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Gallaudet University

EIN 53-0199507 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$237.0 million
Spending
$229.3 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 69%
Employees
1,778
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$837,728, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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

    18 of 21 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 September 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. $69.6 million spent. INSTRUCTION AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT - GALLAUDET IS DIVIDED INTO TWO MAJOR COMPONENT PROGRAMS FOR BUDGETING AND OPERATING PURPOSES: THE UNIVERSITY AND THE LAURENT CLERC CENTER. THE CLERC CENTER CONSISTS OF THE MODEL SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND KENDALL DEMONSTRATION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IN THE FALL SEMESTER OF ACADEMIC YEAR 2024-2025,THE UNIVERSITY ENROLLED 875 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, 460 GRADUATE STUDENTS, AND 19 ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTITUTE STUDENTS. THE CLERC CENTER HAD 91 STUDENTS ENROLLED AT KENDALL DEMONSTRATION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND 139 STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE MODEL SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.
  2. $46.1 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES: GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF STUDENT SERVICES INCLUDING COUNSELING, PLACEMENT, FINANCIAL AID, HEALTH SERVICES, TUTORING, CAREER CENTER AND OTHER STUDENT ACTIVITIES AT BOTH THE UNIVERSITY AND CLERC CENTER.
  3. $27.8 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES: AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES INCLUDE DORMITORY, FOOD SERVICE, BOOKSTORE OPERATIONS, THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY INTERPRETING, HEARING AND SPEECH OPERATIONS, AND LEASE-RELATED INCOME. ONLY THOSE ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE REVENUEPRODUCING ARE INCLUDED UNDER THIS DESIGNATION. FOR CLERC CENTER PROGRAMS, COSTS INCURRED FOR DORMITORY AND FOOD SERVICE UNDER THE MODEL SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND FOOD SERVICE UNDER KENDALL DEMONSTRATION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, NEITHER OF WHICH PRODUCE REVENUE, AREREPORTED AS PART OF STUDENT SERVICES PROGRAM EXPENSE.
  4. $25.0 million spent. GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY'S RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND OUTREACH AGENDA IS AIMED AT ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PEOPLE AND ALL HUMANITY. RESEARCH AREAS OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE INCLUDE VISUAL LANGUAGE AND LEARNING, HEARING AND SPEECH SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY ACCESS, GENETICS, AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE/ENGLISH BILINGUALISM, AND DEAFLIFE. A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOCUS AREA OF GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY IS INTEGRATING RESEARCH AND PRACTICE TO BENEFIT DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PRE KINDERGARTEN - 12 GRADE STUDENTS, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO DIVERSITY AND EQUITY TO THIS TRADITIONALLY UNDER-REPRESENTED GROUP.GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY'S PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ADULTS WHO ARE DEAF. SERVICES INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS, A VARIETY OF ON-CAMPUS SUMMER PROGRAMS, AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS AT OTHER SCHOOLS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 February 1960.

    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.