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Webster University

EIN 43-0662529 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 1915, WEBSTER IS A PRIVATE NON-PROFIT AND GLOBAL UNIVERSITY THAT IS COMMITTED TO DELIVERING HIGH-QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT TRANSFORM STUDENTS FOR GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP AND INDIVIDUAL EXCELLENCE.

Income
$166.6 million
Spending
$183.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
2,441
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$774,161, president

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

Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 38 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

    18 of 22 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. $155.1 million spent. WITH ITS HOME CAMPUS IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, USA, WEBSTER UNIVERSITY COMPRISES AN ACTION-ORIENTED GLOBAL NETWORK OF FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS AND ALUMNI WHO FORGE POWERFUL BONDS WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES AROUND THE GLOBE. FOUNDED IN 1915, WEBSTER IS A PRIVATE NON-PROFIT UNIVERSITY WITH STUDENTS STUDYING AT CAMPUS LOCATIONS IN NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, ASIA AND AFRICA AND IN A ROBUST LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ONLINE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) THE UNIVERSITY IS COMMITTED TO DELIVERING HIGH-QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT TRANSFORM STUDENTS FOR GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP AND INDIVIDUAL EXCELLENCE. THIS MISSION IS REINFORCED BY ADHERENCE TO THE FOLLOWING FOUR VALUES: 1. STUDENTS - BY SUSTAINING A PERSONALIZED APPROACH TO A GLOBAL, STUDENT-CENTERED EDUCATION THROUGH SMALL CLASSES, CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH FACULTY AND STAFF, AND ATTENTION TO STUDENT LIFE. 2. LEARNING - BY DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT JOIN THEORY AND PRACTICE, ADDRESS CONTEMPORARY NEEDS OF EMPLOYERS/SOCIETY, PROVIDE AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY AND SCHOLARSHIP, FOSTER A LIFELONG DESIRE TO LEARN AND ACTIVELY SERVE COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD. 3. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION - BY CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT ACCESSIBLE TO INDIVIDUALS OF DIVERSE CULTURES, AGES, AND SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS AND INSTILLING IN STUDENTS A RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR OWN AND OTHERS' VALUES. 4. GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP - BY EDUCATING A DIVERSE POPULATION LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, ACTING RESPONSIBLY TOWARD THE ENVIRONMENT TO FOSTER A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE, AND STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. WHILE OUR VALUES REFLECT OUR MISSION, OUR MISSION-FOCUSED STRATEGIES ALSO HELP MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. WE DO THIS THROUGH A GLOBAL MINDSET THAT WELCOMES CULTURAL IMMERSION, NEW WAYS OF LIVING AND THINKING, AND EDUCATION THAT OPENS OUR STUDENTS TO THE WORLD AND IN TURN, OPENS THE WORLD TO OUR STUDENTS. WEBSTER UNIVERSITY CAMPUS LOCATIONS ARE PART OF A POWERFUL NETWORK OF LEARNING, INFORMATION SHARING, AND SOCIAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE. ULTIMATELY, THEY PROVIDE A LOCATION FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION, PRESERVATION A DISSEMINATION ON A LOCAL AND GLOBAL SCALE. AS A STRONG, TRULY INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY, WEBSTER PROVIDES UNIQUELY GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES, WHICH PREPARE OUR STUDENTS TO LEAD IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND AROUND THE WORLD. WEBSTER INTEGRATES ACADEMICS AND OPERATIONS IN INNOVATIVE WAYS TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND GRADUATES. WE ATTRACT DIVERSE, INTERESTING AND ACCOMPLISHED STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF WHO THRIVE IN AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR PREMIER GLOBAL NETWORK FOR LEARNING. OUR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF ARE COMMITTED TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND ENJOY BUILDING CONNECTIONS WITH FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES AROUND THE WORLD. FACULTY TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP, RESEARCH, ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE SUPPORT OUR CULTURE OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE ACROSS THE NETWORK. MORE THAN 200,000 ALUMNI FORM AN ELITE GLOBAL NETWORK OF ACCOMPLISHED AND CONNECTED CITIZENS.

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 November 6, 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 May 1970.

    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 November 4, 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.