The George Washington University
The George Washington University reported $2.04 billion in revenue and $2.03 billion in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $90.94 went to program services, $7.81 to management and general costs and $1.25 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 85.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,907,439 (President - Ex Officio). 2,012 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 22% 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 $2.03BFor 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 $2.04BThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 90.9% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.8% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.3% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.31 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 4.0% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.5% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 85.9% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,907,439 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.09% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 2,012 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 16.8 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 21 of 22 | 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 expenseEducation: our namesake envisioned a university in the nation's capital that would prepare citizen leaders brought together from all over the world. Today, we are that university with students and faculty members from every state and more than 130 countries. Taking full advantage of our setting in a global nerve center, a gw education integrates intellectual discovery, interactive learning, and unparalleled access to opportunities in every sector of society. In a city shaping the future, George Washington is a university where faculty and students not only study the world but also work to…
Research and research support: gw's research is distinguished by our commitment to transform policy that affects people in their daily lives. This unique approach to research gives special character to our teaching and enables US to offer our students learning experiences that few can match. With our location, connections and close proximity to institutions such as the national institutes of health, national science foundation, the smithsonian institution, and library of congress, gw's research helps solve national and global problems while giving our students learning opportunities inside…
Auxiliary enterprises - students and community: gw provides a number of services that support learning, build community, and enhance the overall quality of student life. Auxiliary enterprises include facilities and residential property management, dining, bookstore, parking, student health, mail, and laundry services. Gw's university student center houses student organization offices and meeting rooms and is utilized by students, faculty, staff, and visitors. For more info about gw's programs & accomplishments, see the 2024-2025 financial report on the finance division website at…
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 - Ex Officio Director/trustee, officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $1,649,216 | $0 | $258,223 | $1,907,439 |
| Director and Professor of EMSE Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $1,501,865 | $0 | $63,593 | $1,565,458 |
| VP for Health Affairs and Dean of SMHS Key employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $1,346,972 | $0 | $154,868 | $1,501,840 |
| Provost and EVP for Academic Affairs Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $946,134 | $0 | $132,163 | $1,078,297 |
| Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $981,778 | $0 | $86,352 | $1,068,130 |
| GW Cancer Center Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $885,389 | $0 | $141,829 | $1,027,218 |
| Mens' Basketball Coach Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $902,154 | $0 | $95,270 | $997,424 |
| Former Executive vice president Former, 50.0 hrs/week | $883,009 | $0 | $14,301 | $897,310 |
2,012 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The George Washington University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $9.4M (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–1b22 · 21 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 515,227
- Volunteers Part I, line 63,800
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| GWU MEDICAL FACULTY ASSOCIATES Teaching and Research | $42,108,982 |
| ABM INDUSTRIES INC Facility services | $32,285,211 |
| COMPASS GROUP USA INC Dining services | $31,439,301 |
| ARAMARK Facility services | $18,980,813 |
| SOUTHLAND INDUSTRIES Construction | $18,685,935 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 396 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
159 private foundations reported grants to The George Washington University totaling $18M 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 The George Washington 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 The George Washington University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The George Washington University spent in FY2025, $90.94 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Grand Canyon UniversityPhoenix, AZ · revenue $2.01B · programs 97.7% · FY2025
- Trustees of Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH · revenue $2.26B · programs 85.6% · FY2025
- Harvard Management Private Equity CorpBoston, MA · revenue $2.00B · programs 100.0% · FY2025
- Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC · revenue $2.30B · programs 88.9% · FY2025
- Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY · revenue $1.97B · programs 95.1% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of The George Washington University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The George Washington University reported that 90.9% of its $2.03 billion in expenses went to program services, 7.8% to management and general and 1.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The George Washington University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The George Washington University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $1,907,439, for the role of President - Ex Officio (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The George Washington University get its money?
Of $2.04 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 4.0% came from contributions and grants (including 0.5% from government grants) and 85.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The George Washington University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 53-0196584 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 202621259349302557 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531199349300743 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202421319349303217 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331319349303108 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241309349305659 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141339349304269 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 53-0196584: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.