Suffolk University
Suffolk University reported $358.6 million in revenue and $386.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $85.01 went to program services, $14.24 to management and general costs and $0.75 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 91.7% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $964,487 (PRESIDENT, EX-OFFICIO TRUSTEE). 331 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 9% 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 $386MFor 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 $359MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.0% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.2% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.21 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 3.9% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.7% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 91.7% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $964,487 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.25% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 331 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 8.8 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 25 of 26 | 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 expenseThe college of arts and sciences prepares students of all ages and backgrounds to live more fulfilling lives, to appreciate and contribute to the communities of which they are members and to reach their ethical, personal, intellectual and financial goals. To help its students maximize their potential, the college emphasizes critical and analytical thinking through a rigorous "success skills" undergraduate core program in written and oral communication, computing, analyzing, and integrating. Faculty scholarship supports diversified liberal arts concentrations available in the humanities, the…
The sawyer business school (sbs) creates a learning environment that enables students to emerge as successful leaders in the practice of global business and public services. The sbs values excellence in education and research, and works with its students, alumni, and business partners to achieve their goals. The programs are built on the core values of promoting opportunity, excellence, quality teaching, inclusion and collaboration, and exceptional service
The law school is dedicated to welcoming students from all backgrounds and circumstances and educating them to become highly skilled and ethical lawyers who are well-prepared to serve in their local communities, across the nation, and around the world. The law school seeks to develop in its students the skills necessary to serve the profession's changing needs in an increasingly diverse, global, and technologically-dependent society. The law school's goal is to provide its students with access to an excellent legal education, inspire a commitment to justice, and provide its graduates the…
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, EX-OFFICIO TRUSTEE Director/trustee, officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $888,855 | $0 | $75,632 | $964,487 |
| DEAN, LAW SCHOOL Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $455,318 | $0 | $82,813 | $538,131 |
| DEAN, SAWYER BUSINESS SCHOOL Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $394,258 | $0 | $47,123 | $441,381 |
| VP OF ADVANCEMENT Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $347,745 | $0 | $77,988 | $425,733 |
| CFO/TREASURER (UNITL FEB. 2025) Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $341,163 | $0 | $68,727 | $409,890 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $319,994 | $0 | $79,655 | $399,649 |
| VP/MARKETING & COMMUNICATION Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $312,125 | $0 | $70,211 | $382,336 |
| VP OF ADMINISTRATION Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $346,438 | $0 | $33,088 | $379,526 |
331 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Suffolk University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $5.3M (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–1b26 · 25 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 26Yes
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- 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 53,334
- Volunteers Part I, line 6701
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ABM INDUSTRY GROUPS LLC Facilities maintenance & cleaning | $13,926,349 |
| ONE SIXTY OVER NINETY LLC Marketing campaign development | $1,699,377 |
| DAPA RESEARCH INC Market research | $1,238,450 |
| NBBJ LP Architecture & design | $1,002,099 |
| COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY US CORP Erp system implementation | $844,989 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 17 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
41 private foundations reported grants to Suffolk University totaling $418K 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 Suffolk 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 Suffolk University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Suffolk University spent in FY2025, $85.01 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Loma Linda University Shared ServicesSan Bernardino, CA · revenue $358M · programs 50.8% · FY2025
- Babson CollegeBabson Park, MA · revenue $360M · programs 86.6% · FY2025
- The President and Trustees of Colby CollegeWaterville, ME · revenue $354M · programs 80.3% · FY2025
- The Trustees of Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, IA · revenue $362M · programs 90.2% · FY2025
- Barnard CollegeNew York, NY · revenue $354M · programs 81.6% · FY2025
All education charities · Largest charities in Massachusetts
Questions people ask
How much of Suffolk University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Suffolk University reported that 85.0% of its $386.5 million in expenses went to program services, 14.2% to management and general and 0.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Suffolk University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Suffolk University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $964,487, for the role of PRESIDENT, EX-OFFICIO TRUSTEE (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Suffolk University get its money?
Of $358.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 3.9% came from contributions and grants (including 1.7% from government grants) and 91.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Suffolk University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 04-2133255 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 202601339349309120 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521339349306567 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202421369349311672 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311359349307876 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202231369349307828 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101339349302700 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 04-2133255: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.