Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University reported $436.5 million in revenue and $313.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $70.96 went to program services, $26.39 to management and general costs and $2.65 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 45.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $760,715 (PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE). 281 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 134% 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 $313MFor 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 $436MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 71.0% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 26.4% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.6% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 45.1% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 40.3% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $760,715 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.24% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 281 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 98.0 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 27 of 28 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $650,844 | $0 | $109,871 | $760,715 |
| VICE PRESIDENT - Former Former, 40.0 hrs/week | $474,693 | $0 | $32,868 | $507,561 |
| TREASURER Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $406,185 | $0 | $55,025 | $461,210 |
| DEAN Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $393,933 | $0 | $53,535 | $447,468 |
| PROVOST Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $358,770 | $0 | $66,871 | $425,641 |
| SECRETARY Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $257,534 | $0 | $166,092 | $423,626 |
| PROFESSOR Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $316,836 | $0 | $51,400 | $368,236 |
| CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER AND GENERAL COUNSEL Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $311,495 | $0 | $54,558 | $366,053 |
281 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Washington and Lee University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.7M (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–1b28 · 27 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 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 26Yes
- 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 52,936
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,800
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| KJELLSTROM & LEE INC Construction Services | $33,774,639 |
| MAKENA CAPITAL LP Investment Services | $7,502,863 |
| FIELDTURF USA INC Construction Services | $1,125,920 |
| HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP Legal Services | $1,102,150 |
| GOODY CLANCY & ASSOC INC Construction Services | $1,006,183 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 79 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
103 private foundations reported grants to Washington and Lee University totaling $3.9M 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 Washington and Lee 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 Washington and Lee University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Washington and Lee University spent in FY2025, $70.96 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Texas A&M FoundationCollege Station, TX · revenue $434M · programs 67.9% · FY2025
- The Oxford Funds Endowment MasterUnited Kingdom, · revenue $438M · programs 89.6% · 2024
- Saint Joseph's UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $430M · programs 87.3% · FY2025
- University of Oregon FoundationEugene, OR · revenue $441M · programs 84.8% · FY2025
- Somerset AcademyMiami, FL · revenue $430M · programs 89.2% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Washington and Lee University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Washington and Lee University reported that 71.0% of its $313.0 million in expenses went to program services, 26.4% to management and general and 2.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Washington and Lee University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Washington and Lee University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $760,715, for the role of PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Washington and Lee University get its money?
Of $436.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 45.1% came from contributions and grants (including 0.4% from government grants) and 40.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Washington and Lee University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 54-0505977 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 202631349349305818 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531159349302023 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202441359349306124 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321299349302562 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201329349303490 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111329349304296 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 54-0505977: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.