As a research University, Brandeis University is dedicated to the advancement of the humanities, arts and social, natural and physical sciences. As a liberal arts college, Brandeis affirms the importance of a broad and critical education in enriching the lives of students.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
87¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$7.4M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
0 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $40.3M a year · 9% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 0 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
87%
of spending
Looks good: 87% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$7.4M
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $1.10B in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.9 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
20
named funders · $602K
Looks good: 20 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$407.8M
25% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 25% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
37
of 40 voting members
Looks good: 37 of 40 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$457.4M
Spent
$478.0M
To programs
87%
Net assets
$1.2B
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$457.4M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$457.4M
FY2021$399.6M
FY2022$479.5M
FY2023$478.7M
FY2024$502.5M
FY2025$496.9M
Expenses
$478.0M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$478.0M
FY2021$459.3M
FY2022$508.1M
FY2023$516.3M
FY2024$546.0M
FY2025$548.9M
Net assets
$1.2B
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.2B
FY2021$1.4B
FY2022$1.4B
FY2023$1.4B
FY2024$1.4B
FY2025$1.5B

From the FY2020 Form 990 (year ending June 2020) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Sep 1941.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

87 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 87% · $417.9M Management & general 10% · $45.5M Fundraising 3% · $14.6M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

59 people listed on the 990; $7.4M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2019); the FY2020 filing did not itemize Part VII
$1,141,607Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Investment Officer
$801,573Pt VII · Sec A
EVP Finance and Administration
$527,171Pt VII · Sec A
Provost
$513,612Pt VII · Sec A
SVP Institutional Advancement
$478,778Pt VII · Sec A
EVP Communications Thru 1/2019
$450,454Pt VII · Sec A
$421,512Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Investments
$406,316Pt VII · Sec A

Ronald Liebowitz’s $1.3M as President (thru 11/1/24) is at the 82nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 674 $100M+ education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Ronald Liebowitz$1,284,634$1,023,793$1,217,024$803,640$798,798$1,141,607
Nicholas Warren——$243,221$821,455$779,656$801,573
Tarek Saghir$707,896$694,635$468,733$365,773——
Carol Fierke$648,588$639,566$623,080$617,467——
Stewart Uretsky$585,365$576,466$558,337$495,701$506,166$527,171
Lisa Lynch——$362,673$351,802$512,584$513,612
Zamira Korff——$144,282$508,872$476,243$478,778
Kathryn Appleby$507,141$473,912$449,813$434,060——

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Brandeis University executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides student life services like housing, dining, health, and counseling to enhance the out-of-classroom experience.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $417.9M · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

Instructional and Academic Support

Brandeis University is a rare combination of a liberal arts college and a global research university. Our student body numbers 5,400, including undergraduates and graduate students. We have a Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and two professional schools, the Heller School for Social Policy and Management and the International…

$331.0Mprogram expense
02

Sponsored Programs include various research and instructional programs funded by external parties, including the Federal government, foreign and state governments, and private foundations and corporations. Brandeis research is at the heart of many societal, artistic, intellectual, and scientific advances.

$49.5Mprogram expense
03

Auxiliary Enterprises

Brandeis University serves the needs and interests of students and has broad responsibility for the services and activities that enhance the quality of student life outside the classroom. These services and activities include, but are not limited to, community living, dining services, health center, psychological counseling center, and…

$37.4Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
See all 20 funders →
Grants paid · 339 grants · $727.6M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$94,607,036
Unitemized GrantFY2024$17,648,863
Unitemized GrantFY2024$14,036,876
Mass General Brigham IncorporatedMA · FY2024$1,166,219
Trustees of Boston UniversityMA · FY2024$673,080
Unitemized GrantFY2024$585,275
NorcIL · FY2024$517,593
Trustees of Tufts CollegeMA · FY2024$284,426
Cambridge Public Health CommissionFY2024$232,166
University of Massachusetts - WorcesterFY2024$189,154
University of Massachusetts - AmherstFY2024$146,858
Detroit Recovery Project INCMI · FY2024$133,641
See all 339 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$457.4M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$389.0M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$54.7M
Other incomeLn 4–11$8.1M
Money outPt IX
$478.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$417.9M
Managementcol C$45.5M
Fundraisingcol D$14.6M
Owns and owesPt X
$1.2B
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$74.4M
Total assetsLn 16$1.6B
LiabilitiesLn 26$407.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
59
listed · VII A
PaidVII A19
Voting boardVI 1a40
IndependentVI 1b37
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$54.7M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$13.1M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$110K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$389.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$5.6M
Other incomeLn 4–11$8.1M
Gains on assetsLn 7$2.8M
Total revenueLn 12$457.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$12.3M
SavingsLn 2$62.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$74.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.10B
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$360.8M
Other assetsLn 15$48.0M
Total assetsLn 16$1.6B
LiabilitiesLn 26$407.8M
Net assetsLn 32$1.2B
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 54,859
VolunteersI 61,515
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$29.2M$74.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.10B$1.10B
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$363.6M$360.8M
Total assetsLn 16$1.59B$1.64B
LiabilitiesLn 26$375.7M$407.8M
Net assetsLn 32$1.21B$1.23B
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$3.7M$3.7M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$109.4M$109.4M
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$1.5M$1.5M
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$5.6M$840K$4.0M$763K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$233K$233K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$168.0M$146.9M$12.7M$8.4M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$10.9M$9.6M$785K$529K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$18.2M$15.5M$1.7M$952K
Payroll taxesLn 10$12.3M$10.6M$1.0M$632K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$1.5M$676K$844K
Accounting feesLn 11c$414K$414K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$8K$8K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$2.9M$2.9M
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$5.4M$3.0M$2.0M$494K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$1.2M$1.2M$57K$18K
Office expensesLn 13$11.3M$8.4M$2.3M$643K
Information technologyLn 14$7.5M$4.5M$3.0M$36K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$18.6M$15.5M$3.1M$6K
TravelLn 17$4.7M$3.8M$600K$265K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$1.3M$1.3M$51K$44K
InterestLn 20$13.8M$10.9M$2.9M
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$27.1M$25.5M$1.7M
InsuranceLn 23$1.9M$1.9M$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$34.7M$34.1M$366K$190K
All other expensesLn 24e$15.7M$10.8M$3.2M$1.7M
Total functional expensesLn 25$478.0M$417.9M$45.5M$14.6M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $496.9M$548.9M−$52.0M$1.5B 990 PDF
FY2024 $502.5M$546.0M−$43.5M$1.4B 990 PDF
FY2023 $478.7M$516.3M−$37.6M$1.4B 990 PDF
FY2022 $479.5M$508.1M−$28.6M$1.4B 990 PDF
FY2021 $399.6M$459.3M−$59.7M$1.4B 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $457.4M$478.0M−$20.6M$1.2B 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $457,392,877 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $41,754,856$54,711,068
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $381,922,956$389,017,866
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $70,340,091$5,584,314
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $5,037,702$8,079,629
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $499,055,605$457,392,877
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $110,182,327$114,541,175
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $198,398,355$215,174,488
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $155,042,254$148,258,058
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $463,622,936$477,973,721
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $35,432,669−$20,580,844
Part VI · Governance 37 of 40 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body40
VI-1b Independent voting members37
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $457,392,877 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $8,941,327 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$455,545
VIII-1c Fundraising events$109,966
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$54,145,557
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$13,054,409
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$54,711,068
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $380,518,525 · Unrelated business $209,521$380,728,046
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business −$472,510 · Excluded from tax $2,555,775$2,083,265
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $2,425,915$2,425,915
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossUnrelated business $888,726 · Excluded from tax $594,900$1,483,626
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsUnrelated business $377,960 · Excluded from tax $2,471,582$2,849,542
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $1,495,987 · Excluded from tax $2,674,101$4,170,088
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $390,301,032 · Unrelated business $1,006,997 · Excluded from tax $11,373,780$457,392,877
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $477,973,721 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $3,673,162$3,673,162
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $109,358,217$109,358,217
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $1,509,796$1,509,796
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $839,821 · Management $3,958,706 · Fundraising $762,928$5,561,455
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $232,792$232,792
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $146,942,749 · Management $12,690,882 · Fundraising $8,389,283$168,022,914
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $9,559,696 · Management $785,464 · Fundraising $529,342$10,874,502
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $15,530,105 · Management $1,706,359 · Fundraising $952,136$18,188,600
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $10,612,605 · Management $1,049,933 · Fundraising $631,687$12,294,225
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $675,737 · Management $843,551$1,519,288
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $414,430$414,430
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $7,535$7,535
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $2,926,110$2,926,110
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $2,963,136 · Management $1,988,588 · Fundraising $494,466$5,446,190
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,158,731 · Management $56,773 · Fundraising $17,506$1,233,010
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $8,389,220 · Management $2,286,745 · Fundraising $643,033$11,318,998
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $4,544,610 · Management $2,954,415 · Fundraising $35,958$7,534,983
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $15,463,596 · Management $3,109,918 · Fundraising $6,206$18,579,720
IX-17 TravelPrograms $3,849,521 · Management $600,241 · Fundraising $264,913$4,714,675
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,250,994 · Management $50,758 · Fundraising $43,695$1,345,447
IX-20 InterestPrograms $10,892,674 · Management $2,904,894$13,797,568
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $25,462,540 · Management $1,678,253$27,140,793
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $1,865,660 · Fundraising $1,331$1,866,991
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $34,122,790 · Management $366,194 · Fundraising $190,080$34,679,064
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $10,834,873 · Management $3,229,672 · Fundraising $1,668,711$15,733,256
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $417,874,900 · Management $45,467,546 · Fundraising $14,631,275$477,973,721
Part X · Balance sheet $1,638,021,472 assets, 24 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $7,594,582; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $714,031$12,263,971
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $28,509,249$62,184,111
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $8,211,594$11,751,408
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $10,244,924$18,102,803
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $341,185$474,214
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $14,498,344$17,380,866
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $363,565,420$360,799,121
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,096,897,557$1,099,459,286
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $56,045,276$48,011,110
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,588,160,821$1,638,021,472
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $27,867,743$30,188,146
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $21,623,475$22,728,074
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $275,541,970$264,059,043
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$35,000,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $21,769,458$27,531,947
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $375,677,646$407,782,210
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $182,856,727$182,889,973
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,029,626,448$1,047,349,289
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,212,483,175$1,230,239,262
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,588,160,821$1,638,021,472
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,230,239,262 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$457,392,877
XI-2 Total expenses$477,973,721
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$20,580,844
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,212,483,175
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$39,599,320
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$1,262,389
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,230,239,262

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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