Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Northwestern University

EIN 36-2167817 · Evanston, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 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

Northwestern is committed to excellent teaching, innovative research and the personal and intellectual growth of its students in a diverse academic community.

Income
$4.1 billion
Spending
$4.3 billion
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
16.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 71%
Employees
28,548
Volunteers
143
Highest pay
$4.0 million, head men's basketball coach

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    36 of 36 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

    0 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (4)
  1. $3.0 billion spent. EDUCATION OF STUDENTS: FOR THE 2025 ACADEMIC YEAR, 8,961 UNDERGRADUATES AND 11,228 GRADUATES AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL STUDENTS ENROLLED FULL-TIME AT THE UNIVERSITY. THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO ITS STUDENTS. THIS INCLUDES SUPERIOR UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION FOR A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY IN A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL FIELDS. AT THE GRADUATE LEVEL, NORTHWESTERN'S ROLE ENCOMPASSES OFFERINGS IN THE MAJOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL FIELDS, CLOSELY RELATED TO RESEARCH, CREATIVE ACTIVITIES, AND CLINICAL SERVICES.
  2. $725.8 million spent. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES: THE RESEARCH PROGRAM AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY IS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF UNIVERSITY EFFORTS, ASSURING INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP IN SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, INTELLECTUAL INQUIRY, AND CREATIVE PERFORMANCE. THE CHARACTER OF THIS RESEARCH SHAPES ALL AREAS OF UNIVERSITY ENDEAVOR, ESPECIALLY GRADUATE EDUCATION AS WELL AS UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES.
  3. $220.6 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES SERVE THE EDUCATIONAL MISSION BY PRIMARILY PROVIDING RESIDENCES AND FOOD SERVICES, AND OTHER VARIOUS GOODS AND SERVICES TO SUPPORT UNIVERSITY STUDENT, FACULTY, AND STAFF ACTIVITIES.
  4. CASH GRANTS GIVEN TO INDIVIDUALS ARE RECORDED IN AN ELECTRONIC REPORTING TOOL. THE DATA RECORDED INCLUDES INFORMATION AS TO PARTICIPATION BY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMMING. INDIVIDUAL RECIPIENTS OF CASH GRANTS ARE CODED WITH UNIQUE IDENTIFYING NUMBERS. GRANTS ASSOCIATED WITH UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS CODED AS PARTICIPATING IN A STUDY ABROAD ARE REVIEWED TO ASSESS WHETHER THERE IS AN OVERLAP BETWEEN THE GRANT DISBURSEMENT DATE AND THE DATE OF THE APPLICABLE STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM. THE NUMBER OF SUCH STUDENTS, BASED ON THEIR UNIQUE IDENTIFYING NUMBERS, ARE SUMMED AND REFLECTED IN PART III, COLUMN (C).

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 May 1945.

    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.