Fairfield University

Tax-deductible

Fairfield, CT501(c)(3)Since 1942Colleges & UniversitiesEIN 06-0646623Revenue $558.6M in FY2024

On file with the IRSfairfield.edu1073 N Benson Rd, 06824-5171 · Fairfield, CTTax-exempt since Oct 1943School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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To establish, organize, maintain and conduct an institution for secondary, undergraduate and graduate education in the state of connecticut, and to perform such other works of education, charity and religion. See schedule o.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 830 volunteers and 3,771 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $43.2M a year · 11% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$5.2M
to officers and key staff · 1% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 71% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 1% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.2 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
7
named funders · $143K
Looks good: 7 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$349.7M
27% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 27% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
28
of 31 voting members
Looks good: 28 of 31 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$558.6M
+14% vs prior year
Spent
$473.9M
To programs
83%
Net assets
$954.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$558.6M
FY2024▲ +14%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$361.7M
FY2021$341.8M
FY2022$415.9M
FY2023$424.5M
FY2024$489.3M
FY2024$558.6M
Expenses
$473.9M
FY2024▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$316.2M
FY2021$329.3M
FY2022$354.4M
FY2023$384.7M
FY2024$432.4M
FY2024$473.9M
Net assets
$954.9M
FY2024▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$619.1M
FY2021$736.3M
FY2022$723.7M
FY2023$777.7M
FY2024$851.3M
FY2024$954.9M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Oct 1943.

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

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $395.6M Management & general 14% · $66.9M Fundraising 2% · $11.4M

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

42 people listed on the 990; $5.2M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$907,966Pt VII · Sec A
Provost & SR VP Academics
$526,034Pt VII · Sec A
Dean, School of Business
$498,364Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Athletics
$497,036Pt VII · Sec A
SR VP for Finance & Admin
$474,082Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Advancement
$427,725Pt VII · Sec A
Men's Basketball Coach
$389,140Pt VII · Sec A
VP for Finance, CFO & Treasurer
$383,591Pt VII · Sec A

Mark R Nemec PHD’s $908K as President is at the 71st 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

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
John Young—$1,061,638$437,649$435,657$425,567$315,520
Mark R Nemec PHD$907,966$825,357$731,563———
Kevin Lawlor——$364,176$699,058$382,611$438,315
Mark R Nemec———$637,957$518,359$608,862
Christine Siegel$526,034$508,514$419,943$399,128$320,044$366,795
Zhan Li$498,364$462,668$401,490$381,282$325,524$353,642
Paul Schlickmann$497,036$378,940$355,107$317,857$272,396$307,606
Sydney Johnson—————$489,303

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.

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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

Develops students' creative intellect, fostering ethical values and social responsibility.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $395.6M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Higher Learning

Fairfield university is an institution of higher learning with undergraduate, graduate, doctorate and continuing education academic programs including students residing on campus and includes a college preparatory school. See schedule o.

$332.2Mprogram expense
02

Auxiliary Services

Auxiliary services include the costs of room and board for approximately 3,925 full-time undergraduate students living on campus in residence halls, townhouses, and apartment complexes residing on a 200-ACRE campus. Graduate student housing is also offered in independent off-campus houses, and in apartment style residence halls.

$54.5Mprogram expense
03

Other Activities

A variety of student services including but not limited to arts and entertainment at the quick center, and student activities for club sports.

$8.9Mprogram 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 7 funders →
Grants paid · 30 grants · $648.9M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$116,786,156
Unitemized GrantFY2024$7,739,445
Unitemized GrantFY2024$5,383,155
Unitemized GrantFY2024$4,459,474
Unitemized GrantFY2024$1,272,050
Unitemized GrantFY2023$102,221,774
Unitemized GrantFY2023$7,117,704
Unitemized GrantFY2023$5,751,924
Unitemized GrantFY2023$4,185,087
Unitemized GrantFY2023$1,497,122
Unitemized GrantFY2022$93,192,303
Unitemized GrantFY2022$6,817,527
Unitemized GrantFY2022$5,083,037
Unitemized GrantFY2022$3,735,506
Unitemized GrantFY2022$727,290
Unitemized GrantFY2021$86,249,089
Unitemized GrantFY2021$6,600,555
Unitemized GrantFY2021$4,453,896
See all 30 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$558.6M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$449.2M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$71.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$36.8M
Money outPt IX
$473.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$395.6M
Managementcol C$66.9M
Fundraisingcol D$11.4M
Owns and owesPt X
$954.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$86.5M
Total assetsLn 16$1.3B
LiabilitiesLn 26$349.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
42
listed · VII A
PaidVII A12
Voting boardVI 1a31
IndependentVI 1b28
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$71.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$4.8M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$3.3M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$1.8M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$449.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$36.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$1.5M
Gains on assetsLn 7$25.1M
Total revenueLn 12$558.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$701
SavingsLn 2$86.5M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$86.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$538.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$589.2M
Other assetsLn 15$21.0M
Total assetsLn 16$1.3B
LiabilitiesLn 26$349.7M
Net assetsLn 32$954.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 53,771
VolunteersI 6830
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$59.1M$86.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$495.7M$538.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$584.7M$589.2M
Total assetsLn 16$1.21B$1.30B
LiabilitiesLn 26$358.4M$349.7M
Net assetsLn 32$851.3M$954.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$135.6M$135.6M
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$4.1M$4.1M
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$4.1M$1.8M$2.0M$422K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0$0$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$136.4M$108.1M$22.1M$6.1M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$8.9M$7.0M$1.4M$400K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$33.6M$26.7M$5.4M$1.5M
Payroll taxesLn 10$9.6M$7.4M$1.7M$470K
Management feesLn 11a$0$0$0$0
Legal feesLn 11b$687K$159K$519K$10K
Accounting feesLn 11c$345K$0$345K$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0$0$0$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$327K$327K
Investment management feesLn 11f$248K$0$248K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$32.7M$28.2M$3.7M$787K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$3.8M$3.5M$272K$39K
Office expensesLn 13$6.9M$4.7M$1.8M$414K
Information technologyLn 14$9.4M$2.3M$6.7M$446K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0$0$0$0
OccupancyLn 16$13.4M$13.4M$0$0
TravelLn 17$6.3M$5.4M$733K$211K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0$0$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$570K$437K$103K$30K
InterestLn 20$10.1M$10.1M$56K$16K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$30.6M$22.5M$8.0M$126K
InsuranceLn 23$2.7M$432K$2.3M$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$18.9M$12.0M$6.9M$23K
All other expensesLn 24e$4.5M$1.8M$2.6M$56K
Total functional expensesLn 25$473.9M$395.6M$66.9M$11.4M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $489.3M$432.4M$56.9M$851.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 $424.5M$384.7M$39.8M$777.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $415.9M$354.4M$61.5M$723.7M 990 PDF
FY2021 $341.8M$329.3M$12.5M$736.3M 990 PDF
FY2020 $361.7M$316.2M$45.5M$619.1M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $558,598,313 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $46,841,328$71,094,862
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $403,023,980$449,155,242
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $38,241,471$36,803,393
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $1,201,679$1,544,816
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $489,308,458$558,598,313
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $124,334,323$139,754,522
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $176,199,285$192,589,930
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $218,820$327,262
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $131,666,488$141,200,297
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $432,418,916$473,872,011
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $56,889,542$84,726,302
Part VI · Governance 28 of 31 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body31
VI-1b Independent voting members28
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 $558,598,313 across 15 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,764,665
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$4,813,943
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$64,516,254
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$3,348,381
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$71,094,862
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $449,028,152 · Unrelated business $127,090 · Excluded from tax $0$449,155,242
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $46,849 · Excluded from tax $11,681,339$11,728,188
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $10,696 · Excluded from tax $1,560,236$1,570,932
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $25,075,205$25,075,205
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$26,116−$26,116
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $449,028,152 · Unrelated business $184,635 · Excluded from tax $38,290,664$558,598,313
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $473,872,011 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $0$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $135,640,280$135,640,280
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $4,114,242$4,114,242
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for membersPrograms $0$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $1,753,388 · Management $1,972,626 · Fundraising $421,838$4,147,852
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $108,133,687 · Management $22,096,739 · Fundraising $6,145,976$136,376,402
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $7,042,800 · Management $1,439,171 · Fundraising $400,290$8,882,261
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $26,665,639 · Management $5,449,029 · Fundraising $1,515,590$33,630,258
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $7,392,589 · Management $1,690,401 · Fundraising $470,167$9,553,157
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $158,517 · Management $518,852 · Fundraising $9,649$687,018
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $344,642 · Fundraising $0$344,642
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $327,262$327,262
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $247,825 · Fundraising $0$247,825
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $28,185,202 · Management $3,746,116 · Fundraising $786,893$32,718,211
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $3,499,226 · Management $271,676 · Fundraising $39,142$3,810,044
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $4,667,468 · Management $1,769,023 · Fundraising $414,478$6,850,969
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $2,311,055 · Management $6,663,162 · Fundraising $445,687$9,419,904
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $13,417,595 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$13,417,595
IX-17 TravelPrograms $5,399,378 · Management $733,375 · Fundraising $210,577$6,343,330
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $436,991 · Management $103,071 · Fundraising $30,288$570,350
IX-20 InterestPrograms $10,051,607 · Management $56,430 · Fundraising $15,539$10,123,576
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $22,484,198 · Management $7,971,012 · Fundraising $126,272$30,581,482
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $431,813 · Management $2,272,548 · Fundraising $0$2,704,361
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $11,955,005 · Management $6,942,534 · Fundraising $22,532$18,920,071
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,829,953 · Management $2,574,733 · Fundraising $56,233$4,460,919
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $395,570,633 · Management $66,862,965 · Fundraising $11,438,413$473,872,011
Part X · Balance sheet $1,304,678,399 assets, 24 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $699$701
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $59,079,581$86,538,710
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $45,060,673$68,726,913
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,523,741$973,842
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $0$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $584,658,867$589,155,689
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $387,948,411$405,839,557
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $107,410,619$132,251,623
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $295,394$190,373
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $23,692,446$21,000,991
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,209,670,431$1,304,678,399
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $47,154,175$50,040,361
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $368,267$264,284
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $17,235,906$16,393,679
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $278,043,471$268,152,040
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $15,611,060$14,889,322
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $358,412,879$349,739,686
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $481,116,679$513,688,722
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $370,140,873$441,249,991
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $851,257,552$954,938,713
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,209,670,431$1,304,678,399
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $954,938,713 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$558,598,313
XI-2 Total expenses$473,872,011
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$84,726,302
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$851,257,552
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$19,038,663
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$15,000
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$98,804
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$954,938,713

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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