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Savannah College of Art and Design Inc

EIN 58-1357177 · Savannah, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SCAD PREPARES TALENTED STUDENTS FOR CREATIVE PROFESSIONS THROUGH ENGAGED TEACHING AND LEARNING IN A POSITIVELY ORIENTED UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$952.8 million
Spending
$699.4 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
14.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
4,282
Volunteers
4,030
Highest pay
$5.7 million, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

    9 of 9 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

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • Education services were provided to more than 18,000 undergraduate and graduate degree students.Work delivered
  • Approximately 4,200 students graduated and were awarded degrees.Change achieved

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $276.1 million spent. INSTRUCTIONAL EXPENDITURES -- THESE EXPENDITURES RELATE TO PROVIDING EDUCATION SERVICES TO MORE THAN 18,000 STUDENTS SEEKING UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE DEGREES. THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS THE BACHELOR OF ARTS, BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS, MASTER OF FINE ARTS, MASTER OF ARTS, MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE, AND MASTER OF URBAN DESIGN DEGREES. THE UNIVERSITY IS ACCREDITED BY THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES & SCHOOLS COMMISSION ON COLLEGES AND THE MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE DEGREE PROGRAM IS ADDITIONALLY ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL ACCREDITING BOARD. THE UNDERGRADUATE INTERIOR DESIGN PROGRAM IS ADDITIONALLY ACCREDITED DOMESTICALLY BY THE COUNCIL FOR INTERIOR DESIGN ACCREDITATION. APPROXIMATELY 4,200 STUDENTS GRADUATED AND WERE AWARDED DEGREES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD.
  2. $212.6 million spent. STUDENT AID -- THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DIRECTLY FROM THE INSTITUTION.
  3. $104.7 million spent. CAMPUS SERVICES, STUDENT HOUSING, FOOD SERVICE EXPENDITURES -- THESE EXPENDITURES REPRESENT THE COST OF SERVICES NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY, INCLUDING STUDENT HOUSING, DINING SERVICES AND OTHER AUXILIARY SERVICES. THE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS.

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 November 6, 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 April 1979.

    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 November 4, 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.