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Brown University
Brown University reported $2.06 billion in revenue and $1.83 billion in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $90.72 went to program services, $6.97 to management and general costs and $2.31 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 48.6% of the total. Government grants made up 15.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $4,043,871 (VP & CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER). 1,735 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 39% 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 $1.83BFor context, the median across 479 covered community improvement & capacity building charities: $90.45 programs, $9.31 management, $0.24 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 $2.06BThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 90.7% | 89.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.0% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.3% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 30.0% | 80.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 15.1% | 14.9% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 48.6% | 11.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $4,043,871 | $291,103 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.22% | 1.49% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1,735 | 5 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 58.6 | 9.2 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 51 of 52 | 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 expenseInstruction / enrollment includes cost of supplies, salaries and benefits associated with teaching approximately 12,000 students (66% undergraduate; 29% graduate; 5% medical). A faculty of approximately 1,080 teach and administer programs in a variety of disciplines, including the humanities, life/medical sciences, physical sciences and social sciences. There are nearly 100 programs of study offered between undergraduate college, graduate school and medical school of the university. In 2025, the university awarded a total of 3,354 baccalaureate degrees and advanced (master, medical and…
Student aid, fellowships and scholarships - brown provides 100 percent of demonstrated need for all aided undergraduate students that matriculate. The university is need-blind for domestic students (US citizens and permanent residents) and "need-aware" for international and transfer (both domestic and international) students. International and transfer students who do not apply for aid as part of their admission application may not received need-based scholarships from the university. Forty-nine percent of the undergraduate student body receives need-based financial aid. The average…
Auxiliary services / activities includes the operation of the dormitories, dining services, health services, the bookstore, etc. These services accommodate students, faculty and staff by supporting academic and cultural enrichment. Line 4d, program service ------------------------- other program services (expenses $ 203,785,397) (revenue $97,276,361) the university engages in research in physical sciences, humanities, life sciences and social sciences. The university's research network features advanced academic institutes, centers and facilities that make our world-renowned research…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VP & CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER Key employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $3,703,877 | $0 | $339,994 | $4,043,871 |
| PRESIDENT/FELLOW Director/trustee, officer, 55.0 hrs/week | $1,433,165 | $0 | $520,619 | $1,953,784 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $1,479,709 | $0 | $177,512 | $1,657,221 |
| VP FOR ATHLETICS & RECREATION Highest compensated employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $1,400,685 | $0 | $156,419 | $1,557,104 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $1,387,590 | $0 | $166,951 | $1,554,541 |
| HEAD OF OPERATIONS-INVESTMENTS Highest compensated employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $1,066,514 | $0 | $141,199 | $1,207,713 |
| DEAN OF BIO & MED Key employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $1,081,891 | $0 | $57,531 | $1,139,422 |
| PROVOST Key employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $887,424 | $0 | $192,040 | $1,079,464 |
1,735 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Brown University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $12M (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–1b52 · 51 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 2Yes
- 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 514,310
- Volunteers Part I, line 66,839
Private foundation grants it received
341 private foundations reported grants to Brown University totaling $75M 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 Brown 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 Brown University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Brown University spent in FY2025, $90.72 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Jobsohio Beverage SystemColumbus, OH · revenue $702M · programs 91.9% · FY2025
- Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundBoston, MA · revenue $30.6B · programs 100.0% · FY2025
- National Center for Manufacturing SciencesAnn Arbor, MI · revenue $568M · programs 98.0% · 2024
- Local Initiatives Support CorporationNew York, NY · revenue $364M · programs 87.9% · 2024
- Halifax StaffingDaytona Beach, FL · revenue $332M · programs 100.0% · FY2025
All community improvement & capacity building charities · Largest charities in Rhode Island
Questions people ask
How much of Brown University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Brown University reported that 90.7% of its $1.83 billion in expenses went to program services, 7.0% to management and general and 2.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Brown University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Brown University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $4,043,871, for the role of VP & CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Brown University get its money?
Of $2.06 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 30.0% came from contributions and grants (including 15.1% from government grants) and 48.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Brown University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 05-0258809 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 202631319349306043 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541359349309534 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401319349305030 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341319349306579 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211339349307471 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101349349304945 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 05-0258809: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.