Ave Maria School of Law
Ave Maria School of Law reported $27.2 million in revenue and $23.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.09 went to program services, $14.84 to management and general costs and $1.07 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 65.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $360,866 (PRESIDENT/DEAN). 9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 34% 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 $23MFor 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 $27M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$36.23 $10M
- Government grants$0.81 $228K
- Program service revenue$62.92 $18M
- Investment income$0.04 $11,473
Other revenue was negative: −$968K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.1% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.8% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.1% | 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 | 38.4% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 65.2% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $360,866 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.54% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 6.2 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 17 | 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 expenseAve Maria School of Law provides students with a traditional education in the field of law. The education will lead to conferral of the juris doctor degree. Fundraising activities benefit any tax exempt purpose of Ave Maria School of Law
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/DEAN Director/trustee, officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $341,096 | $0 | $19,770 | $360,866 |
| PROFESSOR Former, 40.00 hrs/week | $247,235 | $0 | $27,780 | $275,015 |
| PROFESSOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $214,142 | $0 | $26,587 | $240,729 |
| PROFESSOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $209,950 | $0 | $20,005 | $229,955 |
| ASSOCIATE DEAN Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $195,634 | $0 | $830 | $196,464 |
| ASSOCIATE DEAN Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $192,018 | $0 | $841 | $192,859 |
| PROFESSOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $165,096 | $0 | $23,461 | $188,557 |
| PROFESSOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $175,891 | $0 | $8,869 | $184,760 |
9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Ave Maria School of Law (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.9M (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–1b17 · 16 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5169
- Volunteers Part I, line 631
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MSCO LLC Distinguished scholar | $280,000 |
| BL SANTA FE LLC Conference facility and lodging | $207,456 |
| REHMANN LLC Auditing and tax preparation | $131,441 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
16 private foundations reported grants to Ave Maria School of Law totaling $247K 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 Ave Maria School of Law's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Ave Maria School of Law, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Ave Maria School of Law spent in FY2025, $84.09 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The HeightsPotomac, MD · revenue $27M · programs 80.8% · FY2025
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- Heritage Christian SchoolsIndianapolis, IN · revenue $27M · programs 87.3% · FY2025
- Pi Kappa Alpha FoundationMemphis, TN · revenue $27M · programs 54.2% · 2024
- Hammond SchoolColumbia, SC · revenue $27M · programs 89.3% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Ave Maria School of Law's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Ave Maria School of Law reported that 84.1% of its $23.4 million in expenses went to program services, 14.8% to management and general and 1.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Ave Maria School of Law pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Ave Maria School of Law reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $360,866, for the role of PRESIDENT/DEAN (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Ave Maria School of Law get its money?
Of $27.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 38.4% came from contributions and grants (including 0.8% from government grants) and 65.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Ave Maria School of Law a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 38-3519708 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 202621339349302457 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501129349301365 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202420379349301212 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341329349305829 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221339349307087 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101339349305375 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 38-3519708: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.