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Butler University

EIN 35-0867977 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BUTLER UNIVERSITY, FOUNDED ON IDEALS OF EQUITY AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, CREATES AND FOSTERS A COLLABORATIVE, STIMULATING INTELLECTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE INSPIRED TO BOLDLY INNOVATE AND BROADLY EDUCATE, ENRICHING COMMUNITIES AND PREPARING ALL LEARNERS TO LEAD MEANINGFUL LIVES.

Income
$365.4 million
Spending
$356.7 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 81%
Employees
3,749
Volunteers
1,000
Highest pay
$2.7 million, men's basketball head coach

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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 43% 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

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

    29 of 31 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 (1)
  1. $302.1 million spent. EDUCATION: BUTLER UNIVERSITY DELIVERS AN OUTSTANDING EDUCATION STEEPED IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND COUPLED WITH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT INCLUDE INTERNSHIPS, STUDY ABROAD, SERVICE PROJECTS, AND SCHOLARLY RESEARCH. THROUGH THIS COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, WE PREPARE STUDENTS TO STEP DIRECTLY INTO A CAREER OR GRADUATE SCHOOL WITH CONFIDENCE. THE UNIVERSITY'S MOST RECENT PLACEMENT RATE WAS 98 PERCENT, INCLUDING 25 PERCENT THAT WENT ON TO ATTEND GRADUATE SCHOOL OR PARTICIPATE IN A GAP-YEAR PROGRAM. IN ITS RANKINGS FOR 2026, U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT NAMED BUTLER THE NO. 1 SCHOOL AMONG MIDWEST REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES FOR THE EIGHTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR AND THE MOST INNOVATIVE SCHOOL IN THE MIDWEST FOR THE ELEVENTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. THE UNIVERSITY ALSO WAS LISTED AMONG THE BEST FOR UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING, FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCES, AND STUDY ABROAD. AUXILIARY: BUTLER ARTS AND EVENTS CENTER (BAEC): BUTLER ARTS AND EVENTS CENTER IS A HOME FOR PASSION, CREATIVITY, EDUCATION, AND THE HIGHEST CALIBER OF PROFESSIONAL AND STUDENT PERFORMANCES. WITH OVER 300 STUDENT, FACULTY, AND PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES EACH YEAR, BAEC INCLUDES CLOWES MEMORIAL HALL, SCHROTT CENTER FOR THE ARTS, SHELTON AUDITORIUM, THE KRANNERT ROOM, EIDSON-DUCKWALL RECITAL HALL, AND LILLY HALL STUDIO THEATRE AND IS A DESTINATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCES AND AN INCUBATOR FOR OUTSTANDING ARTS PROFESSIONALS. HEALTH AND RECREATION COMPLEX: A HEALTH AND RECREATION COMPLEX THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH RECREATION COURTS, AN INDOOR JOGGING TRACK, AN AQUATICS AREA, A WEIGHT AND FITNESS SPACE, AND LOUNGE OPENED IN FALL 2006. STUDENTS ENROLLED IN AT LEAST 12 CREDIT HOURS ARE AUTOMATIC MEMBERS. MEMBERSHIP IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO UNIVERSITY FACULTY, STAFF, ALUMNI, AND A LIMITED NUMBER OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS. ATHLETICS: BUTLER UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATES IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS AT THE NCAA DIVISION I LEVEL. NINETEEN OF BUTLER'S 20 TEAMS COMPETE IN THE BIG EAST, WHILE THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM IS A MEMBER OF THE PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE. THE BULLDOGS HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF ATHLETIC SUCCESS, INCLUDING BACK-TO-BACK TRIPS TO THE NCAA DIVISION I MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN 2010 AND 2011, AND THE UNIVERSITY IS HOME TO ONE OF THE NATION'S GREAT INTERCOLLEGIATE BASKETBALL FACILITIES, HINKLE FIELDHOUSE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BUTLER ATHLETICS, VISIT WWW.BUTLERSPORTS.COM. ROOM AND BOARD: BUTLER STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE FROM A NUMBER OF HOUSING OPTIONS, INCLUDING A RESIDENTIAL APARTMENT VILLAGE FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS, AN APARTMENT-STYLE RESIDENCE HALL, TWO COEDUCATIONAL RESIDENCE HALLS, AND 13 FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES. A 660-BED MODERN, SUITE-STYLE HOUSING FACILITY - PREDOMINATELY FOR SOPHOMORES - OPENED IN FALL 2016, AND A 647-BED, SUITE-STYLE RESIDENCE HALL FOR FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS OPENED IN FALL 2018. ALL BUTLER UNDERGRADUATES ARE REQUIRED TO LIVE ON CAMPUS FOR SIX ACADEMIC YEAR SEMESTERS.

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 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 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 November 1938.

    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.