Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Towson University Foundation Inc

EIN 52-0939453 · Towson, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TOWSON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION, INC. IS ORGANIZED TO RECEIVE, HOLD, INVEST, MANAGE, USE, DISPOSE OF AND ADMINISTER PROPERTY OF ALL KINDS WHETHER GIVEN ABSOLUTELY, IN TRUST OR BY WAY OF AGENCY OR OTHERWISE FOR THE BENEFIT AND PROMOTION OF TOWSON UNIVERSITY OR FOR ALL OF THE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT ACTIVITIES THAT MAY BE CONDUCTED BY TOWSON UNIVERSITY.

Income
$16.2 million
Spending
$10.7 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
7.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
5
Volunteers
27
Highest pay
$237,749, vice president/ cfo

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 27 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 (4)
  1. $3.1 million spent. SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS - TOWSON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN A LIBERAL EDUCATION - AN EDUCATION THAT HELPS STUDENTS DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO THINK CRITICALLY; TO BE LITERATE, INFORMED AND ARTICULATE; TO HONOR DIVERSITY; TO DISCUSS AND DEBATE IDEAS AND ISSUES FROM MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES, AND TO BE CAPABLE OF TAKING ON RESPONSIBILITY IN AN EVER-CHANGING WORLD. TO CREATE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, MANY STUDENTS NEED AND DESERVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. AS OF JUNE 30, 2025, TOWSON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION HAD 719 ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS AND PRESENTS ADDITIONAL CASH AWARDS EACH YEAR TO DESERVING STUDENTS FROM EXISTING OPERATING SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS. SINCE STATE OF MARYLAND FUNDING NOW ACCOUNTS FOR LESS THAN 1/3 OF THE COST OF A TOWSON UNIVERSITY EDUCATION, PRIVATE FUNDING FROM GENEROUS DONORS ALLOWS TODAY'S STUDENTS AND TOMORROW'S LEADERS TO MEET THEIR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, THE FOUNDATION MADE 1,343 SEPARATE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS TO DESERVING STUDENTS TOTALING $2,776,766.ADDITIONALLY, 78 STUDENTS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $81,080 IN STUDENT EMERGENCY AWARDS.
  2. $1.4 million spent. UNIVERSITY SUPPORT - TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING, INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING MUST HAVE PROPER FACILITIES AND FACULTY DEDICATED TO TEACHING. FUNDS ARE MADE AVAILABLE FOR USE BY THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENTS AND THE DEANS OF THE SEVEN COLLEGES TO SUPPORT AREAS WHERE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO OUR GOAL OF HELPING THE UNIVERSITY ATTRACT, HIRE AND RETAIN FACULTY MEMBERS WHO ARE LEADERS IN THEIR FIELD OF STUDY, AND WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED SUPERIOR TEACHING SKILLS. TO KEEP THEM CURRENT ON NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THEIR FIELD AND TEACHING METHODS, THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO PERFORM RESEARCH AND TO ATTEND SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES. IN ADDITION TO FUNDING PROVIDED BY DONORS, THE FOUNDATION ALSO MAKES FUNDS AVAILABLE TO THE UNIVERSITY THROUGH THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET PROCESS THAT HELPED TO SUPPORT THE VARIOUS PRESIDENTIAL INITIATIVES. THESE ARE INITIATIVES THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE NOT MOVE FORWARD DUE TO THE LACK OF OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.
  3. $1.8 million spent. ATHLETIC PROGRAMS - THE FOUNDATION SOLICITS AND MANAGES FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S ALIGNED VISION FOR ATHLETICS, WHICH STATES "TOWSON UNIVERSITY IS COMMITTED TO A FINANCIALLY STABLE, GENDER-EQUITABLE AND COMPETITIVE ATHLETICS PROGRAM. THE UNIVERSITY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE GOALS BY PLACING ACADEMICS FIRST. WE WILL SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TOWSON STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN A RANGE OF SPORTS ACTIVITIES AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT PHYSICAL WELL-BEING AND PERSONAL EXCELLENCE." THE UNIVERSITY CURRENTLY FIELDS 19 DIVISION I ATHLETIC TEAMS (13 IN WOMEN'S SPORTS, 6 IN MEN'S SPORTS).
  4. $3.2 million spent. THE $3,176,870 OF OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES RELATE TO EXPENSES THAT SUPPORT THE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS OFFERED BY TOWSON UNIVERSITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF OF THE UNIVERSITY. ALL EXPENSES SUPPORT THE CORE MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION AND THEREFORE THAT OF THE UNIVERSITY AS WELL. THE FOUNDATION EXISTS TO SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY THROUGH THESE EXPENDITURES.

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 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 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 December 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.