Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University reported $342.4 million in revenue and $373.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $90.69 went to program services, $8.43 to management and general costs and $0.88 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 88.7% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $926,935 (CHANCELLOR, PRESIDENT & CEO). 359 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 $373MFor 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 $342MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 90.7% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.4% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.74 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 1.3% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.7% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 88.7% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $926,935 | $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 | 359 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 22.0 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 9 of 10 | 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 expenseIn FY 2025, jwu enrollment at its campuses in providence, ri, and charlotte, nc, and online learning program totaled 8,332 students (7,307 undergrads and 1,025 grad) jwu awarded 2,068 degrees including 379 associate's, 1,192 bachelor's, 372 graduate, 59 doctoral, and 66 certificates. Jwu employed 318 ft and 389 pt faculty throughout its colleges of art & sciences, college of business and hospitality, college of dietetics and nutrition, college of food innovation & technology, college of health and wellness, and college of online education. 40% of students were first generation college…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHANCELLOR, PRESIDENT & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $865,364 | $0 | $61,571 | $926,935 |
| VICE CHANCELLOR Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $424,569 | $0 | $68,275 | $492,844 |
| PROVOST Key employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $365,935 | $0 | $65,870 | $431,805 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL, VP Key employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $338,327 | $0 | $68,742 | $407,069 |
| PRESIDENT PROVIDENCE CAMPUS Key employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $312,993 | $0 | $58,870 | $371,863 |
| VP OF HUMAN SERVICES Key employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $281,871 | $0 | $65,185 | $347,056 |
| PRESIDENT CHARLOTTE CAMPUS Key employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $286,848 | $0 | $55,754 | $342,602 |
| DEAN OF COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $251,612 | $0 | $59,898 | $311,510 |
359 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Johnson & Wales University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $5.1M (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–1b10 · 9 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 26No
- 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 53,353
- Volunteers Part I, line 627
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| A Z CORPORATION Construction services | $6,304,563 |
| GUILD EDUCATION INC Marketing & enrollment growth services | $3,852,246 |
| PARISEAULT BUILDERS INC Construction services | $3,808,760 |
| GOOGLE INC Advertising services | $3,336,144 |
| ABM Cleaning services | $2,972,621 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 128 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
25 private foundations reported grants to Johnson & Wales University totaling $775K 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 Johnson & Wales 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 Johnson & Wales University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Johnson & Wales University spent in FY2025, $90.69 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- National Geographic SocietyWashington, DC · revenue $341M · programs 82.6% · 2025
- International Leadership of TexasRichardson, TX · revenue $342M · programs 87.4% · FY2025
- Health Science Center at Brooklyn FoundationBrooklyn, NY · revenue $340M · programs 98.8% · FY2025
- The University of Tennessee FoundationKnoxville, TN · revenue $345M · programs 77.3% · FY2025
- Emerson CollegeBoston, MA · revenue $340M · programs 84.4% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Johnson & Wales University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Johnson & Wales University reported that 90.7% of its $373.4 million in expenses went to program services, 8.4% to management and general and 0.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Johnson & Wales University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Johnson & Wales University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $926,935, for the role of CHANCELLOR, PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Johnson & Wales University get its money?
Of $342.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 1.3% came from contributions and grants (including 0.7% from government grants) and 88.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Johnson & Wales University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 05-0306206 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 202621319349300847 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521329349306062 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401369349303825 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331329349306108 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201259349302255 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141349349302534 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 05-0306206: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.