McMaster University
McMaster University reported $1.12 billion in revenue and $999.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $98.87 went to program services, $1.13 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 45.5% of the total. Government grants made up 29.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $399,289 (PRESIDENT/VICE-CHANCELLOR). 1,051 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 28% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending April 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $999MFor 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 April 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $1.12BThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 98.9% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 1.1% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 45.5% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 29.5% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 28.1% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $399,289 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.04% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1,051 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 22.5 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 34 of 50 | 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 expenseOperating Fund -- UNRESTRICTED GENERAL REVENUES AND EXPENSES THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY, EDUCATION AND ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING RESEARCH
Research Fund -- RESEARCH-RELATED FUNDS EXTERNALLY RESTRICTED BY THE UNIVERSITY THAT HAVE A NON-EXPANDABLE REQUIREMENT AS WELL AS OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR USE AS AGREED UPON BY THE DONOR AND THE UNIVERSITY
Ancillary Fund -- SALES OF GOODS AND SERVICES BY DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE DEFINED AS BEING SUPPLEMENTARY TO THE UNIVERSITY'S OPERATING ACTIVITIES OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH. SUCH SALES MAY BE MADE TO THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY AND/OR EXTERNAL CLIENTS. ANCILLARY OPERATIONS ARE SELF-SUSTAINING
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/VICE-CHANCELLOR Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $379,418 | $0 | $19,871 | $399,289 |
| Professor Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $343,140 | $0 | $35,173 | $378,313 |
| Professor Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $360,210 | $0 | $8,351 | $368,561 |
| VP FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $340,753 | $0 | $18,473 | $359,226 |
| PROVOST/VP ACADEMIC/BOARD Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $324,038 | $0 | $34,251 | $358,289 |
| Chair, Department of Surgery Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $321,708 | $0 | $13,414 | $335,122 |
| Professor Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $296,723 | $0 | $33,192 | $329,915 |
| VP - OPERATIONS AND FINANCE Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $282,975 | $0 | $31,199 | $314,174 |
1,051 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from McMaster University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.5M (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–1b50 · 34 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 11aNo
- 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 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 50
- Volunteers Part I, line 6300
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from McMaster 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 McMaster University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 McMaster University spent in FY2025, $98.87 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Nova Southeastern UniversityFort Lauderdale, FL · revenue $1.06B · programs 84.5% · FY2025
- University of OttawaCanada, · revenue $1.12B · programs 87.2% · FY2025
- Loyola University of ChicagoChicago, IL · revenue $1.06B · programs 89.8% · FY2025
- Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY · revenue $1.17B · programs 92.5% · FY2025
- Hebrew University of JerusalemIsrael, · revenue $1.06B · programs 93.1% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of McMaster University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending April 30, 2025, McMaster University reported that 98.9% of its $999.5 million in expenses went to program services, 1.1% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does McMaster University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation McMaster University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending April 30, 2025 was $399,289, for the role of PRESIDENT/VICE-CHANCELLOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does McMaster University get its money?
Of $1.12 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ending April 30, 2025, 45.5% came from contributions and grants (including 29.5% from government grants) and 28.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is McMaster University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7213309 as a 501(c)(3) organization (school). 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 April 30, 2025, object 202620709349301752 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2024, object 202530729349300818 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2023, object 202430729349300528 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2022, object 202300749349300610 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2021, object 202220739349300422 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2020, object 202110709349300946 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7213309: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.