLDS A NUMBER OF AFFILIATIONS WITH HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE AND OFFERS ONLINE CLASSES AND ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS.
  2. $113.7 million spent. STUDENT HOUSING & FOOD SERVICES THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES VARIOUS SERVICES FOR THE BENEFIT OF ITS STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF AND IN SUPPORT OF EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

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? 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 September 10, 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 January 1938.

    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.

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.