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George Mason University Foundation

Fairfax, VA · EIN 54-1603842 · 501(c)(3) · Organization operated for a governmental college or university
Latest filing: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 (tax year 2024) · View the filing · Correct or respond

George Mason University Foundation reported $116.4 million in revenue and $89.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $93.65 went to program services, $5.58 to management and general costs and $0.77 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 84.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $333,621 (VICE PRESIDENT & CFO). 6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 3% 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 $90M

For 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 $116M

The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades

FY2025 filing. Median across 5,499 covered charities in this category, from their latest filings.
MeasureFY2025Median
Program services
Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A)
93.6%84.4%
Management & general
Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A)
5.6%13.4%
Fundraising
Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A)
0.8%0.8%
Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions
Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h
$0.01$0.04
Contributions & grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1h ÷ 12
84.4%19.1%
Government grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1e ÷ 12
0.0%1.1%
Program service revenue share
Part VIII 2g ÷ 12
3.9%69.9%
Highest reported compensation
Part VII-A, columns D–F
$333,621$331,578
Highest compensation as share of expenses
Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A)
0.37%1.28%
People paid over $100,000
Part VII, line 2
68
Net assets, in months of expenses
Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses
62.513.3
Independent voting board members
Part VI 1a–1b
33 of 35100.0%

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 expense
$84M expenses · 100.0% of program spending · grants $62M · revenue $4.6M

The foundation's major program activity is to disburse designated funds in support of scholarships, fellowships, awards, and general operating expenses of the university's academic and other departments

Highest reported compensation

FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here
RoleFrom this orgFrom related orgsOtherTotal
VICE PRESIDENT & CFO
Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$267,379$0$66,242$333,621
CONTROLLER
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$196,138$0$50,870$247,008
ASSISTANT CONTROLLER
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$151,873$0$54,758$206,631
DIR. OF REAL ESTATE & INVESTMENTS
Highest compensated employee, 20.00 hrs/week
$167,688$0$0$167,688
PRESIDENT
Director/trustee, officer, 8.00 hrs/week
$116,549$0$15,010$131,559
ASSOCIATE DIR., ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$104,005$0$26,544$130,549

6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from George Mason University Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $535K (Part IX, line 5).

6 years of filings

Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linked
RevenueExpenses
$0$50M$100M$150M$200MFY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025$116M$90M
FilingRevenueExpensesProgramsNet assetsTop pay
FY2025 ⓘ$116M$90M93.6%$469M$333,621
FY2024 (amended) ⓘ$146M$136M96.4%$408M$306,659
FY2023 ⓘ$123M$82M95.1%$366M$221,705
FY2022 ⓘ$138M$88M94.8%$307M$204,774
FY2021 ⓘ$110M$86M95.0%$337M$196,503
FY2020 ⓘ$114M$110M97.1%$283M$186,547

Governance 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–1b35 · 33 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 18No
  • Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
  • Employees Part I, line 50
  • Volunteers Part I, line 637

Largest outside contractors

FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only
EDEN ROC LLP
Conference/hotel venue
$558,854
NASH HOLDINGS LLC
Conducting poll activities
$420,315
THE WESTIN ARLINGTON GATEWAY
Conference/hotel venue
$329,279
MCGUIREWOODS LLP
Legal services
$262,039
HENDERSON BEACH RESORT HOTEL LLC
Conference/hotel venue
$257,482

Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 16 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.

Private foundation grants it received

76 private foundations reported grants to George Mason University Foundation totaling $30M 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 George Mason University 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 George Mason University Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.

Similar-sized charities in this cause

All education charities · Largest charities in Virginia

Questions people ask

How much of George Mason University Foundation's spending goes to programs?

In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, George Mason University Foundation reported that 93.6% of its $89.9 million in expenses went to program services, 5.6% to management and general and 0.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).

How much does George Mason University Foundation pay its top executive?

The largest total compensation George Mason University Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $333,621, for the role of VICE PRESIDENT & CFO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).

Where does George Mason University Foundation get its money?

Of $116.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 84.4% came from contributions and grants and 3.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).

Is George Mason University Foundation a registered charity?

The IRS lists EIN 54-1603842 as a 501(c)(3) organization (organization operated for a governmental college or university), 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 202621269349302627 · read the filing · XML
  • FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 (amended), object 202541639349300924 · read the filing
  • FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411289349301761 · read the filing
  • FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202301099349301105 · read the filing
  • FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202231059349300938 · read the filing
  • FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202140769349300219 · read the filing

All filings for EIN 54-1603842: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.