Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University reported $2.82 billion in revenue and $2.40 billion in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $78.85 went to program services, $18.87 to management and general costs and $2.28 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 54.3% of the total. Government grants made up 8.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $8,427,395 (See Schedule O). 1,976 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 65% 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 $2.40BFor 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 $2.82BThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 78.9% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 18.9% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.3% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.11 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 17.6% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 8.3% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 54.3% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $8,427,395 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.35% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1,976 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 55.9 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 34 of 35 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| See Schedule O Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $5,747,977 | $0 | $2,679,418 | $8,427,395 |
| See Schedule O Highest compensated employee, 16.7 hrs/week | $4,779,501 | $0 | $8,884 | $4,788,385 |
| See Schedule O Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $4,302,829 | $0 | $51,528 | $4,354,357 |
| See Schedule O Director/trustee, officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $3,020,799 | $0 | $396,011 | $3,416,810 |
| See Schedule O Highest compensated employee, 37.5 hrs/week | $2,600,247 | $0 | $110,082 | $2,710,329 |
| See Schedule O Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $1,742,426 | $0 | $304,953 | $2,047,379 |
| See Schedule O Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $1,680,346 | $0 | $335,193 | $2,015,539 |
| See Schedule O Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $1,406,800 | $0 | $103,228 | $1,510,028 |
1,976 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Vanderbilt University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $19M (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–1b35 · 34 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 514,639
- Volunteers Part I, line 65,500
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Barton Malow Builders Construction Services | $120,039,288 |
| Brasfield & Gorrie LP Construction Services | $82,739,976 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center Affiliation Services | $52,811,861 |
| Skanska USA Building Inc Construction Services | $27,023,361 |
| Layton Construction Company LLC Construction Services | $10,950,825 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 429 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
254 private foundations reported grants to Vanderbilt University totaling $34M 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 Vanderbilt 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 Vanderbilt University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Vanderbilt University spent in FY2025, $78.85 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The University of British ColumbiaCanada, · revenue $2.80B · programs 92.7% · FY2025
- Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX · revenue $2.98B · programs 91.9% · FY2025
- Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA · revenue $2.50B · programs 88.7% · FY2025
- Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA · revenue $3.16B · programs 90.8% · FY2025
- Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC · revenue $2.30B · programs 88.9% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Vanderbilt University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Vanderbilt University reported that 78.9% of its $2.40 billion in expenses went to program services, 18.9% to management and general and 2.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Vanderbilt University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Vanderbilt University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $8,427,395, for the role of See Schedule O (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Vanderbilt University get its money?
Of $2.82 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 17.6% came from contributions and grants (including 8.3% from government grants) and 54.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Vanderbilt University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 62-0476822 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 202621319349302052 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501279349301815 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401319349302750 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331239349300533 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211299349300036 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101339349301840 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 62-0476822: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.