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Hobart and William Smith Colleges

EIN 16-0743040 · Geneva, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 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

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH PREPARES STUDENTS TO LEAD LIVES OF CONSEQUENCE.

Income
$282.3 million
Spending
$201.0 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 52%
Employees
1,701
Volunteers
2,343
Highest pay
$847,296, president

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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 43% 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

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

    30 of 35 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 (1)
  1. $175.7 million spent. HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH IS A RESIDENTIAL LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES INSTITUTION KNOWN FOR CONSISTENT SUCCESS IN PREPARING STUDENTS FOR MEANINGFUL LIVES AND FULFILLING CAREERS THROUGH AN OUTCOMES-BASED FOCUS ON THEIR FUTURES. TO BEST PREPARE STUDENTS FOR IMPACT AND SUCCESS, HWS NURTURES INTELLECTUAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND ETHICAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH 70 ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. IN A RELATIONSHIP-RICH LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, STUDENTS COMPLEMENT BROAD, INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDY WITH HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES MADE POSSIBLE BY HWS' CENTERS FOR EXPERIENCE, ACTION, AND THOUGHT. MORE THAN 60% OF HWS STUDENTS STUDY ABROAD, ALL PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND HWS GUARANTEES ALL STUDENTS ACCESS TO AN INTERNSHIP OR RESEARCH EXPERIENCE. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL RANKS HWS #4 IN THE NATION FOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE DURING 2025.

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 July 1946.

    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.