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Passes our checks

York University

EIN 23-7069967 · Canada

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood80 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

THE MISSION OF YORK UNIVERSITY IS THE PURSUIT AND DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE. A COMMUNITY OF FACULTY, STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE COMMITTED TO ACADEMIC FREEDOM, SOCIAL JUSTICE, ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION AND COLLEGIAL SELF-GOVERNANCE. YORK UNIVERSITY MAKES INNOVATION ITS TRADITION.

Income
$1.0 billion
Spending
$1.0 billion
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
0
Volunteers
1,873
Highest pay
$493,410, professor/senior advisor/advisor/endowed chair

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 18% 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 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 33 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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. $810.4 million spent. In 2025, York University ranked as one of the world's top 38 universities in The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for advancing the SDGs through world-class research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching. We have also been recognized as a Canada's Best Diversity Employer and one of Canada's Greenest Employers for the 12th year in a row. In November 2024, York University's Markham Campus officially opened its doors welcoming students state-of-the-art building for the start of the academic year. The new campus offers 14 innovative, interdisciplinary programs that focus on technology, entrepreneurship, experiential learning and will educate 4,200 students. In July 2025, York University officially established the School of Medicine as a new academic unit within the Faculty of Health. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are at the heart of our current University Academic Plan 2020-2025: Building a Better Future and inform everything we do - from our academic and collaborative endeavors to our goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. As we approach the halfway mark towards the SDGs' deadline, global challenges such as climate crisis, geopolitical conflicts, biodiversity loss, volatile labour markets, and rising inequality continue to present obstacles to the achievement of the SDGs and to the higher education sector more broadly. In Fall 2024, York University's Glendon College launched a new core Curriculum offering all undergraduates a shared foundation in knowledge and skills to foster intercultural competence, intellectual growth and a sense of community. A new library has opened at York University's Markham Campus. A $1.5 million investment from Bank of Montreal has helped launch the BMO Future Leaders Finance Lab at York University's Schulich School of Business. In January 2025, Osgoode Professional Development (OsgoodePD) at York University introduced SIMPLE (SIMulated Professional Learning Environment), an innovative legal simulation platform that is transforming how future lawyers learn.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on September 15, 2022 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.

    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 April 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 October 2024.

    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.