Clemson University Foundation
Clemson University Foundation reported $118.6 million in revenue and $77.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.55 went to program services, $12.15 to management and general costs and $10.30 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 71.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $918,732 (CLEMSON UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT). 6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 82% 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 $78MFor 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 $119MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.5% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.2% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 10.3% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 71.0% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 4.9% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $918,732 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.18% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 173.6 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 22 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 expenseProgram support: funding provided to support the educational, research, and public service mission of Clemson University, including support for scholarships, fellowships, faculty support, and academic program support. The sources for funding program support include donor restricted giving for these purposes and spendable return support from endowment funds designated for these purposes
Capital projects: funding provided in support of the educational, research, and public service mission of Clemson University through fundraising efforts for physical plant needs. This includes funding in support of prioritized capital projects and expenditures including renovation of existing facilities, construction of new facilities, and large dollar equipment expenditures related to research and academic programming. The sources for funding for these capital expenditures is through donor giving
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLEMSON UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT Key employee, 10.00 hrs/week | $918,732 | $0 | $0 | $918,732 |
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 32.50 hrs/week | $353,466 | $0 | $56,743 | $410,209 |
| DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $272,601 | $0 | $63,077 | $335,678 |
| TREASURER & CFO Officer, 33.50 hrs/week | $256,163 | $0 | $46,327 | $302,490 |
| CIO Key employee, 7.50 hrs/week | $199,312 | $0 | $0 | $199,312 |
| CTO Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $147,774 | $0 | $35,651 | $183,425 |
| SECRETARY TO 09/2024 Officer, 34.50 hrs/week | $63,450 | $0 | $52,765 | $116,215 |
| SECRETARY FROM 09/2024 Officer, 33.50 hrs/week | $65,272 | $0 | $12,947 | $78,219 |
6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Clemson University Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.2M (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 · 22 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 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 535
- Volunteers Part I, line 6144
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ARAMARK EDUCATIONAL SERVICES LLC Catering/food service | $709,879 |
| BLACKBAUD INC Cloud computing software | $527,756 |
| IDEAS UNITED LLC Studio and production services | $389,144 |
| CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATES LLC Investment | $367,545 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 13 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
68 private foundations reported grants to Clemson University Foundation 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 Clemson 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 Clemson University Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Clemson University Foundation spent in FY2025, $77.55 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Visions in EducationCarmichael, CA · revenue $118M · programs 83.0% · FY2025
- Georgia Cyber AcademyAtlanta, GA · revenue $119M · programs 97.0% · FY2025
- Ascendium Education GroupMadison, WI · revenue $118M · programs 54.5% · 2025
- Campbellsville UniversityCampbellsville, KY · revenue $119M · programs 91.4% · FY2025
- Evans Scholars FoundationGlenview, IL · revenue $118M · programs 71.9% · 2025
All education charities · Largest charities in South Carolina
Questions people ask
How much of Clemson University Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Clemson University Foundation reported that 77.5% of its $77.8 million in expenses went to program services, 12.2% to management and general and 10.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Clemson University Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Clemson University Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $918,732, for the role of CLEMSON UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Clemson University Foundation get its money?
Of $118.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 71.0% came from contributions and grants and 4.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Clemson University Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 57-0426335 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 202631329349304403 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521329349306557 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411349349306406 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321329349302317 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241349349301729 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202121379349301117 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 57-0426335: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.