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Washington College

EIN 52-0591691 · Chestertown, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WASHINGTON COLLEGE CHALLENGES AND INSPIRES EMERGING CITIZEN LEADERS TO DISCOVER LIVES OF PURPOSE AND PASSION.CORE VALUESWE SHARE THESE VALUES OF OUR FOUNDING PATRON, GEORGE WASHINGTON: INTEGRITY, DETERMINATION, CURIOSITY, CIVILITY, LEADERSHIP, AND MORAL COURAGE. WE OFFER ACADEMIC RIGOR AND SELF-DISCOVERY IN A SUPPORTIVE, RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY OF WELL-QUALIFIED, DIVERSE, AND MOTIVATED INDIVIDUALS. WE DEVELOP IN OUR STUDENTS HABITS OF ANALYTIC THOUGHT AND CLEAR COMMUNICATION, AESTHETIC INSIGHT, ETHICAL SENSITIVITY, AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.

Income
$132.3 million
Spending
$113.4 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-7.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 46%
Employees
1,266
Volunteers
329
Highest pay
$643,151, president (until 7/31/25)

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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 31% 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

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

    35 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

    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. $91.7 million spent. WASHINGTON COLLEGE'S ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE SUCCEEDING AS AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION PROMOTING HABITS OF ANALYTIC THOUGHT, AESTHETIC INSIGHT, IMAGINATION, ETHICAL SENSITIVITY AND CLARITY OF EXPRESSION WHILE SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATING STUDENTS IN 4 YEARS. THE COLLEGE ENDEAVORS TO PREPARE ITS GRADUATES FOR FURTHER EDUCATION AND PRODUCTIVE CAREERS. WITH MANY MAJORS AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS TO CHOOSE FROM, STUDENTS CAN DEVISE A COURSE OF STUDY THAT FITS THEIR INTELLECTUAL INTERESTS AND CAREER ASPIRATIONS. IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL FIELDS OF STUDY, THEY MAY CHOOSE AN AREA OF CONCENTRATION IN FIELDS SUCH AS BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY OR EAST ASIAN STUDIES, AMONG OTHERS. THE COLLEGE ALSO OFFERS PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION TRACKS IN PREMEDICAL STUDIES AND PRE-LAW, AS WELL AS DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMS IN ENGINEERING, NURSING AND PHARMACY.
  2. $133,677 spent. WASHINGTON COLLEGE USES ITS FACILITIES DURING SUMMER MONTHS TO FACILITATE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNGER K-12 STUDENTS. THESE STUDENTS ARE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SUMMER CAMPS RANGING FROM SCIENCES, MATHEMATICS AND HANDS ON PROJECTS. THESE CAMPS LAST ANYWHERE FROM FOUR DAYS TO THREE WEEKS AND ARE MANAGED BY OTHER OUTSIDE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
  3. WASHINGTON COLLEGE'S RESIDENTIAL LIFE PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES THAT HELP THEM TO DEVELOP RESPONSIBILITIES BOTH TO THEMSELVES AND TO THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS. IT ATTEMPTS TO PROVIDE A RELAXING AND CALM ATMOSPHERE FOR STUDY AND DAY-TO-DAY LIVING. INDEED, LIVING ON-CAMPUS IS TRULY THE "OTHER-HALF" OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION. WITH APPROXIMATELY 27 DORMS TO CHOOSE FROM, STUDENTS HAVE CHOICES OF SINGLE, DOUBLES OR TRIPLES IN EACH ROOM/UNIT. HODSON HALL HOUSES THE DINING FACILITIES FOR WASHINGTON COLLEGE. THE MAIN DINING HALL SEATS 500 ON TWO LEVELS. STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF FIND MADE-TO-ORDER MEALS ALONG WITH SELF-SERVE OPTIONS ALLOWING FOR A CUSTOMIZED DINING EXPERIENCE. STUDENTS CHOOSE FROM FIVE MEALS PLANS WITH ADDITIONAL OPTIONS FOR MEAL EQUIVALENCIES. CASUAL DINING IS LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE COMMONS. OPERATING UNTIL LATE EVENING, OPTIONS INCLUDE MONDO SUBS, MARTHA'S KITCHEN, AND THE CAMPUS COFFEE BAR, JAVA GEORGE.

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 April 1947.

    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.