Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College reported $151.3 million in revenue and $157.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $93.50 went to program services, $4.02 to management and general costs and $2.48 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 84.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $438,458 (President). 37 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 2% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $158MFor 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 May 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $151M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$9.51 $14M
- Government grants$1.01 $1.5M
- Program service revenue$83.90 $127M
- Investment income$5.58 $8.4M
Other revenue was negative: −$110K. 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) | 93.5% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 4.0% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.5% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.24 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 10.5% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 84.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $438,458 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.28% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 37 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 36.5 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 30 of 34 | 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 expenseInstruction and Academic Support: Gustavus offers 78 majors in 24 academic departments and 12 interdisciplinary programs, with a student-faculty ratio of 12:1. Total FTE enrollment for academic year 2024-2025 was 1,852, with 523 students graduating in fiscal year 2025
Student Services: Gustavus sponsors 23 varsity athletics teams and 27 intramural activities and club sports, along with more than 102 student organizations. Other student services include admission, community engaged learning, career development, peer mentoring, Office of the Chaplains, center for inclusive excellence, financial assistance, health services, registrar, campus activities and residential life programs
Auxiliary Services: As a residential college, Gustavus is committed to residence hall living as a vital complement to its academic program. Approximately 93% of students live in College-owned residences and eat in the College's Dining Service. During Fall 2024, 1,733 students lived in College-owned residences. The College bookstore provides textbooks and other educational supplies for students. Other items for sale include: clothing embossed with the College's insignia, books and miscellaneous novelty items
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 Director/trustee, officer, 50 hrs/week | $357,904 | $0 | $80,554 | $438,458 |
| Provost and Dean of the College Officer, 50 hrs/week | $204,557 | $0 | $67,712 | $272,269 |
| CFO Vice President of Finance and Treasurer Officer, 50 hrs/week | $195,392 | $0 | $37,095 | $232,487 |
| Vice President for Institutional Advancement Highest compensated employee, 50 hrs/week | $176,558 | $0 | $48,077 | $224,635 |
| Faculty Highest compensated employee, 50 hrs/week | $205,568 | $0 | $13,895 | $219,463 |
| Faculty Highest compensated employee, 50 hrs/week | $164,427 | $0 | $36,792 | $201,219 |
| Vice President for Enrollment Management Highest compensated employee, 50 hrs/week | $178,077 | $0 | $16,001 | $194,078 |
| Vice President for Marketing Highest compensated employee, 50 hrs/week | $154,097 | $0 | $14,616 | $168,713 |
37 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Gustavus Adolphus College (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $900K (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–1b34 · 30 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 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 52,548
- Volunteers Part I, line 6697
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Slingshot LP Textbook Leasing Services | $874,356 |
| Solar Connection Construction Services | $775,710 |
| Tecta America Corporation Construction Services | $658,112 |
| Primary LLC a Division of Digital United Digital Transformation Consultant | $559,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 20 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
31 private foundations reported grants to Gustavus Adolphus College totaling $2.2M 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 Gustavus Adolphus College's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Gustavus Adolphus College, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Gustavus Adolphus College spent in FY2025, $93.50 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Hawaii Pacific UniversityHonolulu, HI · revenue $151M · programs 71.8% · FY2025
- St Catherine UniversitySt Paul, MN · revenue $152M · programs 85.6% · FY2025
- The Corporation of Saint Mary's College Notre DameNotre Dame, IN · revenue $151M · programs 89.2% · FY2025
- Trustees of Deerfield AcademyDeerfield, MA · revenue $152M · programs 77.1% · FY2025
- DonorschooseorgNew York, NY · revenue $151M · programs 89.7% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Gustavus Adolphus College's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, Gustavus Adolphus College reported that 93.5% of its $157.7 million in expenses went to program services, 4.0% to management and general and 2.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Gustavus Adolphus College pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Gustavus Adolphus College reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $438,458, for the role of President (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Gustavus Adolphus College get its money?
Of $151.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 10.5% came from contributions and grants (including 1.0% from government grants) and 84.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Gustavus Adolphus College a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 41-0695524 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 May 31, 2025, object 202641039349301639 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202500939349301570 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202431009349301663 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202340949349301704 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202200969349301000 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202130979349301333 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 41-0695524: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.