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Drew University

EIN 22-1487164 · Madison, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak37 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DREW UNIVERSITY, A PHI BETA KAPPA LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY, INCLUDES THE COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, THE DREW THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL, AND THE CASPERSEN SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.

Income
$120.5 million
Spending
$133.9 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-17.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
1,360
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$495,694, 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

Weak: 37 out of 100. Higher than 3% 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 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $80.6 million spent. THE DREW UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AFFIRMS A COMMITMENT TO ITS FOUNDING VISION TO OFFER ITS STUDENTS A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY THROUGH A RIGOROUS COURSE OF STUDY. THE COLLEGE CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THE ARTS, NATURAL SCIENCES, SOCIAL SCIENCES, HUMANITIES, AND INTERDISCIPLINARY FIELDS IN DEPTH AND TO DEVELOP THEIR CAPACITIES FOR CRITICAL THOUGHT, PROBLEM SOLVING, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, CREATIVITY, SELF DISCIPLINE, AND EMPATHY. AS THE COLLEGE PREPARES STUDENTS FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, IT PROVIDES THEM WITH ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR LIVING AND CONTINUING TO LEARN AND TO GROW IN AN INCREASINGLY DIVERSE AND COMPLEX WORLD.
  2. $12.1 million spent. DREW THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL EMPOWERS LEADERSHIP FOR A GLOBAL CHRISTIANITY OF JUSTICE, ECUMENISM, AND THE INTEGRITY OF CREATION. ITS PASTORAL, SPIRITUAL, AND CONCEPTUAL DISCIPLINES GROW WITHIN AN INTIMATE LITURGICAL AND COMMUNAL CONTEXT, ONE THAT SUSTAINS MULTIPLE RELATIONS OF DIFFERENCE. THROUGH ITS PARTICULAR HISTORICAL COMMITMENTS TO AFRICAN, ASIAN, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, HISPANIC, AND WOMEN'S MINISTRIES, THE THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL REMAINS FAITHFULLY ROOTED IN ITS METHODIST HERITAGE. DREW NURTURES CHRISTIAN PRACTICES THROUGH VITAL PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL CHURCHES AND INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS OF EDUCATION. TRANS-DISCIPLINARY INTERPRETATION OF TEXT, TRADITION, AND EXPERIENCE ENERGIZES ITS SCHOLARLY VIGOR. DREW ENGENDERS THEOLOGIES RESPONSIBLE TO THE COMPLEX REALITIES OF AN INTERCONNECTED WORLD. INTO THAT WORLD, DREW SENDS PASTORS, PREACHERS AND PROPHETS, DEACONS, ACTIVISTS, AND TEACHERS.
  3. $3.9 million spent. THE CASPERSEN SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES WAS FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDY IN THE HUMANITIES. THE GOAL OF THE SCHOOL'S FOUNDERS WAS TO FOSTER BROADLY EDUCATED PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERTISE IN A FIELD OF THOUGHT BUT WHO ARE ALSO FAMILIAR WITH AND ARTICULATE IN A RANGE OF HUMANISTIC STUDIES. THIS MISSION CONTINUES TO DISTINGUISH THE CASPERSEN SCHOOL AMONG INSTITUTIONS WITH DOCTORAL PROGRAMS IN THE HUMANITIES. OUR INTENT IS TO TRAIN PERSONS WHO ARE PROPERLY PREPARED NOT ONLY IN SPECIFIC RECOGNIZED FIELDS BUT ALSO IN INTERDISCIPLINARY DIALOGUE. WE CELEBRATE THE JOY OF LEARNING AS WE PREPARE ABLE, WELL INFORMED GRADUATES WHO PURSUE CAREERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION, IN THE RELIGIOUS AND MEDICAL COMMUNITIES, AND IN THE BROADER INTELLECTUAL WORLD. AS SUCH, WE ARE WELL POSITIONED TO MEET THE INCREASING CALL FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES BOTH IN THE ACADEMY AND IN THE WIDER WORLD. INTEGRAL TO OUR MISSION IS ENCOURAGING OUR FACULTY AND STUDENTS ALIKE TO PURSUE CREATIVE RESEARCH IN THE HUMANITIES AND TO MAKE THE RESULTS OF THEIR WORK AVAILABLE THROUGH TEACHING, PARTICIPATION IN SCHOLARLY MEETINGS, VARIOUS FORMS OF PUBLICATION AND INTELLECTUAL DISCOURSE; TO THAT END WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE NEW POSSIBILITIES OF ENHANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES IN THE HUMANITIES.
  4. $15.1 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES REFLECT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM EXPENSES NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO ONE OF THE SCHOOLS DESCRIBED ABOVE. IT INCLUDES AN ALLOCATED METHOD OF PROGRAM, AUXILIARY, AND STUDENT SERVICE EXPENSES. OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ALSO INCLUDE EXPENSES AND REVENUES FROM THE UNIVERSITY'S CONTINUING EDUCATION AND SUMMER PROGRAMS.

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 1935.

    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.

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