Desales University
Desales University reported $149.7 million in revenue and $147.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $95.62 went to program services, $2.97 to management and general costs and $1.41 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 81.5% of the total. Government grants made up 5.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $230,089 (CHAIR- DIVISION OF BUSINESS). 82 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 25% 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 $147MFor 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 $150MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 95.6% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 3.0% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.4% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.14 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 9.8% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 5.1% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 81.5% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $230,089 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.16% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 82 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 15.7 | 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 expenseDesales University is a medium-sized, private, four-year catholic university with a salesian mission administered by the oblates of st. Francis de sales. Students at desales are exposed to catholic teachings but are also afforded the luxury of exploring in an atmosphere of intellectual freedom. It is the mission of Desales University to inspire transformative learning through the liberal arts and professional studies by energizing students to be who they are and be that well. The philosophy of Desales University is firmly and publicly committed to the principles of roman catholic doctrine and…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHAIR- DIVISION OF BUSINESS Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $212,787 | $0 | $17,302 | $230,089 |
| CHAIR - DIVISION OF NURSING Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $196,489 | $0 | $27,937 | $224,426 |
| CFO/TREASURER Officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $197,133 | $0 | $26,986 | $224,119 |
| CHAIR - GRADUATE NURSING Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $190,496 | $0 | $33,011 | $223,507 |
| PROVOST Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $194,061 | $0 | $27,157 | $221,218 |
| VP FOR STUDENT LIFE Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $176,641 | $0 | $33,918 | $210,559 |
| VP FOR CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $169,527 | $0 | $35,199 | $204,726 |
| CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $163,737 | $0 | $35,004 | $198,741 |
82 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Desales University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.5M (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 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,782
- Volunteers Part I, line 6129
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| VALLEY BUILDERS LLC Construction | $1,746,115 |
| MEDIA WORKS LTD Advertising and marketing services | $1,578,457 |
| GODSHALL'S LANDSCAPE & HYDROSEED Lawn, landscaping, and snow services | $1,124,932 |
| HT LYONS INC Maintenance and repairs | $924,146 |
| OBLATES OF ST FRANCIS DESALES Management and instructional services | $757,066 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 22 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
29 private foundations reported grants to Desales University totaling $258K 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 Desales 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 Desales University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Desales University spent in FY2025, $95.62 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Sarah Lawrence CollegeBronxville, NY · revenue $149M · programs 86.7% · FY2025
- York College of PennsylvaniaYork, PA · revenue $150M · programs 87.0% · FY2025
- Mercyhurst UniversityErie, PA · revenue $149M · programs 93.0% · FY2025
- Eckerd CollegeSt Petersburg, FL · revenue $150M · programs 85.3% · FY2025
- Harding UniversitySearcy, AR · revenue $149M · programs 89.0% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Desales University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Desales University reported that 95.6% of its $147.0 million in expenses went to program services, 3.0% to management and general and 1.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Desales University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Desales University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $230,089, for the role of CHAIR- DIVISION OF BUSINESS (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Desales University get its money?
Of $149.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 9.8% came from contributions and grants (including 5.1% from government grants) and 81.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Desales University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-1653718 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 202641339349301344 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531349349305368 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411349349308661 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331329349304493 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202231329349304058 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202121329349301897 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-1653718: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.