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Wright State University Foundation Inc

EIN 23-7019799 · Dayton, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Wright State University Foundation's mission is to partner with Wright State University in providing funding that assists students from the Dayton region and beyond to obtain an affordable, quality education by: 1) promoting and facilitating a culture of engagement and philanthropy 2) prudently protecting, managing, and investing funds entrusted to it 3) disbursing funds aligned with the university's mission and priorities and ensuring funds disbursed are used as intended.

Income
$22.3 million
Spending
$9.6 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
21.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 59%
Employees
10
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$329,766, president & ceo

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 57% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 62% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $3.6 million spent. SCHOLARSHIPS: STUDENTS AT WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY RECEIVE A QUALITY EDUCATION THAT IS PAID PARTLY BY TUITION AND PARTLY BY STATE SUBSIDY. THE LATTER REVENUE SOURCE HAS DECLINED IN RECENT YEARS THEREBY MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO FINANCE A COLLEGE EDUCATION. ALTHOUGH WRIGHT STATE REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IN OHIO, THE FOUNDATION SEEKS TO OFFSET THE LOSS OF STATE TUITION SUBSIDIES BY RAISING PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF STUDENT TUITION PAYMENTS. (Expenses $ 178,956 including grants of $ 178,956) RESEARCH: SCHOLARLY RESEARCH IS A CORE PART OF WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY'S MISSION. THE FOUNDATION SEEKS TO ENHANCE FUNDING FOR THESE ACTIVITIES BY RAISING PRIVATE SUPPORT THAT PROVIDES PERSONNEL AND OPERATING COST COVERAGE FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS. MANY, ALTHOUGH NOT ALL, OF THE UNIVERSITY-SUPPORTED RESEARCH PROGRAMS ARE IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE. THE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION WAS $146,125. (Expenses $ 129,750 including grants of $ 129,750)(Revenue $ 583,305) OTHER/VARIOUS: THE FOUNDATION ENTERTAINS REQUESTS TO ASSIST WITH FUNDING VARIOUS UNIVERSITY PURCHASES AND PROJECTS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE ENTIRE CAMPUS COMMUNITY. THE MAJORITY OF EXPENSES IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR WERE MADE IN SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S VARIOUS RECRUITING, RETAINING AND RELATIONSHIP GOALS.
  2. $2.3 million spent. UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS: DONATED RESOURCES FOR VARIOUS ACADEMIC AND SUPPORT FUNCTIONS AT WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY ALLOWS ADMINISTRATORS FLEXIBILITY TO DELIVER QUALITY PROGRAMS TO THEIR CONSTITUENCIES. THESE CONTRIBUTIONS SUPPLEMENT THE UNIVERSITY'S BUDGET ALLOCATION AND ALLOW PROGRAM MANAGERS TO OFFER UNIQUE AND CREATIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS. DURING THE CURRENT YEAR, 24% OF EXPENSES IN THIS AREA RELATED TO PARTIAL OR COMPLETE SUPPORT OF PROGRAM PERSONNEL THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE UNIVERSITY'S OPERATING BUDGET. PROCEEDS IN THIS AREA ARE ALSO USED TO CONSTRUCT, RENOVATE AND REHABILITATE UNIVERSITY FACILITIES. DURING THE CURRENT YEAR, 28% OF EXPENSES IN THIS AREA RELATED TO PARTIAL OR COMPLETE SUPPORT OF PROGRAM PERSONNEL THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE UNIVERSITY'S OPERATING BUDGET. PROCEEDS IN THIS AREA ARE ALSO USED TO CONSTRUCT, RENOVATE AND REHABILITATE UNIVERSITY FACILITIES.
  3. $494,523 spent. ATHLETIC PROGRAMS: THROUGH ITS ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, WRIGHT STATE OFFERS ITS STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE ON ONE OF ITS TWELVE NCAA DIVISION ONE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SPORTS TEAMS. THESE PROGRAMS SEEK TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF ITS STUDENT-ATHLETES, BUILDING A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR STUDENT SUCCESS AT ALL LEVELS. ATHLETICS IS COMMITTED HELPING ITS STUDENT-ATHLETES DEVELOP AS PEOPLE, STUDENTS AND ATHLETES - IN THAT ORDER - AS WELL AS SUPPORTING THE MISSION OF WRIGHT STATE. (Expenses $ 178,956 including grants of $ 178,956) RESEARCH: SCHOLARLY RESEARCH IS A CORE PART OF WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY'S MISSION. THE FOUNDATION SEEKS TO ENHANCE FUNDING FOR THESE ACTIVITIES BY RAISING PRIVATE SUPPORT THAT PROVIDES PERSONNEL AND OPERATING COST COVERAGE FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS. MANY, ALTHOUGH NOT ALL, OF THE UNIVERSITY-SUPPORTED RESEARCH PROGRAMS ARE IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE. THE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION WAS $146,125. (Expenses $ 129,750 including grants of $ 129,750)(Revenue $ 583,305) OTHER/VARIOUS: THE FOUNDATION ENTERTAINS REQUESTS TO ASSIST WITH FUNDING VARIOUS UNIVERSITY PURCHASES AND PROJECTS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE ENTIRE CAMPUS COMMUNITY. THE MAJORITY OF EXPENSES IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR WERE MADE IN SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S VARIOUS RECRUITING, RETAINING AND RELATIONSHIP GOALS.
  4. $178,956 spent. RESEARCH: SCHOLARLY RESEARCH IS A CORE PART OF WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY'S MISSION. THE FOUNDATION SEEKS TO ENHANCE FUNDING FOR THESE ACTIVITIES BY RAISING PRIVATE SUPPORT THAT PROVIDES PERSONNEL AND OPERATING COST COVERAGE FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS. MANY, ALTHOUGH NOT ALL, OF THE UNIVERSITY-SUPPORTED RESEARCH PROGRAMS ARE IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE. THE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION WAS $146,125.
  5. $129,750 spent. OTHER/VARIOUS: THE FOUNDATION ENTERTAINS REQUESTS TO ASSIST WITH FUNDING VARIOUS UNIVERSITY PURCHASES AND PROJECTS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE ENTIRE CAMPUS COMMUNITY. THE MAJORITY OF EXPENSES IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR WERE MADE IN SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S VARIOUS RECRUITING, RETAINING AND RELATIONSHIP GOALS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1969.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.