Denison University
Denison University reported $299.0 million in revenue and $293.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.38 went to program services, $9.47 to management and general costs and $3.15 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 71.7% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,224,166 (PRESIDENT). 200 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 20% 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 $293MFor 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 $299MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.4% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.5% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.1% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.17 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 18.2% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 71.7% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,224,166 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.42% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 200 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 57.4 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 35 of 35 | 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 expenseOur purpose is to inspire and educate our students to become autonomous thinkers, discerning moral agents and active citizens of a democratic society. Through an emphasis on active learning, we engage students in the liberal arts, which fosters self-determination and demonstrates the transformative power of education. We provide undergraduate programs of instruction to approximately 2,464 students. Students are offered approximately 65 majors, concentrations and programs of study. Scholarships and grants are provided based on merit and economic need. The university also provides services to…
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 Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $968,334 | $0 | $255,832 | $1,224,166 |
| CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $903,100 | $0 | $208,872 | $1,111,972 |
| MANAGING DIR.,INVESTMENTS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $700,922 | $0 | $279,965 | $980,887 |
| MANAGING DIR.,INVESTMENTS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $408,343 | $0 | $135,102 | $543,445 |
| VP FINANCE & MGMT AND CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $363,269 | $0 | $65,525 | $428,794 |
| VP&GENERAL COUNSEL Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $365,847 | $0 | $57,232 | $423,079 |
| PROVOST Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $340,808 | $0 | $79,600 | $420,408 |
| VP INSTIUTIONAL ADVANCEMEN Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $343,229 | $0 | $48,114 | $391,343 |
200 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Denison University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $4.9M (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–1b35 · 35 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14No
- 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 52,698
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,800
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| HARVEST TABLE CULINARY GROUP Food svc. Management | $14,154,201 |
| CONTINENTAL BUILDING COMPANY II LLC Construction mgmt. | $8,592,105 |
| KOKOSING INDUSTRIAL INC Construction mgmt. | $2,950,935 |
| WORKDAY INC Software implementation services | $2,011,989 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 43 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
100 private foundations reported grants to Denison University totaling $5.6M 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 Denison 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 Denison University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Denison University spent in FY2025, $87.38 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- New York University in Abu Dhabi CorpNew York, NY · revenue $297M · programs 87.3% · FY2025
- YES Prep Public SchoolsHouston, TX · revenue $299M · programs 94.3% · FY2025
- Furman UniversityGreenville, SC · revenue $297M · programs 89.4% · FY2025
- Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityTeaneck, NJ · revenue $300M · programs 90.6% · FY2025
- Davidson CollegeDavidson, NC · revenue $296M · programs 85.2% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Denison University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Denison University reported that 87.4% of its $293.4 million in expenses went to program services, 9.5% to management and general and 3.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Denison University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Denison University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $1,224,166, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Denison University get its money?
Of $299.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 18.2% came from contributions and grants (including 0.4% from government grants) and 71.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Denison University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 31-4379459 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 202641329349302689 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541289349302734 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401369349303945 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321099349301527 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202231299349300613 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202121209349301452 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 31-4379459: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.