Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Villanova University

EIN 23-1352688 · Villanova, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY IS A CATHOLIC AUGUSTINIAN COMMUNITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION, COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE AND DISTINCTION IN THE DISCOVERY, DISSEMINATION AND APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE. INSPIRED BY THE LIFE AND TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST, THE UNIVERSITY IS GROUNDED IN THE WISDOM OF THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION AND ADVANCES A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAITH AND REASON. VILLANOVA EMPHASIZES AND CELEBRATES THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES AS FOUNDATIONAL TO ALL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY WELCOMES AND RESPECTS MEMBERS OF ALL FAITHS WHO SEEK TO NURTURE A CONCERN FOR THE COMMON GOOD AND WHO SHARE AN ENTHUSIASM FOR THE CHALLENGE OF RESPONSIBLE AND PRODUCTIVE CITIZENSHIP IN ORDER TO BUILD A JUST AND PEACEFUL WORLD.

Income
$931.0 million
Spending
$852.6 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 73%
Employees
7,166
Volunteers
11,830
Highest pay
$1.8 million, coach, men's basketball

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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

    36 of 38 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 May 31, 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. $229.5 million spent. INSTRUCTION: IN THE FALL SEMESTER OF 2025, THE UNIVERSITY HAD ENROLLED 6,788 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND 2,461 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT GRADUATE STUDENTS IN A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS.
  2. $186.1 million spent. SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIPS: A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO ENABLE QUALIFIED STUDENTS TO STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY. A TOTAL OF 4,824 STUDENTS RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025.
  3. $101.9 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES: VARIOUS GOODS AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR THE BENEFIT OF STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF. THE PRIMARY CATEGORIES INCLUDED ROOMS TO MORE THAN 5,000 STUDENTS ENROLLED DURING THE FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS, MEALS, BOOKSTORE, CONFERENCE SERVICES, AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES.
  4. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES FOR RESEARCH, ACADEMIC SUPPORT, STUDENT SERVICES (ATHLETICS, ADMISSIONS, REGISTRAR SERVICES, CAREER SERVICES, STUDENT ACTIVITIES, CAMPUS MINISTRY), INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT, AND OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF PLANT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 May 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 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 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.