Widener University
Widener University reported $294.9 million in revenue and $286.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $89.59 went to program services, $9.35 to management and general costs and $1.06 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 92.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $705,526 (PRESIDENT). 243 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 21% 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 $287MFor 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 $295MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.6% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.4% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.1% | 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 | 5.0% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 2.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 92.2% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $705,526 | $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 | 243 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 10.4 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 23 of 24 | 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 expenseInstructional/grants - expenses incurred with the academic instruction of our student body as well as grants to students. The university comprises of eight schools and colleges that offer liberal arts and sciences, professional, and preprofessional curricula. A metropolitan teaching institution, the university is a three-campus university offering more than 100 programs of study leading to associates, bachelors, masters, or doctoral degrees. In the fall semester of 2024, the university had enrolled 5,713 students comprised of 2,975 undergraduate, 1,602 graduate, and 1,136 school of law…
Student services - expenses incurred for programs that service widener's student body, such as athletics, student organizations, career placement, student health, and student counseling. In addition, this includes departments that support student admissions, financial aid, the bursar, and registrar
Auxiliary services - expenses incurred primarily for housing and feeding students
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, 60.00 hrs/week | $625,154 | $0 | $80,372 | $705,526 |
| DEAN SCHOOL OF NURSING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $457,469 | $0 | $18,460 | $475,929 |
| PROVOST Key employee, 60.00 hrs/week | $382,146 | $0 | $34,299 | $416,445 |
| VICE DEAN, DELAWARE LAW Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $242,847 | $0 | $101,411 | $344,258 |
| VP ADVANCEMENT Key employee, 60.00 hrs/week | $309,361 | $0 | $23,695 | $333,056 |
| VP FOR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES Officer, 60.00 hrs/week | $281,266 | $0 | $17,911 | $299,177 |
| INTERIM VP ADM/FIN JUL 2024-JAN 2025 Officer, 60.00 hrs/week | $253,696 | $0 | $41,575 | $295,271 |
| PROFESSOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $257,246 | $0 | $36,302 | $293,548 |
243 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Widener University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.2M (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–1b24 · 23 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 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 52,711
- Volunteers Part I, line 650
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ARAMARK SERVICES INC Food services | $6,840,398 |
| ELITE BUILDING SERVICES Housekeeping services | $2,574,001 |
| PJ DICK Construction management | $1,403,858 |
| VONT LLC Digital marketing | $869,855 |
| HARMELIN MEDIA Advertising | $773,981 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 83 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
23 private foundations reported grants to Widener University totaling $275K 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 Widener 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 Widener University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Widener University spent in FY2025, $89.59 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- University of ScrantonScranton, PA · revenue $294M · programs 87.7% · FY2025
- Davidson CollegeDavidson, NC · revenue $296M · programs 85.2% · FY2025
- University of Georgia Athletic AssnAthens, GA · revenue $292M · programs 81.1% · FY2025
- Furman UniversityGreenville, SC · revenue $297M · programs 89.4% · FY2025
- Teachers College Columbia UniversityNew York, NY · revenue $290M · programs 82.3% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Widener University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Widener University reported that 89.6% of its $286.7 million in expenses went to program services, 9.4% to management and general and 1.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Widener University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Widener University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $705,526, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Widener University get its money?
Of $294.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 5.0% came from contributions and grants (including 2.0% from government grants) and 92.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Widener University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-1386178 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 202641309349301209 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541309349300919 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202431249349301763 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331329349306833 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201339349300525 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131369349301983 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-1386178: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.