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Trinity College

EIN 53-0196640 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EXPAND ON THE MISSION STATEMENT MADE ON PAGE 1, TRINITY'S CORE MISSION VALUES AND CHARACTERISTICS EMPHASIZE: 1)COMMITMENT TO THE EDUCATION OF WOMEN IN A PARTICULAR WAY THROUGH THE DESIGN AND PEDAGOGY OF THE HISTORIC UNDERGRADUATE WOMEN'S COLLEGE, AND BY ADVANCING PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY, JUSTICE, AND HONOR IN THE EDUCATION OF WOMEN AND MEN IN ALL OTHER PROGRAMS; 2)FOUNDATION FOR LEARNING IN THE LIBERAL ARTS THROUGH THE CURRICULUM DESIGN IN ALL UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS AND THROUGH EMPHASIS ON THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND VALUES OF LIBERAL LEARNING IN ALL GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS; 3)INTEGRATION OF LIBERAL LEARNING WITH PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION THROUGH APPLIED AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN ALL PROGRAMS; AND 4)GROUNDING IN THE MISSION OF THE SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR AND THE CATHOLIC TRADITION, WELCOMING PERSONS OF ALL FAITHS, TO ACHIEVE THE LARGER PURPOSES OF LEARNING IN THE HUMAN SEARCH FOR MEANING AND FULFILLMENT.

Income
$85.8 million
Spending
$53.1 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
647
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$300,683, 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 67% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

    17 of 18 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. $21.6 million spent. INSTRUCTION - EXPENSES INCLUDE SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR FULL-TIME FACULTY AND ADJUNCT FACULTY MEMBERS. DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR, TRINITY HAD APPROXIMATELY 4000 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ITS THREE SCHOOLS. TRINITY MAINTAINS A VERY LOW STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO.
  2. $12.7 million spent. STUDENT FINANCIAL AID - EXPENSES INCLUDE AID PROVIDED THROUGH UNFUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS AND DISCOUNTS AND RESTRICTED SCHOLARSHIPS (TERM AND ENDOWMENT). AS DISCLOSED ELSEWHERE IN THE 990, APPROXIMATELY 1,600 TRINITY STUDENTS RECEIVED SOME PORTION OF STUDENT FINANCIAL AID DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR.
  3. $6.7 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES THE COLLEGE'S DORMITORIES, DINING HALL AND THE TRINITY CENTER FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SPORTS ARE THE MAJOR AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES SERVING THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY. STUDENTS HAVE LIVING QUARTERS IN FOUR BUILDINGS ON CAMPUS. ACADEMIC SUPPORT INCLUDES A 200,000 VOLUME ONLINE LIBRARY, COMPUTER CENTER AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE.
  4. STUDENT SERVICES EXPENSES INCLUDE ATHLETICS AND RECREATION, ADMISSIONS, REGISTRAR'S OFFICE, HEALTH AND COUNSELING, STUDENT LIFE AND CAMPUS HOUSING STAFF AND PROGRAMS, FINANCIAL AID AND CAMPUS MINISTRY.

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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 January 1976.

    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.