Spelman College
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $174.0 million
- Spending
- $186.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 67%
- Employees
- 1,585
- Volunteers
- 800
- Highest pay
- $2.0 million, president (thru 11/21/2024)
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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 40% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 2526 of 27 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $111.4 million spent. INSTRUCTION, STUDENT SERVICES, AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOUNDED IN 1881, SPELMAN COLLEGE IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION BASED IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. THE COLLEGE IS ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION ON COLLEGES OF THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS AND PROVIDES QUALITY LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES FOR APPROXIMATELY 2,500 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. IN ADDITION, THE COLLEGE MAINTAINS SPECIAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS CONTINUING EDUCATION, SUMMER SCIENCE AND DUAL DEGREES IN ENGINEERING. SPELMAN COLLEGE ALSO PROVIDES A DYNAMIC AND INTERACTIVE CAMPUS COMMUNITY WITH A VARIETY OF DIVERSE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE PERSONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ITS STUDENTS. ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDES DEPARTMENTS THAT PROVIDE TUTORING AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROGRAMS. ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES ALSO PARTNERS WITH THE STUDENT SUCCESS PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES COURSE SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS TO MASTER COURSE CONTENT AND ULTIMATELY ATTAIN THEIR ACADEMIC GOALS. (Expenses $ 278,407 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) PUBLIC SERVICE
- $27.1 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES AS A RESIDENTIAL LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE, SPELMAN COLLEGE PROVIDES ON CAMPUS HOUSING FOR APPROXIMATELY 1,400 STUDENTS. SPELMAN ALSO PROVIDES DINING SERVICES TO ITS RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS, AS WELL AS COMMUTER STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND OTHERS. SPELMAN OPERATES A 500 SPACE PARKING DECK FOR FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, SPELMAN OFFERS A VARIETY OF SUMMER CONFERENCES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND OTHER INTERESTED STUDENTS.
- $6.7 million spent. RESEARCH SPELMAN COLLEGE PERFORMS RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND OTHER SIMILAR SERVICES UNDER GRANTS WITH GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES OR SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS. (Expenses $ 278,407 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) PUBLIC SERVICE
- $278,407 spent. PUBLIC SERVICE
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1942.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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