Ferris Foundation
Ferris Foundation reported $12.6 million in revenue and $11.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $97.03 went to program services, $2.85 to management and general costs and $0.12 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was investment income: 54.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $516,544 (PRESIDENT). Revenue rose 96% 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 $11MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 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 $13MOther revenue was negative: −$90,652. 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) | 97.0% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 2.9% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 46.2% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $516,544 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 4.52% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 141.7 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 25 of 27 | 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 mission is accomplished through: a comprehensive, aggressive, and ethical private fundraising program targeted toward identified university needs and goals; aggressive, yet prudent, fiscal management of long-term private assets; and enthusiastic and ethical advocacy of the university among all its constituents
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, 0.30 hrs/week | $0 | $468,695 | $47,849 | $516,544 |
| BOARD MEMBER/PROFESSOR OF Director/trustee, 0.30 hrs/week | $0 | $235,159 | $49,928 | $285,087 |
| TREASURER Officer, 1.00 hrs/week | $0 | $225,834 | $34,320 | $260,154 |
| EXECUTIVE BOARD/VP OF ADVA Officer, 0.30 hrs/week | $0 | $195,666 | $41,048 | $236,714 |
| BOARD MEMBER/PROFESSOR OF Director/trustee, 0.30 hrs/week | $0 | $191,940 | $42,337 | $234,277 |
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 20.00 hrs/week | $0 | $143,876 | $1,250 | $145,126 |
0 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Ferris 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–1b27 · 25 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 6103
Private foundation grants it received
4 private foundations reported grants to Ferris Foundation totaling $172K 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 Ferris 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 Ferris Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Ferris Foundation spent in FY2025, $97.03 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Extra Special PeopleWatkinsville, GA · revenue $13M · programs 75.4% · FY2025
- Adult and Teen Challenge of TexasSan Antonio, TX · revenue $13M · programs 67.7% · 2024
- Bridgeway CenterFort Walton Beach, FL · revenue $13M · programs 89.2% · FY2025
- Northwest Family ServicesPortland, OR · revenue $13M · programs 96.3% · 2024
- American Friends of the Ocean Cleanup FoundationNew York, NY · revenue $13M · programs 97.6% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of Ferris Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Ferris Foundation reported that 97.0% of its $11.4 million in expenses went to program services, 2.9% to management and general and 0.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Ferris Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Ferris Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $516,544, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Ferris Foundation get its money?
Of $12.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 46.2% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Ferris Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 38-6115813 as a 501(c)(3) organization (supporting organization (509(a)(3))), 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 202601359349308350 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501229349302100 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401309349303200 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202340209349300404 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021 (amended), object 202321569349300702 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202013219349309191 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 38-6115813: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.