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Washington University

EIN 43-0653611 · St Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported a significant diversion of its assets during the year.
  • 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

SEE SCHEDULE O.

Income
$5.9 billion
Spending
$5.5 billion
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
10.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 60%
Employees
33,651
Volunteers
6,500
Highest pay
$13.0 million, chief investment officer

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    38 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (5)
  1. $3.2 billion spent. INSTRUCTION - THIS CATEGORY INCLUDES EXPENDITURES FOR ALL ACTIVITIES THAT ARE PART OF AN INSTITUTION'S INSTRUCTION PROGRAM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EXPENDITURES FOR REMEDIAL AND TUTORIAL INSTRUCTION, WHICH ARE CATEGORIZED AS STUDENT SERVICES. EXPENDITURES FOR CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT COURSES FOR ACADEMIC, OCCUPATIONAL, VOCATIONAL AND MEDICAL CARE INSTRUCTION, AND FOR REGULAR, SPECIAL AND EXTENSION SESSIONS ARE INCLUDED. ATTENDANCE: FALL SEMESTER 16,339 AND SPRING SEMESTER 15,198 APPROXIMATELY 472,976 PATIENTS WERE TREATED BY MEDICAL SCHOOL FACULTY AND STUDENTS.
  2. $989.0 million spent. RESEARCH - THIS CATEGORY INCLUDES ALL EXPENDITURES FOR ACTIVITIES SPECIFICALLY ORGANIZED TO PRODUCE RESEARCH OUTCOMES, WHETHER COMMISSIONED BY AN AGENCY EXTERNAL TO THE INSTITUTION OR SEPARATELY BUDGETED BY AN ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT WITHIN THE INSTITUTION. SUBJECT TO THESE CONDITIONS, IT INCLUDES EXPENDITURES FOR INDIVIDUAL AND/OR PRODUCT RESEARCH AS WELL AS THOSE OF THE INSTITUTES AND RESEARCH CENTERS. REVENUES EXCLUDE GOVERNMENT GRANTS WHICH ARE REPORTED AS CONTRIBUTIONS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE UNIVERSITY RECEIVED 5,045 DIRECT AND INDIRECT AWARDS.
  3. $337.6 million spent. AUXILIARY AND STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES - EXPENSES INCURRED ARE PRIMARILY FOR THE SUPPORT OF STUDENTS. AUXILIARY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE STUDENT HOUSING, FOOD SERVICE, TRANSPORTATION AND CAMPUS PARKING. STUDENT SERVICES ARE THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE STUDENTS BUT DO NOT QUALIFY AS MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL COSTS. SIGNIFICANT COMPONENTS INCLUDE CENTRAL AND SCHOOL-SPECIFIC ADMISSIONS, REGISTRARS, CAREER PLANNING AND PLACEMENT OFFICES, STUDENT FINANCIAL AID LOAN OFFICES, STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES, ATHLETICS, STUDENT ACTIVITIES OFFICE, INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OFFICE, AND THE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR STUDENTS OFFICE.
  4. $522.1 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT
  5. ACADEMIC SUPPORT: REPRESENTS PRIMARILY ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES THAT DIRECTLY SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVICES BUT DO NOT QUALIFY AS MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL COSTS. SIGNIFICANT COMPONENTS INCLUDE THE CENTRAL AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES, ANIMAL CARE, ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE, THE DEANS' OFFICES, SCHOOL INFORMATION SYSTEMS, SCHOOL-SPECIFIC HUMAN RESOURCE ACTIVITIES, AND HUMAN RESEARCH PARTICIPANT PROTECTION.

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 August 1933.

    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.