Wayne State University Foundation
Wayne State University Foundation reported $27.9 million in revenue and $26.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.90 went to program services, $2.69 to management and general costs and $19.41 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 58.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $950,228 (DIRECTOR/UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT (PART YEAR)). Revenue rose 21% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $27MFor 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 September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $28MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.9% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 2.7% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 19.4% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.32 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 58.4% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $950,228 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.56% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 295.6 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 11 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 expenseHighest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTOR/UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT (PART YEAR) Director/trustee, officer, 2.0 hrs/week | $0 | $704,382 | $245,846 | $950,228 |
| PROF. OF OPHTHALMOLOGY (FORMER UNI. PRES) Former, 0.0 hrs/week | $0 | $671,717 | $70,491 | $742,208 |
| INTERIM PRESIDENT/JOHN W. REED PROFESSOR OF LAW Director/trustee, officer, 2.0 hrs/week | $0 | $483,731 | $64,918 | $548,649 |
| DIRECTOR/FOUNDATION PRESIDENT Director/trustee, officer, 15.0 hrs/week | $0 | $396,127 | $64,798 | $460,925 |
| SR VP, CFO & TREASURER Officer, 1.0 hrs/week | $0 | $342,098 | $51,160 | $393,258 |
| ASSISTANT VP TREASURY Officer, 5.0 hrs/week | $0 | $202,081 | $31,108 | $233,189 |
| DIRECTOR/WSU LAW PROFESSOR & PRESIDENT OF ACADEMIC SENATE Director/trustee, 1.0 hrs/week | $0 | $193,498 | $26,179 | $219,677 |
| SECRETARY Officer, 15.0 hrs/week | $0 | $99,047 | $28,079 | $127,126 |
0 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Wayne State University Foundation (Part VII, line 2).
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 · 11 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 15aNo
- 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 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 613
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| COMMONFUND Investment management services | $678,623 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
89 private foundations reported grants to Wayne State University Foundation totaling $8.3M 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 Wayne State University Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Wayne State University Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Wayne State University Foundation spent in FY2025, $77.90 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Equity Project Charter SchoolNew York, NY · revenue $28M · programs 91.2% · FY2025
- Morris Jeff Community SchoolNew Orleans, LA · revenue $28M · programs 91.0% · FY2025
- Bryan CollegeDayton, TN · revenue $28M · programs 88.0% · FY2025
- El Paso Education InitiativeEl Paso, TX · revenue $28M · programs 89.9% · FY2025
- Union Theological SeminaryNew York, NY · revenue $28M · programs 70.8% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Wayne State University Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Wayne State University Foundation reported that 77.9% of its $26.7 million in expenses went to program services, 2.7% to management and general and 19.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Wayne State University Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Wayne State University Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $950,228, for the role of DIRECTOR/UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT (PART YEAR) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Wayne State University Foundation get its money?
Of $27.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 58.4% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Wayne State University Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 38-3555142 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 September 30, 2025, object 202632169349301858 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202512209349301666 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202402269349301040 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202302169349300530 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202202209349300800 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202102179349300315 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 38-3555142: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.