Adler University
Adler University reported $50.7 million in revenue and $48.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $68.24 went to program services, $31.02 to management and general costs and $0.74 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 94.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $729,030 (FORMER PRESIDENT). 40 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 14% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $48MFor 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 August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $51MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 68.2% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 31.0% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.16 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 4.3% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 3.9% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 94.8% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $729,030 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.51% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 40 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 5.8 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 14 of 14 | 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 expenseAdler University is a private, non-profit institution of higher education that educates students to engage the world and create a more just society. Established in 1952, Adler University has enrolled more than 1,500 students in master's and doctoral programs on its campuses in Chicago (IL), Vancouver (BC), and online. Adler University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and all the programs at the Vancouver campus are offered under the written consent of the British Columbia Minister of Advanced Education
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORMER PRESIDENT Former, 40.0 hrs/week | $687,784 | $0 | $41,246 | $729,030 |
| President Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $287,922 | $0 | $10,703 | $298,625 |
| VP, Enrollment/Communications Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $229,245 | $0 | $28,182 | $257,427 |
| VP, Academic AF Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $216,736 | $0 | $24,926 | $241,662 |
| Chief of Staff Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $200,784 | $0 | $15,435 | $216,219 |
| Executive Dean - Online Campus Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $190,811 | $0 | $17,968 | $208,779 |
| VP, People Culture Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $187,805 | $0 | $18,552 | $206,357 |
| Chair - Full Professor Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $176,385 | $0 | $25,131 | $201,516 |
40 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Adler University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.0M (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–1b14 · 14 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 5506
- Volunteers Part I, line 613
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Ond Property Llc Real Estate | $1,190,005 |
| ScholarBuys LLC Education technology solutions | $177,899 |
| Forvis Mazars LLP Public Accounting Firm | $105,435 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
7 private foundations reported grants to Adler University totaling $381K 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 Adler 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 Adler University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Adler University spent in FY2025, $68.24 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Crescent City SchoolsNew Orleans, LA · revenue $51M · programs 95.1% · FY2025
- Converse UniversitySpartanburg, SC · revenue $51M · programs 84.3% · FY2025
- Asbury Theological SeminaryWilmore, KY · revenue $51M · programs 83.0% · FY2025
- University of MobileMobile, AL · revenue $51M · programs 86.5% · FY2025
- Uncg Excellence FoundationGreensboro, NC · revenue $51M · programs 85.2% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Adler University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Adler University reported that 68.2% of its $48.1 million in expenses went to program services, 31.0% to management and general and 0.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Adler University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Adler University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $729,030, for the role of FORMER PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Adler University get its money?
Of $50.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 4.3% came from contributions and grants (including 3.9% from government grants) and 94.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Adler University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-2515281 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 August 31, 2025, object 202601919349300425 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202511579349300221 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202410819349301426 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202331959349301913 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202221799349300797 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202131809349300613 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-2515281: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.