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Trustees for Harvard University

EIN 53-0199180 · Cambridge, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FACILITATE HARVARD UNIVERSITY'S SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN WASHINGTON, DC.

Income
$68.6 million
Spending
$50.5 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
31.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 99%
Employees
173
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$1.6 million, see schedule o

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 31.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 13 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $37.0 million spent. DUMBARTON OAKS IS A MUSEUM, RESEARCH LIBRARY, AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITY FOR THE STUDY OF BYZANTINE AND MEDIEVAL HUMANITIES, PRE-COLUMBIAN ART, AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE. THE FACILITY SERVES APPROXIMATELY 64 FELLOWS.
  2. $8.0 million spent. CENTER FOR HELLENIC STUDIES IS AN EDUCATIONAL CENTER IN THE FIELD OF HELLENIC STUDIES DESIGNED TO REDISCOVER HUMANISM OF THE HELLENIC GREEKS. HELLENISM FOR THE CENTER ENCOMPASSES THE EVOLUTION OF THE GREEK LANGUAGE AND ITS CULTURE AS A CENTRAL POINT OF CONTACT FOR ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CIVILIZATIONS OF THE ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN WORLD. IT ALSO INCLUDES INTERACTIONS WITH FOREIGN CULTURES AND THE DIFFUSION OF ROMAN INFLUENCES. THIS HUMANISTIC VISION ANIMATES THE CENTER'S MAIN ACTIVITIES: (1) BUILDING AND MAINTAINING A WORLD-CLASS COLLECTION OF RESOURCES FOR THE STUDY OF THE ANCIENT GRECO-ROMAN WORLD; (2) MAKING THESE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS, OFFERING RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL FELLOWSHIPS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH IN THE FIELD, AND PROVIDING A VENUE WHERE THE FELLOWS AND OTHER SCHOLARS CAN COLLABORATE AND SHARE THEIR INSIGHTS WITH DIVERSE AUDIENCES BOTH AT THE CENTER AND BEYOND THROUGH SEMINARS, OTHER FORMS OF LIVE PRESENTATIONS, AND PUBLICATIONS; (3) DISSEMINATING SCHOLARSHIP ON THE HELLENIC WORLD IN PRINTED AND ELECTRONIC FORMATS AND DEVELOPING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES TO ENHANCE EXISTING METHODS AND PIONEER NEW AVENUES OF RESEARCH AND TEACHING; AND (4) DESIGNING AND ORCHESTRATING ACTIVITIES FOR A GLOBAL AUDIENCE WITH THE GOAL OF ENABLING A WIDE RANGE OF PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS, UNDERGRADUATES, GRADUATE STUDENTS, SCHOLARS FROM OTHER DISCIPLINES, AND LIFE-LONG LEARNERS TO ENGAGE IN THE STUDY AND APPRECIATION OF HELLENIC CULTURE. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 (JULY 1, 2024-JUNE 30, 2025), THE CENTER FOR HELLENIC STUDIES WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES: SUPPORT TO RESEARCH FELLOWS AND ASSOCIATES, 35 OF WHOM VISITED OR LIVED ON CAMPUS; SUPPORT TO 21 VISITING RESEARCHERS; 39 LIBRARY READERS; FUNDING FOR 2 INTERNSHIPS IN WASHINGTON, DC; 10 HARVARD STUDENTS (UNDERGRAD AND GRAD) TO PARTICIPATE IN ITS PROGRAMS IN GREECE; ORGANIZATION OF SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, AND CONFERENCES (8 EVENTS), WHICH WERE ATTENDED BY 191 INDIVIDUALS IN-PERSON AND 241 INDIVIDUALS VIA ZOOM.

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 1958.

    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.