The Howard University
The Howard University reported $1.43 billion in revenue and $1.41 billion in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $67.75 went to program services, $31.36 to management and general costs and $0.89 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 65.9% of the total. Government grants made up 22.6%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,520,238 (FORMER PRESIDENT, RET 9/1/23). 1,158 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 40% 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 $1.41BFor 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 $1.43BThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 67.8% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 31.4% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 26.9% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 22.6% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 65.9% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,520,238 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.11% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1,158 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 12.0 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 23 of 23 | 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, general/other - Howard University is a comprehensive research-oriented hisorically black private university providing an educational experience of exceptional quality to students of high academic potential with particular emphasis upon the provision of educational opportunities to all students. Howard University is the nation's top producer of minority lawyers, dentists, physicians and african american phds in the science and technology fields. The university serves a community of approximately 12,000 students
A private, nonprofit institution, Howard University hospital is the nation's only teaching hospital located on the campus of a historically black university. It offers medical students a superior learning environment and opportunities to observe or participate in clinical and research work with professionals that uniquely addresses the special health care needs of medically underserved communities. Howard University hospital admits patients regardless of their ability to pay
The university offers educational support through its auxiliary services for the benefit of its staff, faculty and students and complement the quality of the academic life. Auxiliary services include student housing, food services, parking, transportation services and a public television station
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORMER PRESIDENT, RET 9/1/23 Former, 40.00 hrs/week | $1,471,974 | $0 | $48,264 | $1,520,238 |
| PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $1,043,005 | $0 | $37,693 | $1,080,698 |
| DEAN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $984,422 | $0 | $44,545 | $1,028,967 |
| VASCULAR AND ENDOVASCULAR SURGEON Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $910,130 | $0 | $46,898 | $957,028 |
| TRAUMA MEDICAL DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $855,301 | $0 | $40,375 | $895,676 |
| CHAIR OF NEUROSURGERY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $854,195 | $0 | $37,266 | $891,461 |
| TRAUMA AND CRITICAL CARE SURGEON Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $843,016 | $0 | $46,350 | $889,366 |
| CHIEF DIVISION CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $817,053 | $0 | $37,189 | $854,242 |
1,158 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Howard University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $11M (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–1b23 · 23 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 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 57,834
- Volunteers Part I, line 6130
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| BUILDING HOPE REAL ESTATE Construction | $37,071,420 |
| GILBANE BUILDING COMPANY Construction | $22,489,768 |
| SODEXO OPERATIONS LLC Food services | $18,213,747 |
| THOMPSON FACILITIES SERVICES LLC Facilities management | $14,312,759 |
| AMERICAN COMBUSTION INDUSTRIES INC Steam plant modernization | $13,724,568 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 421 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
126 private foundations reported grants to The Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Howard University spent in FY2025, $67.75 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Governors of the University of CalgaryCanada, · revenue $1.36B · programs 94.5% · FY2026
- Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $1.47B · programs 86.5% · FY2025
- University of WaterlooCanada, · revenue $1.35B · programs 93.2% · FY2025
- Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronx, NY · revenue $1.48B · programs 93.0% · 2024
- The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning McGill UniversityCanada, · revenue $1.34B · programs 92.8% · FY2025
All education charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of The Howard University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Howard University reported that 67.8% of its $1.41 billion in expenses went to program services, 31.4% to management and general and 0.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Howard University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Howard University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $1,520,238, for the role of FORMER PRESIDENT, RET 9/1/23 (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Howard University get its money?
Of $1.43 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 26.9% came from contributions and grants (including 22.6% from government grants) and 65.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Howard University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 53-0204707 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 202621359349314452 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541359349317039 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202431369349317033 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202301359349319855 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201369349311615 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101379349306055 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 53-0204707: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.