Simmons University

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Simmons University is a community of higher learning that unites passion with purpose.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2025. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 04-2103629) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
84¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 749 volunteers and 2,327 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $2.9M a year · 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
A surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
84%
of spending
84% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$3.1M
to officers and key staff · 1% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 1% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
0.3 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $253.4M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
0.3 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
6
named funders · $24K
6 funders name it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$304.0M
54% of total assets
Liabilities are 54% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
24
of 25 voting members
24 of 25 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$225.9M
+2% vs prior year
Spent
$221.5M
To programs
84%
Net assets
$254.3M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$225.9M
FY2025▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$235.0M
FY2021$219.2M
FY2022$254.4M
FY2023$225.0M
FY2024$220.5M
FY2025$225.9M
Expenses
$221.5M
FY2025▼ -2%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$239.4M
FY2021$220.9M
FY2022$250.1M
FY2023$238.7M
FY2024$226.6M
FY2025$221.5M
Net assets
$254.3M
FY2025▲ +1%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$233.2M
FY2021$278.5M
FY2022$236.3M
FY2023$241.8M
FY2024$251.4M
FY2025$254.3M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Apr 1938.

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

Where the money goes

84 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 84% · $185.8M Management & general 15% · $33.2M Fundraising 1% · $2.4M

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

37 people listed on the 990; $3.1M paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$533,423Pt VII · Sec A
$330,563Pt VII · Sec A
CEO, Inst. for Inclusive Leadership
$314,790Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Chief Fin. Off., Treasurer
$300,959Pt VII · Sec A
Development Officer (until 09/24)
$292,884Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Enrollment Management
$289,516Pt VII · Sec A
Dean, School of Nursing
$283,696Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Chief Info. Off.
$223,428Pt VII · Sec A

Lynn Perry Wooten’s $533K as President is at the 43rd 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
Helen G Drinan Until 620—————$645,915
Helen G Drinan————$638,676—
Lynn Perry Wooten$533,423$540,437$569,678$566,286$293,317—
Michael J Barone————$481,663—
Debra Perez Until 720—————$346,036
Sheila C Conboy Until 520—————$336,575
Stephanie Cosner$330,563$275,674$266,500———
Susan Brady$314,790$310,211$305,414$300,450$299,951—

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 Simmons University executive salaries →

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 transformative higher education, academic resources, and comprehensive student support services to foster lifelong learning and personal well-being.

Questions for Simmons University

Tap to ask. Simmons University sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Simmons University answers here, for everyone.

3 programs · $185.8M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Instruction

Undergraduate programs: Simmons University is a private institution offering a women-centered undergraduate experience that emphasizes leadership, academic excellence, professional preparation, and an inclusive community.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 04-2103629) · Dispute this line
$71.4Mprogram expense
02

Academic Support and Student Services

Includes expenditures for activities that support and enhance the student's education, as well as contribute to their emotional and physical well-being. Included in this category is the University library which houses over 140,345 printvolumes, subscribes to and/or provides access to 151,562 e-journals, 244,296 e-books, and 114…

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 04-2103629) · Dispute this line
$58.4Mprogram expense
03

Instruction

Graduate programs: Simmons currently serves 3,652 students in graduate programs at the master and doctoral levels. The university's graduate programs are co-educational. These programs are housed in the gwen ifill college of media, humanities, and social sciences; school of library and information science; school of nursing; school of…

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 04-2103629) · Dispute this line
$56.0Mprogram 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 6 funders →
Grants paid · 31 grants · $347.5M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$59,878,437
Unitemized GrantFY2024$310,432
Assumption UniversityMA · FY2024$21,393
Bay Cove Human Services INCMA · FY2024$8,000
Treft Systems INCFY2024$5,750
Boston Book Festival INCMA · FY2024$5,500
Unitemized GrantFY2023$59,419,009
Unitemized GrantFY2023$400,777
Ilumis-ArFY2023$77,250
Boston Book Festival INCMA · FY2023$5,500
Unitemized GrantFY2022$58,644,637
Unitemized GrantFY2022$224,646
See all 31 grants →

Federal money

Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Jun 2025 · $62.0M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$56.1M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$4.0M
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$580K
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services - Projects of Regional and National SignificanceDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.243 · Direct$503K
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity GrantsDepartment of Education · ALN 84.007 · Direct$378K

Plus 7 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2024 · $67.0M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoanDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$60.9M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$3.6M
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$620K
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services - Projects of Regional and National Significance - Institute for Trauma Treatment in SchoolsDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.243 · Direct$538K
Federal Perkins Loan ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$385K

Plus 8 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2023 · $81.7M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$74.3M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$2.7M
Disaster Recovery Public Assistance ProgramDepartment of Homeland Security · ALN 97.036 · Through Commonwealth of Massachusetts$2.0M
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services - Projects of Regional and National Significance - Behavioral Health Workforce InitiativeDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.243 · Direct$713K
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$588K

Plus 9 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2022 · $92.2M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$80.9M
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Direct$5.4M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$2.6M
Federal Perkins Loan ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$991K
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$666K

Plus 13 smaller programs.

The auditor reported 4 findings.

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$225.9M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$169.4M
Other incomeLn 4–11$32.2M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$17.1M
Money outPt IX
$221.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$185.8M
Managementcol C$33.2M
Fundraisingcol D$2.4M
Owns and owesPt X
$254.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$6.1M
Total assetsLn 16$558.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$304.0M
PeoplePt VI, VII
37
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a25
IndependentVI 1b24
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$17.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$4.1M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$3.3M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$100K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$169.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$7.2M
Other incomeLn 4–11$32.2M
Gains on assetsLn 7$23.7M
Total revenueLn 12$225.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$6.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$6.1M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$6.2M
Accounts receivableLn 4$6.9M
Notes and loans receivableLn 7$592K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$3.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$239.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$253.4M
Other assetsLn 15$42.7M
Total assetsLn 16$558.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$304.0M
Net assetsLn 32$254.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 52,327
VolunteersI 6749
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
BondsSch K, Pt X
Tax-exempt bond debt owedX 20$276.0M
Bond issues listedSch K Pt I4
Raised by those issuesSch K Pt I$216.7M
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Grants to other countriesSch F Pt II–III$544K
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$3.3M
Investment feesPt IX, Sch D
Investment fees, as reportedPt IX 11f$840K
Share of the $252.4M endowmentSch D 1g0.33%
Typical, median of 2,202 orgs0.44%
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY25FY24FY23FY22FY21
End of yearLn 1g$252.4M$249.2M$225.6M$212.3M$244.3M
AddedLn 1b$5.9M$8.8M$2.8M$5.8M$1.4M
SpentLn 1d–1f$29.1M$15.6M$12.5M$11.4M$11.4M
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$5.5M$6.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$250.4M$253.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$246.7M$239.2M
Total assetsLn 16$565.5M$558.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$314.1M$304.0M
Net assetsLn 32$251.4M$254.3M
Business incomeForm 990-T, Part I
LineFY25FY24
Gross$25K$19K
Net$25K$19K
Tax$245K$217K
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$383K$383K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$60.2M$60.2M
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$544K$544K
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$1.4M$1.4M
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$59.0M$53.3M$4.4M$1.3M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$2.1M$1.6M$449K$28K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$7.9M$933K$7.0M$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$4.3M$4.3M
Legal feesLn 11b$286K$12K$274K
Accounting feesLn 11c$124K$124K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$62K$62K
Investment management feesLn 11f$840K$840K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.9M$1.0M$589K$276K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$236K$183K$51K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$703K$602K$101K$1K
Information technologyLn 14$3.9M$881K$3.0M$108K
OccupancyLn 16$8.4M$7.0M$1.5M
TravelLn 17$1.4M$1.2M$156K$28K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$403K$344K$56K$2K
InterestLn 20$10.8M$10.1M$735K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$15.7M$11.2M$4.3M$263K
InsuranceLn 23$1.1M$16K$1.1M
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$35.9M$33.2M$2.4M$271K
All other expensesLn 24e$3.9M$1.8M$2.0M$91K
Total functional expensesLn 25$221.5M$185.8M$33.2M$2.4M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS May 12, 2026 $225.9M$221.5M$4.4M$254.3M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS May 13, 2025 $220.5M$226.6M−$6.1M$251.4M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS May 14, 2024 $225.0M$238.7M−$13.7M$241.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $254.4M$250.1M$4.4M$236.3M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS May 16, 2022 $219.2M$220.9M−$1.7M$278.5M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS May 14, 2021 $235.0M$239.4M−$4.5M$233.2M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support B · Donors C · Political and lobbying D · Assets and endowments E · Schools F · Foreign G · Fundraising I · Grants J · Pay K · Bonds M · Noncash O · Explanations R · Related orgs
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $225,907,706 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $16,860,111$17,061,764
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $179,405,590$169,442,260
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $17,806,953$30,851,226
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $6,431,424$8,552,456
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $220,504,078$225,907,706
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $60,849,395$61,115,632
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $74,276,361$74,596,997
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$62,407
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $91,481,770$85,686,808
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $226,607,526$221,461,844
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$6,103,448$4,445,862
Part VI · Governance 24 of 25 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body25
VI-1b Independent voting members24
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 $225,907,706 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$99,700
VIII-1e Government grants$4,112,773
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$12,849,291
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$3,332,732
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$17,061,764
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $169,417,499 · Unrelated business $24,761$169,442,260
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business −$164,642 · Excluded from tax $7,333,731$7,169,089
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossUnrelated business $3,393,422 · Excluded from tax $5,189,810$8,583,232
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $23,682,137$23,682,137
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$30,776−$30,776
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $169,417,499 · Unrelated business $3,253,541 · Excluded from tax $36,174,902$225,907,706
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $221,461,844 across 24 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $382,816$382,816
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $60,188,869$60,188,869
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $543,947$543,947
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $1,386,405$1,386,405
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $53,259,304 · Management $4,417,489 · Fundraising $1,279,773$58,956,566
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $1,614,268 · Management $448,587 · Fundraising $27,668$2,090,523
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $932,794 · Management $6,960,296 · Fundraising $2,833$7,895,923
IX-10 Payroll taxesManagement $4,267,580$4,267,580
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $12,000 · Management $273,597$285,597
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $124,258$124,258
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $62,407$62,407
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $840,163$840,163
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,024,646 · Management $588,829 · Fundraising $275,538$1,889,013
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $183,341 · Management $50,690 · Fundraising $2,250$236,281
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $601,631 · Management $100,698 · Fundraising $1,048$703,377
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $881,250 · Management $2,950,975 · Fundraising $107,703$3,939,928
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $6,965,779 · Management $1,468,741$8,434,520
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,185,764 · Management $156,347 · Fundraising $28,126$1,370,237
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $343,988 · Management $56,321 · Fundraising $2,194$402,503
IX-20 InterestPrograms $10,107,219 · Management $735,010$10,842,229
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $11,204,175 · Management $4,270,315 · Fundraising $263,388$15,737,878
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $16,445 · Management $1,079,282$1,095,727
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $33,187,122 · Management $2,417,775 · Fundraising $270,875$35,875,772
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,804,447 · Management $2,013,967 · Fundraising $90,911$3,909,325
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $185,826,210 · Management $33,220,920 · Fundraising $2,414,714$221,461,844
Part X · Balance sheet $558,235,786 assets, 21 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $5,544,924$6,082,930
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $6,586,569$6,184,866
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $8,285,484$6,865,471
X-7 Notes and loans receivableStart of year $572,984$592,164
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $2,881,158$3,195,208
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $246,740,150$239,234,948
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $104,602,804$92,305,464
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $145,747,907$161,096,662
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $44,536,226$42,678,073
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $565,498,206$558,235,786
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $16,118,786$14,261,483
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $1,287,636$918,341
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $10,877,265$10,359,954
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $281,326,370$275,985,603
X-21 Escrow or custodial accountsStart of year $431,316$504,944
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $4,059,877$1,941,189
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $314,101,250$303,971,514
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $35,119,157$23,139,529
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $216,277,799$231,124,743
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $251,396,956$254,264,272
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $565,498,206$558,235,786
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $254,264,272 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$225,907,706
XI-2 Total expenses$221,461,844
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$4,445,862
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$251,396,956
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$1,638,916
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$60,370
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$254,264,272

Form 990 e-file FY2025 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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