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Baldwin Wallace University

EIN 34-0714629 · Berea, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY IS AN ACADEMIC COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES AS THE FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING. THE UNIVERSITY FULFILLS THIS MISSION THROUGH A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC PROGRAM THAT IS CHARACTERIZED BY EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AND LEARNING. IT MAINTAINS A CHALLENGING, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT ENHANCES STUDENTS' INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH. BALDWIN WALLACE ASSISTS STUDENTS IN THEIR PREPARATION TO BECOME CONTRIBUTING, COMPASSIONATE CITIZENS OF AN INCREASINGLY GLOBAL SOCIETY AND ENCOURAGES THEIR PURSUIT OF PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE.

Income
$164.7 million
Spending
$168.1 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
2,416
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$498,710, president (left 6/24)

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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 37% 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

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    40 of 41 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 (3)
  1. $62.7 million spent. MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS AND NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID GRANTS TO STUDENTS ACTIVELY ENROLLED IN THE UNIVERSITY.
  2. $61.5 million spent. EDUCATION OF 2,770 FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, 1103 PART-TIME UNDERGRADUATES, AND 445 GRADUATE STUDENTS, PLUS CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS AND FACULTY SCHOLARLY RESEARCH. UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED ARE THE BACHELOR OF ARTS, BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION, BACHELOR OF MUSIC, BACHELOR OF MUSIC EDUCATION, AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. THE GRADUATE PROGRAMS LEAD TO THE DEGREES OF MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY, MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION, MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, MASTER OF MEDICAL SCIENCE (PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT), MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AND MASTER OF SCIENCE (SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY).
  3. $19.9 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS, INCLUDING RESIDENCE HALLS HOUSING 1,377 FULL-TIME STUDENTS, DINING HALLS, BOOKSTORE, ATHLETICS, STUDENT UNION, RECREATION CENTER, AND HEALTH CENTER.

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 April 1954.

    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.