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Syracuse University

EIN 15-0532081 · Syracuse, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ORGANIZATION'S MISSIONAS A UNIVERSITY WITH THE CAPACITY TO ATTRACT AND ENGAGE THE BEST SCHOLARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, YET SMALL ENOUGH TO SUPPORT A PERSONALIZED AND ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS STUDENT EXPERIENCE, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY FACULTY AND STAFF SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS BY:- ENCOURAGING GLOBAL STUDY, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, INTERDISCIPLINARYSCHOLARSHIP, CREATIVITY, AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVORS- BALANCING PROFESSIONAL STUDIES WITH AN INTENSIVE LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION- PROMOTING A CULTURE OF INNOVATION AND DISCOVERY- SUPPORTING FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENT COLLABORATION IN CREATIVE ACTIVITY AND RESEARCH THAT ADDRESS EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES AND SOCIETAL NEEDS- MAINTAINING PRIDE IN OUR LOCATION AND HISTORY AS A PLACE OF ACCESS, ENGAGEMENT, INNOVATION, AND IMPACT.

Income
$2.0 billion
Spending
$1.8 billion
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 86%
Employees
17,116
Volunteers
1,477
Highest pay
$3.1 million, football head coach

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 33 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

    47 of 48 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

  • Instruction and research served approximately 16,000 undergraduate students.Work delivered
  • Instruction and research served 6,600 graduate and law 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 (4)
  1. $951.2 million spent. INSTRUCTION AND DEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH:EXPENDITURES IN THIS AREA INCLUDE SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR FACULTY, SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS TO STUDENTS, AND SUPPORT FOR FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, CONDUCTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF APPROXIMATELY 16,000 UNDERGRADUATE AND 6,600 GRADUATE AND LAW STUDENTS ENROLLED AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.
  2. $329.8 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES:EXPENDITURES IN THIS AREA INCLUDE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE UNIVERSITY'S UNDERGRADUATE FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES. THE UNIVERSITY HAS A TWO-YEAR RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT FOR FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES WITH THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE STUDENTS' EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING AND THEIR INTELLECTUAL, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE THE FORMAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM.
  3. $90.0 million spent. SPONSORED RESEARCH AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES:EXPENDITURES IN THIS AREA INCLUDE RESEARCH AND SIMILAR ACTIVITY FUNDED BY GRANTS FROM THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND NON-PROFIT SECTORS.
  4. $296.5 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENDITURES SUPPORT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY'S ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH INITIATIVES THROUGH PROVISION OF ACADEMIC SUPPORT, STUDENT SERVICES AND GENERAL INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT, THE CRITICAL COMPONENTS TO SEAMLESS DELIVERY AND TO MEETING THE NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY'S STUDENTS AND FACULTY.

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 October 1938.

    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.