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Elmhurst University

EIN 36-2169145 · Elmhurst, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ELMHURST UNIVERSITY INSPIRES INTELLECTUAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH IN OUR STUDENTS, PREPARING THEM FOR MEANINGFUL AND ETHICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO A DIVERSE, GLOBAL SOCIETY.

Income
$177.7 million
Spending
$153.2 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 82%
Employees
1,739
Volunteers
223
Highest pay
$820,071, 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

Good: 81 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    39 of 40 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. $69.6 million spent. INSTRUCTION - ELMHURST UNIVERSITY PROVIDES POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 28 ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS AND OFFERS MORE THAN 70 UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS, 17 PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS AND A FULL ARRAY OF GRADUATE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING 1 DOCTORAL PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, THE ELMHURST LEARNING AND SUCCESS ACADEMY OFFERS A NON-DEGREE PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH LEARNING, INTELLECTUAL, COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, AND/OR SENSORY DISABILITIES.SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS - WE ASSIST OUR STUDENTS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS, INCLUDING INSTITUTIONAL MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS, INSTITUTIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL NEED-BASED GRANTS. APPROXIMATELY 100% OF THE FULL TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WHO ENTERED THE UNIVERSITY IN THE FALL RECEIVED SUCH SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS.
  2. $46.9 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES - INCLUDES STUDENT AFFAIRS, ADMISSIONS, REGISTRAR, FINANCIAL AID COUNSELING, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, WELLNESS CENTER, AND ATHLETICS. STUDENT LIFE AT ELMHURST IS ACTIVE AND CREATIVE ALLOWING STUDENTS TO GET INVOLVED IN DIVERSE AREAS INCLUDING STUDENT GOVERNMENT, 'THE LEADER' STUDENT NEWSPAPER, BLACK STUDENT UNION, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, QUEER STRAIGHT ALLIANCE, LATINO STUDENT ASSOCIATION, MODEL UN, WRSE RADIO STATION, AND MANY OTHER GROUPS AS WELL AS INTERCOLLEGIATE SPORTS AND INTRAMURAL ACTIVITIES.
  3. $15.2 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT - ACADEMIC DEAN, LIBRARY SERVICES, ACADEMIC ADVISING AND ACADEMIC COMPUTING ARE INCLUDED IN ACADEMIC SUPPORT. THE A.C. BUEHLER LIBRARY PROVIDES MANY TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED SERVICES FOR INSTRUCTIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL RESEARCH, OR FOR PERSONAL ENJOYMENT WITH WIRELESS ACCESS THROUGHOUT.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1971.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.