Whittier College
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Schedule O
- Income
- $57.5 million
- Spending
- $83.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 82%
- Employees
- 963
- Highest pay
- $406,067, 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 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 44% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2527 of 27 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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 (2)
- $64.2 million spent. Instruction, research, and sponsorship: Whittier College faculty are fully committed to design and deliver the highest quality instruction to students, combining traditional pedagogy, available technology, personal innovation, and practical application to provide a holistic system that engenders interdisciplinary learning at all levels. Additionally, and critical to keeping classroom instruction contemporary, Whittier College faculty are active and working scholars, artists, and researchers in their respective fields, eliciting financial and other resource support from both federal agencies and private foundations.Academic resources: Whittier is a college of academic rigor, where ideas are constantly being dissected, connected, and explored. Through an education this is rooted in the liberal arts tradition, students choose from over 50 majors and 38 minors, or create their own interdisciplinary major through the Whittier Scholars Project. While here, students have a breadth of assistance available to ensure academic success at all levels. Resources and programs include faculty advising; peer tutoring; basic and advanced skills training in the writing center; library and information technology instruction; computer labs, smart classrooms and campus-wide WIFI; mentoring programs; assessment; and an early warning system to identify students who may be experiencing temporary difficulty in the classroom. Additionally, a program focusing on the first-year encompasses a comprehensive support system that includes specialized seminars, individualized mentoring, and more. Student Services: Whittier is a dynamic and active campus, where there is a clear understanding that learning and growth take place outside the classroom as well as inside. As such, the college offers a variety of co-curricular programs, services, and opportunities for exercise of student leadership and new experiences. Currently, Whittier operates 21 competitive athletic teams and a yearlong intramural sports program, and 10 local societies (fraternities/sororities). Integral to the liberal arts program in general and a Whittier College education in particular, campus programs that provide additional academic, professional, and personal development are also available via foreign student (semester and year-long programs), off-campus internships and career counseling. For students requiring physical or other support, an array of programs both curricular and non-curricular are available through Student Accessibility Services, Counseling Center , or the Health and Wellness Center.
- $5.0 million spent. Auxiliary Enterprises; Includes Residential facilities and support, including food services
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 March 1935.
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.
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.