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George Washington University

EIN 53-0196584 · Ashburn, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (GW) IS TO EDUCATE INDIVIDUALS IN LIBERAL ARTS, LANGUAGES, SCIENCES, LEARNED PROFESSIONS, AND OTHER COURSES AND SUBJECTS OF STUDY, AND TO CONDUCT SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND PUBLISH THE FINDINGS OF SUCH RESEARCH.

Income
$2.0 billion
Spending
$2.0 billion
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
-7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 86%
Employees
15,227
Volunteers
3,800
Highest pay
$1.9 million, president - ex officio

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: 52 out of 100. Higher than 26% 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

    10 of 20

    It owes 48% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 31 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

    21 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 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. $1.4 billion spent. EDUCATION: OUR NAMESAKE ENVISIONED A UNIVERSITY IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL THAT WOULD PREPARE CITIZEN LEADERS BROUGHT TOGETHER FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. TODAY, WE ARE THAT UNIVERSITY WITH STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS FROM EVERY STATE AND MORE THAN 130 COUNTRIES. TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF OUR SETTING IN A GLOBAL NERVE CENTER, A GW EDUCATION INTEGRATES INTELLECTUAL DISCOVERY, INTERACTIVE LEARNING, AND UNPARALLELED ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES IN EVERY SECTOR OF SOCIETY. IN A CITY SHAPING THE FUTURE, GEORGE WASHINGTON IS A UNIVERSITY WHERE FACULTY AND STUDENTS NOT ONLY STUDY THE WORLD BUT ALSO WORK TO CHANGE IT.
  2. $299.3 million spent. RESEARCH AND RESEARCH SUPPORT: GW'S RESEARCH IS DISTINGUISHED BY OUR COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORM POLICY THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. THIS UNIQUE APPROACH TO RESEARCH GIVES SPECIAL CHARACTER TO OUR TEACHING AND ENABLES US TO OFFER OUR STUDENTS LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT FEW CAN MATCH. WITH OUR LOCATION, CONNECTIONS AND CLOSE PROXIMITY TO INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, AND LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, GW'S RESEARCH HELPS SOLVE NATIONAL AND GLOBAL PROBLEMS WHILE GIVING OUR STUDENTS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. IN THE 21ST CENTURY, GW'S FACULTY AND STUDENTS CONTINUE TO OPEN NEW DOORS OF DISCOVERY.
  3. $162.8 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES - STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY: GW PROVIDES A NUMBER OF SERVICES THAT SUPPORT LEARNING, BUILD COMMUNITY, AND ENHANCE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF STUDENT LIFE. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES INCLUDE FACILITIES AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, DINING, BOOKSTORE, PARKING, STUDENT HEALTH, MAIL, AND LAUNDRY SERVICES. GW'S UNIVERSITY STUDENT CENTER HOUSES STUDENT ORGANIZATION OFFICES AND MEETING ROOMS AND IS UTILIZED BY STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND VISITORS. FOR MORE INFO ABOUT GW'S PROGRAMS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SEE THE 2024-2025 FINANCIAL REPORT ON THE FINANCE DIVISION WEBSITE AT: HTTP://FINANCE.GWU.EDU/REPORTS

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 December 1934.

    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.