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Trustees of Columbia University

EIN 13-5598093 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT CENTERS OF RESEARCH AND AT THE SAME TIME A DISTINCTIVE AND DISTINGUISHED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR UNDERGRADUATES AND GRADUATE STUDENTS IN MANY SCHOLARLY AND PROFESSIONAL FIELDS. THE UNIVERSITY RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF ITS LOCATION IN NEW YORK CITY AND SEEKS TO LINK ITS RESEARCH AND TEACHING TO THE VAST RESOURCES OF A GREAT METROPOLIS. IT SEEKS TO ATTRACT A DIVERSE AND INTERNATIONAL FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY, TO SUPPORT RESEARCH AND TEACHING ON GLOBAL ISSUES, AND TO CREATE ACADEMIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANY COUNTRIES AND REGIONS. IT EXPECTS ALL AREAS OF THE UNIVERSITY TO ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL AND TO CONVEY THE PRODUCTS OF ITS EFFORTS TO THE WORLD.

Income
$7.5 billion
Spending
$7.2 billion
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
41,297
Volunteers
17,484
Highest pay
$6.9 million, professor of surgery

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 3.6 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 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 21 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (7)
  1. $2.5 billion spent. THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IS A PRIVATE, NONSECTARIAN, NONPROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION WHOSE ACTIVITIES ARE CONCENTRATED AT THREE LOCATIONS IN NEW YORK CITY AND EXTEND AROUND THE GLOBE. THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES INSTRUCTION THROUGH SEVENTEEN UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE, AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS. IT OPERATES A VARIETY OF RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND A LIBRARY SYSTEM TO SUPPORT ITS TEACHING, LEARNING, AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. THE UNIVERSITY ENROLLS APPROXIMATELY 35,872 FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME STUDENTS.
  2. $1.6 billion spent. THE UNIVERSITY, THROUGH THE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IRVING MEDICAL CENTER AND ITS MEDICAL FACULTY PRACTICE PLAN, PROVIDES DIRECT PATIENT CARE AND OTHER CLINICAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS THROUGH CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS FOR SERVICES.
  3. $988.7 million spent. THE UNIVERSITY PERFORMS RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND OTHER SERVICES UNDER GRANTS AND CONTRACTS WITH AGENCIES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND OTHER SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS.
  4. $404.6 million spent. CAMPUS OPERATIONS
  5. $459.3 million spent. INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT
  6. $232.3 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES
  7. $314.1 million spent. OTHER SOURCES

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 January 1974.

    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.