The Rockefeller University
The Rockefeller University reported $458.4 million in revenue and $504.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.06 went to program services, $13.88 to management and general costs and $2.06 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 47.2% of the total. Government grants made up 21.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $2,257,458 (CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER). 415 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 1% 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 $504MFor 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 $458MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.1% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.9% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.1% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.05 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 47.2% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 21.1% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 7.4% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $2,257,458 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.45% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 415 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 62.5 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 45 of 46 | 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 expenseResearch education - 73 laboratories (and 15 emeritus laboratories) including 82 faculty members, 211 post-doctoral scholars, 263 graduate students and weill medical college of cornell university medical students
Hospital - consists of 40 beds and serves as a clinical research center for outpatients and inpatients. The Rockefeller University hospital exists solely to conduct clinical research. The specialized personnel and other resources available at the hospital facilitate clinical research for both the investigator and the research participant
Library contains 648,432 volumes (of which 370,028 are on-line) and 8,383 on-line subscriptions and is maintained on an open stock policy. The library strives to advance knowledge by supporting our university's world class research community with technology, innovation, and collaboration in the field of science information and communication
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $1,928,555 | $0 | $328,903 | $2,257,458 |
| PRESIDENT Director/trustee, officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $1,308,593 | $0 | $285,349 | $1,593,942 |
| DIRECTOR, INVESTMENTS (THRU 10/24) Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $926,322 | $0 | $40,771 | $967,093 |
| SVP, DEVELOPMENT Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $803,309 | $0 | $125,996 | $929,305 |
| VP & PHYSICIAN-IN-CHIEF Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $716,817 | $0 | $123,955 | $840,772 |
| EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $706,920 | $0 | $120,747 | $827,667 |
| VP, ACADEMIC AFFAIRS (THRU 8/31/23) Former, 50.00 hrs/week | $660,410 | $0 | $125,497 | $785,907 |
| VP & GENERAL COUNSEL Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $659,343 | $0 | $93,149 | $752,492 |
415 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Rockefeller University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $9.1M (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–1b46 · 45 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 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 51,657
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| BLANK ROME LLP Legal services | $7,084,056 |
| ROPES & GRAY LLP Legal services | $6,552,470 |
| BRIGHT HORIZONS CHILDREN'S CTR LLC Child care / schooling | $4,428,620 |
| GREAT PERFORMANCES Food services | $3,398,932 |
| SUNSHINE BUILDING SERVICES Cleaning services | $1,635,273 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 62 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
105 private foundations reported grants to The Rockefeller University totaling $69M 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 The Rockefeller 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 The Rockefeller University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Rockefeller University spent in FY2025, $84.06 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Bar Ilan University in IsraelNew York, NY · revenue $458M · programs 71.1% · FY2025
- Berklee College of MusicBoston, MA · revenue $460M · programs 81.6% · FY2025
- Uma EducationTampa, FL · revenue $457M · programs 85.0% · 2024
- The Art Institute of ChicagoChicago, IL · revenue $464M · programs 89.1% · FY2025
- McPhs UniversityBoston, MA · revenue $456M · programs 90.6% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of The Rockefeller University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Rockefeller University reported that 84.1% of its $504.4 million in expenses went to program services, 13.9% to management and general and 2.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Rockefeller University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Rockefeller University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $2,257,458, for the role of CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Rockefeller University get its money?
Of $458.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 47.2% came from contributions and grants (including 21.1% from government grants) and 7.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Rockefeller University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-1624158 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 202630559349300433 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202530449349301203 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202430539349300713 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202330559349300113 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202220479349300622 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202120569349300747 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-1624158: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.