Westminster University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WESTMINSTER UNIVERSITY IS A PRIVATE, INDEPENDENT UNIVERSITY DEDICATED TO STUDENT LEARNING. WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS WITH A LONG AND HONORED TRADITION OF CARING DEEPLY ABOUT STUDENTS AND THEIR EDUCATION. WE OFFER LIBERAL ARTS AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION IN COURSES OF STUDY FOR UNDERGRADUATE, SELECTED GRADUATE, AND OTHER INNOVATIVE DEGREE AND NONDEGREE PROGRAMS. STUDENTS ARE CHALLENGED TO EXPERIMENT WITH IDEAS, RAISE QUESTIONS, CRITICALLY EXAMINE ALTERNATIVES, AND MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS. WE ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR LEARNING, TO DISCOVER AND PURSUE THEIR PASSIONS, AND TO PROMOTE MORE EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES. OUR PURPOSES ARE TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO LEAD LIVES OF LEARNING, ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND SERVICE, AND TO HELP THEM DEVELOP SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES CRITICAL FOR SUCCESS IN A DIVERSE AND INTERDEPENDENT WORLD.
- Income
- $64.8 million
- Spending
- $85.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -7.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 75%
- Employees
- 1,119
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $712,483, 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
Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 28% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 20 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 (1)
- $70.9 million spent. INSTRUCTION: 842 STUDENTS IN UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS AND 313 STUDENTS IN GRADUATE PROGRAMS 320 STUDENTS GRADUATED (198 UNDERGRADUATE, 122 GRADUATE) IN THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1941.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.