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Swarthmore College

EIN 23-1352683 · Swarthmore, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 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

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$382.2 million
Spending
$329.4 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
22.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 52%
Employees
2,907
Volunteers
1,045
Highest pay
$1.4 million, pres./ex officio board member

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

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 31 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

    39 of 39 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. $257.6 million spent. SWARTHMORE IS A CO-EDUCATIONAL COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND ENGINEERING DEDICATED TO INTELLECTUAL EXPLORATION, ACCESS, AND EDUCATING FOR THE COMMON GOOD. THE AVERAGE ENROLLMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 WAS 1,702. THERE WERE 191 STUDENTS STUDYING ABROAD. OF THE TOTAL STUDENT POPULATION, 1,459 COME FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WHILE 243 COME FROM OTHER NATIONS. SWARTHMORE'S COMMITMENT TO FINANCIAL AID AND ACCESS IS AT THE CORE OF OUR EDUCATIONAL MISSION. THE COLLEGE STRIVES TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL ADMITTED STUDENTS TO ATTEND SWARTHMORE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY, AND MEETS 100 PERCENT OF DETERMINED NEED FOR ALL ADMITTED STUDENTS. NEARLY 54 PERCENT OF STUDENTS RECEIVED NEED-BASED SWARTHMORE SCHOLARSHIP AID FROM AN OVERALL FINANCIAL AID EXPENDITURES OF $60 MILLION. SWARTHMORE'S AID AWARDS CONSIST OF GRANTS (WHICH DO NOT NEED TO BE REPAID) AND THE EXPECTATION THAT STUDENTS WILL WORK IN A PART-TIME CAMPUS-BASED JOB. THE COLLEGE'S FINANCIAL AID AWARDS ARE LOAN-FREE. SWARTHMORE'S 425-ACRE ARBORETUM CAMPUS INCLUDES THE CRUM WOODS, A NATURALLY WOODED AREA COMPRISING NEARLY THREE-FIFTHS OF THE COLLEGE'S LAND. IN 2015, THE COLLEGE LAUNCHED ITS ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK, A SET OF GUIDELINES FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND FACILITIES OPERATIONS THAT INCLUDES SUSTAINABLE BUILDING GUIDELINES AND A PROJECT CHECKLIST. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE COLLEGE INSTITUTED A CARBON CHARGE THAT PROVIDES FUNDING FOR CAMPUS INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS THAT INCREASE ENERGY CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENCY AND PROMOTE RENEWABLE ENERGY. SWARTHMORE WAS HONORED TO RECEIVE A 2017 SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS EXCELLENCE AWARD IN THE INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION CATEGORY FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS NETWORK FOR OUR CARBON CHARGE PROGRAM. SWARTHMORE COLLEGE IS COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL QUALIFIED PERSONS, WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ANY PERSON BY REASON OF SEX, RACE, COLOR, AGE, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, HANDICAP, OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. THIS POLICY IS CONSISTENT WITH RELEVANT GOVERNMENTAL STATUES AND REGULATIONS, INCLUDING THOSE PURSUANT TO TITLE IX OF THE FEDERAL EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972 AND SECTION 504 OF THE FEDERAL REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973.

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 November 6, 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 March 1950.

    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 November 4, 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.