Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University reported $709.1 million in revenue and $704.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.46 went to program services, $14.55 to management and general costs and $0.99 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 49.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $329,738 (President Vice - Chancellor). 1,021 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 24% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $705MFor 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 March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $709MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.5% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.6% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.02 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 41.8% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 49.9% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $329,738 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.05% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1,021 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 16.5 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 6 of 13 | 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 expensePost Secondary Education Teaching: Delivery of Academic courses to students enrolled in Undergraduate Master and Doctorate programs as well as distance education and non-credit courses offered through Life-Long Learning. Number of students enrolled in our fiscal year April 1 2024 through March 31 2025 29,001 Undergraduates; 5,074 Graduates; including 6,927 International Students in total. Degrees awarded in the 2024 calendar year: 5,019 Bachelor; 1,253 Master; 170 PHD; 863 Other Grad Certificates and Diplomas
Research: At SFU Research Matters its an essential component of SFUs mission and also a major instructional activity as faculty work closely with graduate and undergraduate students in a wide variety of research settings including the Library laboratories computer facilities and studios. Research collaborations extend far beyond our campuses to include many projects conducted jointly with business and industry community organizations and agencies in all levels of government. SFU researchers are establishing or strengthening programs in areas facing the most pressing social demand including…
Ancillary Services: The University provides goods and services with a student and community focus. Examples of such services include: student residences bookstore printing parking food meetings and events. In 2024 2025 these services were delivered internally alone to 29,001 Undergrad students 5,074 Grad students 3,716 full time faculty & staff and 2,396 part time faculty & staff
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, highest compensated employee, 0.00 hrs/week | $0 | $0 | $329,738 | $329,738 |
| Vice President - Academic Provost Officer, highest compensated employee, 0.00 hrs/week | $0 | $0 | $287,434 | $287,434 |
| Professor Highest compensated employee, 0.00 hrs/week | $0 | $0 | $277,596 | $277,596 |
| Professor Highest compensated employee, 0.00 hrs/week | $0 | $0 | $264,197 | $264,197 |
| Former VP- Finance Administration Officer, highest compensated employee, former, 0.00 hrs/week | $0 | $0 | $260,056 | $260,056 |
| Professor Highest compensated employee, 0.00 hrs/week | $0 | $0 | $257,034 | $257,034 |
| Professor Highest compensated employee, 0.00 hrs/week | $0 | $0 | $256,151 | $256,151 |
| Professor Highest compensated employee, 0.00 hrs/week | $0 | $0 | $251,961 | $251,961 |
1,021 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Simon Fraser University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $5.6M (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–1b13 · 6 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 26No
- 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
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Simon Fraser 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 Simon Fraser University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Simon Fraser University spent in FY2025, $84.46 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- UCLA FoundationLos Angeles, CA · revenue $696M · programs 91.8% · FY2025
- American University of BeirutNew York, NY · revenue $710M · programs 87.3% · FY2025
- Dalhousie UniversityCanada, · revenue $695M · programs 91.4% · FY2025
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics EngineersPiscataway, NJ · revenue $714M · programs 96.6% · 2024
- The New York Public Library Astor Lenox and Tilden FoundationsNew York, NY · revenue $693M · programs 87.5% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Simon Fraser University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, Simon Fraser University reported that 84.5% of its $704.5 million in expenses went to program services, 14.6% to management and general and 1.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Simon Fraser University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Simon Fraser University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 was $329,738, for the role of President Vice - Chancellor (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Simon Fraser University get its money?
Of $709.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, 41.8% came from contributions and grants and 49.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Simon Fraser University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 30-0505256 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 March 31, 2025, object 202640479349300609 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, object 202510459349300506 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, object 202313539349300301 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, object 202300389349300200 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, object 202113589349300701 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, object 202043399349300604 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 30-0505256: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.