Lesley University
Lesley University reported $99.4 million in revenue and $112.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $75.56 went to program services, $24.00 to management and general costs and $0.44 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 71.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $698,282 (PRESIDENT). 118 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 15% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $113MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $99MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 75.6% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 24.0% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 8.5% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 71.5% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $698,282 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.62% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 118 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 31.6 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 19 of 20 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseExpenses related to instructing full time and part time students: the university is home to a number of important centers that conduct research, help shape public policy, and provide continuing education and professional development opportunities across a wide range of disciplines.the institution serves approximately 3,700 students, including undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education populations. It offers more than 50 academic programs and maintains an alumni network exceeding 84,000 individuals, with its campus located in cambridge.Lesley University academics:*undergraduate…
Expenses related to financial aid for students:the purpose of financial aid is to help students attain their goal of a Lesley University education, by offering financial assistance in the form of grants, loans, and student work opportunities
Expenses related to academic support which includes the expenses for the library, dean of students, academic administration and other academic support. Also, expenses related to research and general institutional operations
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $631,665 | $0 | $66,617 | $698,282 |
| INTERIM PROVOST Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $289,150 | $0 | $44,795 | $333,945 |
| CHIEF HR OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $268,936 | $0 | $57,505 | $326,441 |
| COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $265,821 | $0 | $49,377 | $315,198 |
| VP & GENERAL COUNSEL Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $274,839 | $0 | $25,348 | $300,187 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $248,317 | $0 | $39,969 | $288,286 |
| PROVOST FOR LIBERAL ARTS & BUSINESS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $178,468 | $0 | $67,625 | $246,093 |
| DIRECTOR OF STUDENT HEALTH Highest compensated employee, 20.00 hrs/week | $209,856 | $0 | $35,674 | $245,530 |
118 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Lesley University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.3M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b20 · 19 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,293
- Volunteers Part I, line 619
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SHAWMUT DESIGN CONSTRUCTION Construction | $17,465,427 |
| ARAMARK SERVICES Dining services | $3,098,096 |
| CAFCO CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT LLC Construction | $3,023,386 |
| SECURITAS SECURITY SERVICES Security services | $1,033,118 |
| UG2 LLC Facility services | $989,875 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 39 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
23 private foundations reported grants to Lesley University totaling $339K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Lesley University's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Lesley University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Lesley University spent in FY2025, $75.56 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Choate Rosemary Hall FoundationWallingford, CT · revenue $99M · programs 86.3% · FY2025
- D'Youville UniversityBuffalo, NY · revenue $100M · programs 90.9% · FY2025
- McDonogh SchoolOwings Mills, MD · revenue $99M · programs 81.4% · FY2025
- Beloit CollegeBeloit, WI · revenue $100M · programs 80.0% · FY2025
- Catherine Hershey Schools for Early LearningHershey, PA · revenue $99M · programs 68.0% · FY2025
All education charities · Largest charities in Massachusetts
Questions people ask
How much of Lesley University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Lesley University reported that 75.6% of its $112.7 million in expenses went to program services, 24.0% to management and general and 0.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Lesley University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Lesley University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $698,282, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Lesley University get its money?
Of $99.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 8.5% came from contributions and grants (including 1.3% from government grants) and 71.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Lesley University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 04-2103589 as a 501(c)(3) organization (school), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202611359349302296 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521349349305537 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202441369349305909 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311359349313791 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221369349306667 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131349349301633 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 04-2103589: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.