Saint-Mary-Of-The-Woods College
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS COLLEGE EMBODIES A SPIRIT OF STUDENT-CENTERED ACADEMIC INNOVATION, FAITH AND LEADERSHIP TO TRANSFORM OURSELVES, OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR WORLD. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS COLLEGE CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO THINK CRITICALLY, BECOME LEADERS AND EFFECT CHANGE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE AND VIRTUE ROOTED IN OUR CATHOLIC FOUNDATION.
- Income
- $40.0 million
- Spending
- $40.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -9.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 83%
- Employees
- 654
- Volunteers
- 43
- Highest pay
- $278,288, president
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
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 87% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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 2520 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $33.3 million spent. SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS COLLEGE (SMWC) SERVES THREE UNDERGRADUATE POPULATIONS: (1) TRADITIONAL COLLEGE-AGE WOMEN AND MEN LIVING ON CAMPUS; (2) ADULT AND TRADITIONAL COLLEGE-AGE WOMEN AND MEN WHO STUDY IN THE ON CAMPUS PROGRAM AND COMMUTE TO CAMPUS; (3) ADULT WOMEN AND MEN IN THE WOODS ONLINE PROGRAM. THE WOODS ONLINE PROGRAM IS OFFERED COMPLETELY ONLINE THROUGH A COURSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT UTILIZES FACULTY-LED INSTRUCTION, COLLABORATION, AND SYNERGY AMONG PEERS IN RICH MULTI-MEDIA. COURSES ARE OFFERED IN 8 OR 16-WEEK FORMATS. THE 8-WEEK COURSES ARE OFFERED IN AN ACCELERATED FORMAT. SMWC ALSO OFFERS MASTER OF ARTS IN ART THERAPY, MASTER OF ARTS IN MUSIC THERAPY, MASTER OF EDUCATION AND MASTER OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ALL OTHER MASTER PROGRAMS (MBA AND MHA) ARE SEQUENCED SETS OF COURSES OFFERED TO WOMEN AND MEN IN A HYBRID DELIVERY THROUGH A COMBINATION OF DISTANCE LEARNING AND BRIEF CAMPUS RESIDENCIES. FINALLY, THERE ARE TWO PRINCIPAL GROUPS OF NON-MATRICULATING STUDENTS. THEY INCLUDE UNDERGRADUATE EXCHANGE STUDENTS AND STUDENTS PURSUING PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION IN POST-BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS (TEACHER LICENSURE, PARALEGAL, AND MUSIC THERAPY PROGRAMS).
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.