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Goucher College

EIN 52-0591613 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Goucher College provides an innovative liberal arts education that prepares students with a broad, humane perspective for a life of inquiry, creativity, and critical and analytical thinking. The College's vision is to become a top-100 national liberal arts college known for offering a transformational education that delivers graduates who can solve complex problems within a diverse, global community.

Income
$117.3 million
Spending
$114.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-10.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 60%
Employees
1,243
Volunteers
226
Highest pay
$433,755, 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

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 31 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. $87.7 million spent. The College provided an Undergraduate Arts and Sciences education to 981 students. Goucher's academic philosophy is focused on 3Rs: relationships, resilience, and reflection, and coursework reflects the core values of a liberal arts education: proficiency in English composition and in a foreign language, solid foundations in history, abstract reasoning, scientific discovery and experimentation, problem-solving, social structures, and environmental sustainability. A highlight of Goucher's unique liberal arts curriculum is the requirement that all undergraduates must study abroad at least once before graduation, making the College among the first in the nation to make such a bold move in globalized education. Goucher strives to educate the whole student and promotes a broad education over narrow career training. This gives graduates a wide range of professional options and increased ability to take advantage of new opportunities in developing fields-and even the capability to change careers. Goucher students master a range of knowledge, including the communication, critical thinking, and quantitative reasoning skills that U.S. employers overwhelmingly say they want job candidates to have.
  2. $6.2 million spent. The College provided a graduate education to 478 students. The Welch Center for Graduate and Professional Studies offers a diverse range of academic programs, including: Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees in areas such as education, teaching, historic preservation, arts administration, cultural sustainability, digital arts, nonfiction, management, and environmental sustainability, plus a post-baccalaureate premedical program. These programs are led by industry leaders who help students strengthen their skills, add to their knowledge base, and create professional opportunities wherever their passions lead.
  3. $399,854 spent. The College provided credit and non-credit continuing studies course work for 510 participants. Goucher is home to the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) Summer Institute, training teachers in AP courses from across the country and around the world. The Advanced Placement Summer Institute allows teachers to earn graduate credit while gaining College Board-certified preparation in most subject areas offered through AP 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

  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 September 1931.

    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.