You’re viewing the FY2021 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 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.
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
43 people listed on the 990; $3.4M paid to officers and key staff.
Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
President
$518,359Pt VII · Sec A
Head Mbb Coach
$425,567Pt VII · Sec A
Exec Vice President (thru 5-10-2021)
$382,611Pt VII · Sec A
Dean, School of Business
$325,524Pt VII · Sec A
Provost & SR VP Academics
$320,044Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Advancement
$297,953Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$273,272Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Athletics
$272,396Pt VII · Sec A
Dean, School of Cas
$255,900Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Information Officer
$236,477Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$72,256Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee (as of 7-1-2020)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
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Trustee (as of 7-1-2020)
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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
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
See Fairfield 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 2Yes
- 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.
Questions for Fairfield University
Your first name shows with your question. Fairfield University answers here, for everyone.
3 programs · $273.1M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01
Fairfield university is an institute of higher learning with undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education academic programs including students residing on campus. See schedule o.
$229.6Mprogram expense
02
Auxiliary services include the costs of room and board for approximately 3,106 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 an apartment style residence hall.
$41.0Mprogram expense
03
Other activities. A variety of student services including arts and entertainment at the quick center, student activities for club sports, and other items.
$2.6Mprogram 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
The Ayco Charitable FoundationFY2025$93K
Hartong Family FoundationFY2025$22K
Folds of Honor FoundationFY2025$15K
Fred Hunter Charitable FoundationFY2025$5K
Beckerer Foundation INCFY2025$4K
The Bites Foundation INCFY2025$1K
Total grants receivedfrom 7 funders$143K
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
Federal money
Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Jun 2025 · $44.6M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$36.4M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$3.2M
Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery FundsDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.027 · Through State of CT Office of Higher Education$1.4M
Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Grant ProgramDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.247 · Direct$900K
Mental and Behavioral Health Education and Training GrantsDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.732 · Direct$506K
Plus 16 smaller programs.
The auditor reported 2 findings: a weakness in money controls.
Year ending Jun 2024 · $43.3M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$35.6M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$2.0M
Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery FundsDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.027 · Through State of CT Office of Higher Education$1.3M
Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters)Department of Homeland Security · ALN 97.036 · Through State of CT Dept of Emerg Svcs & Public Prot, Disaster Grants$1.1M
Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Grant ProgramDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.247 · Direct$871K
Plus 16 smaller programs.
The auditor reported 1 finding: a weakness in money controls.
Year ending Jun 2023 · $83.6M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$65.4M
Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters)Department of Homeland Security · ALN 97.036 · Through State of CT Dept of Emerg Svcs & Public Prot and 1 more$7.6M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$3.4M
Federal Perkins Loan ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$1.4M
Advanced Nursing Education Grant ProgramDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.247 · Direct$1.4M
Plus 15 smaller programs.
The auditor reported 4 findings: a weakness in money controls.
Year ending Jun 2022 · $46.8M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$31.4M
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Direct and through State of CT Office of Higher Education$8.5M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$1.6M
Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery FundsDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.027 · Through State of CT Office of Higher Education$1.4M
Federal Perkins Loan ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$1.1M
Plus 16 smaller programs.
The auditor reported no findings.
By the numbers
The FY2021 990, line by line.
Download 990
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$341.8M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$305.2M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$25.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$10.8M
Money outPt IX
$329.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$273.1M
Managementcol C$48.7M
Fundraisingcol D$7.4M
Owns and owesPt X
$736.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$87.8M
Total assetsLn 16$1.1B
LiabilitiesLn 26$338.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
43
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a33
IndependentVI 1b32
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$25.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$5.0M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$5.5M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$76K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$305.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$10.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$278K
Gains on assetsLn 7$2.7M
Total revenueLn 12$341.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1K
SavingsLn 2$87.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$87.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$468.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$461.7M
Other assetsLn 15$25.1M
Total assetsLn 16$1.1B
LiabilitiesLn 26$338.7M
Net assetsLn 32$736.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 53,771
VolunteersI 6830
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$276.5M
Bond issues listedSch K Pt I5
Raised by those issuesSch K Pt I$298.9M
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Grants to other countriesSch F Pt II–III$4.2M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$5.5M
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
| Line | FY21 | FY20 | FY19 | FY18 | FY17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End of yearLn 1g | $464.6M | $357.1M | $382.5M | $371.2M | $355.3M |
| Given inLn 1b | $5.2M | $1.4M | $8.2M | $7.0M | $7.0M |
| SpentLn 1d–1f | $16.3M | $11.6M | $11.0M | $16.8M | $11.3M |
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
| Line | Start FY21 | End FY21 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $76.6M | $87.8M |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $364.7M | $468.7M |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $455.8M | $461.7M |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $941.7M | $1.08B |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $322.6M | $338.7M |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $619.1M | $736.3M |
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to domestic individualsLn 2 | $93.5M | $93.5M | ||
| Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3 | $4.2M | $4.2M | ||
| Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5 | $4.7M | $2.5M | $1.5M | $666K |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $96.9M | $76.2M | $16.6M | $4.1M |
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $3.2M | $2.6M | $555K | $137K |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $21.5M | $16.9M | $3.7M | $905K |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $6.8M | $5.2M | $1.3M | $312K |
| Legal feesLn 11b | $797K | $18K | $779K | |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $301K | $34K | $266K | |
| Lobbying feesLn 11d | $39 | $39 | ||
| Professional fundraising feesLn 11e | $165K | $165K | ||
| Investment management feesLn 11f | $191K | $191K | ||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $19.6M | $17.9M | $1.7M | $83K |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $2.1M | $1.9M | $109K | $80K |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $7.4M | $5.5M | $1.4M | $462K |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $4.8M | $1.4M | $3.3M | $119K |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $10.6M | $10.6M | ||
| TravelLn 17 | $1.3M | $996K | $292K | $29K |
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $194K | $133K | $56K | $5K |
| InterestLn 20 | $11.7M | $9.4M | $2.3M | $28K |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $25.2M | $17.3M | $7.7M | $162K |
| InsuranceLn 23 | $1.6M | $171K | $1.4M | |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $10.2M | $5.2M | $4.9M | $137K |
| All other expensesLn 24e | $2.3M | $1.4M | $744K | $86K |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $329.3M | $273.1M | $48.7M | $7.4M |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS May 13, 2026 | $558.6M | $473.9M | $84.7M | $954.9M | 990 PDF |
| FY2024Filed with the IRS May 15, 2025 | $489.3M | $432.4M | $56.9M | $851.3M | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS May 14, 2024 | $424.5M | $384.7M | $39.8M | $777.7M | 990 PDF |
| FY2022 | $415.9M | $354.4M | $61.5M | $723.7M | 990 PDF |
| FY2021 ViewingFiled with the IRS May 12, 2022 | $341.8M | $329.3M | $12.5M | $736.3M | 990 PDF |
| FY2020Filed with the IRS May 14, 2021 | $361.7M | $316.2M | $45.5M | $619.1M | 990 PDF |
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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $341,786,596 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $42,818,387$25,478,475
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $292,896,855$305,199,314
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $25,627,460$10,831,207
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $401,787$277,600
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $361,744,489$341,786,596
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $93,000,271$97,686,832
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $129,444,901$133,123,482
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $133,339$164,782
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $93,667,238$98,277,636
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $316,245,749$329,252,732
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $45,498,740$12,533,864
Part VI · Governance 32 of 33 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body33
VI-1b Independent voting members32
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
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 $341,786,596 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$75,523
VIII-1e Government grants$4,959,952
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$20,443,000
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$5,517,304
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$25,478,475
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $305,172,412 · Unrelated business $26,902$305,199,314
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $97,025 · Excluded from tax $8,047,879$8,144,904
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossUnrelated business −$55,274 · Excluded from tax $332,874$277,600
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $2,686,303$2,686,303
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $305,172,412 · Unrelated business $68,653 · Excluded from tax $11,067,056$341,786,596
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $329,252,732 across 24 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $93,460,567$93,460,567
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $4,226,265$4,226,265
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $2,540,538 · Management $1,504,855 · Fundraising $665,762$4,711,155
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $76,238,109 · Management $16,566,933 · Fundraising $4,074,787$96,879,829
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $2,555,687 · Management $555,364 · Fundraising $136,597$3,247,648
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $16,925,498 · Management $3,677,998 · Fundraising $904,637$21,508,133
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $5,197,626 · Management $1,267,370 · Fundraising $311,721$6,776,717
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $17,970 · Management $778,770$796,740
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $34,458 · Management $266,128$300,586
IX-11d Lobbying feesManagement $39$39
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $164,782$164,782
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $190,942$190,942
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $17,880,319 · Management $1,664,524 · Fundraising $82,852$19,627,695
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,918,358 · Management $108,533 · Fundraising $79,730$2,106,621
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $5,496,197 · Management $1,393,667 · Fundraising $462,490$7,352,354
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,362,098 · Management $3,308,145 · Fundraising $118,723$4,788,966
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $10,609,562$10,609,562
IX-17 TravelPrograms $996,268 · Management $291,817 · Fundraising $28,531$1,316,616
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $132,911 · Management $56,129 · Fundraising $5,356$194,396
IX-20 InterestPrograms $9,418,805 · Management $2,255,481 · Fundraising $27,710$11,701,996
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $17,304,923 · Management $7,707,997 · Fundraising $162,060$25,174,980
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $171,322 · Management $1,445,739$1,617,061
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $5,191,989 · Management $4,894,056 · Fundraising $136,753$10,222,798
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,445,677 · Management $744,232 · Fundraising $86,375$2,276,284
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $273,125,147 · Management $48,678,719 · Fundraising $7,448,866$329,252,732
Part X · Balance sheet $1,075,022,921 assets, 24 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $318$1,020
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $76,579,213$87,770,436
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $37,015,242$29,534,242
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $2,281,327$2,121,948
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 $455,803,973$461,729,658
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $287,124,280$366,420,075
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $77,551,274$102,313,290
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $5,304,194$25,132,252
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $941,659,821$1,075,022,921
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $36,842,775$50,301,480
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $2,049,330$1,752,346
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $17,957,569$9,041,756
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $265,733,563$276,510,834
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$1,118,849
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $322,583,237$338,725,265
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $338,254,777$378,566,883
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $280,821,807$357,730,773
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $619,076,584$736,297,656
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $941,659,821$1,075,022,921
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $736,297,656 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$341,786,596
XI-2 Total expenses$329,252,732
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$12,533,864
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$619,076,584
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$104,816,003
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$128,795
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$736,297,656
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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