Bard College seeks to provide a challenging academic program and a supportive environment that fosters a collaborative interchange of ideas in the classroom as well as ambition to achieve excellence.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
90¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$3.7M 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

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
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
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $115.2M a year · 25% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
90%
of spending
Looks good: 90% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$3.7M
to officers and key staff · 1.0% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 1% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $44.4M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 0.6 months of spending in cash, plus $44.4M in investments.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
11
named funders · $1.1M
Looks good: 11 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$619.9M
55% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 55% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
24
of 24 voting members
Looks good: 24 of 24 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$331.9M
+9% vs prior year
Spent
$392.7M
To programs
90%
Net assets
$509.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$331.9M
FY2024▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$371.2M
FY2021$426.3M
FY2022$396.7M
FY2023$304.0M
FY2024$331.9M
FY2025$930.3M
Expenses
$392.7M
FY2024▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$294.0M
FY2021$289.7M
FY2022$324.0M
FY2023$360.1M
FY2024$392.7M
FY2025$408.4M
Net assets
$509.6M
FY2024▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$387.0M
FY2021$549.2M
FY2022$607.6M
FY2023$555.2M
FY2024$509.6M
FY2025$1.1B

From the FY2024 Form 990 (year ending June 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2024 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 Nov 1950.

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

Where the money goes

90 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 90% · $354.6M Management & general 8% · $33.3M Fundraising 1% · $4.8M

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

50 people listed on the 990; $3.7M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
President/Trustee
$575,000Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director Ccs
$464,994Pt VII · Sec A
CFO/VP of Finance
$392,502Pt VII · Sec A
Executive VP
$392,001Pt VII · Sec A
President, Longy
$321,208Pt VII · Sec A
VP Development
$257,516Pt VII · Sec A
President of Levy Inst
$252,199Pt VII · Sec A
Artistic Director and CEO Fisher Center at Bard
$248,385Pt VII · Sec A

Leon Botstein’s $565K as President/Trustee is at the 48th 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
Leon Botstein$565,417$575,000$575,000$441,537$444,551$439,651
Tom Eccles$467,098$464,994$479,891$404,891$380,891$354,254
Taun Toay$392,595$392,502$343,400$380,000$271,127$216,632
Jonathan Becker$391,251$392,001$343,400$380,000$243,702$241,901
Karen Zorn$335,761$321,208$311,852$286,846$269,811$245,046
James Brudvig——$272,647$267,481$271,220$288,183
James Bagwell—$220,575$280,158$209,775$207,775$204,695
Debra Pemstein$276,723$257,516$250,866$248,382$248,382$246,547

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
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II2 listed

Programs and updates

Provides a rigorous liberal arts education through collaborative undergraduate programs, graduate studies, and specialized research institutes on a historic Hudson River campus.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $354.6M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Bard college is an independent, comprehensive liberal arts college located on a park-like campus that covers more than 1,000 acres of fields and forested land bordering the hudson river. Bard has developed a new vision and model of the liberal arts college, as a central body surrounded by significant institutes and programs -…

$354.6Mprogram 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
See all 11 funders →
Grants paid · 30 grants · $599.3M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$87,455,739
Unitemized GrantFY2024$11,269,637
Unitemized GrantFY2024$8,523,215
Unitemized GrantFY2024$8,091,194
American Symphony Orchestra INCNY · FY2024$1,211,938
Unitemized GrantFY2023$77,902,954
Unitemized GrantFY2023$11,692,607
Unitemized GrantFY2023$10,882,106
Unitemized GrantFY2023$8,226,475
American Symphony Orchestra INCNY · FY2023$1,199,817
Unitemized GrantFY2022$78,465,567
Unitemized GrantFY2022$10,295,045
Unitemized GrantFY2022$8,523,215
Unitemized GrantFY2022$7,429,871
Unitemized GrantFY2021$66,913,433
Unitemized GrantFY2021$11,603,931
Unitemized GrantFY2021$9,438,864
See all 30 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$331.9M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$193.3M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$121.4M
Other incomeLn 4–11$8.9M
Money outPt IX
$392.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$354.6M
Managementcol C$33.3M
Fundraisingcol D$4.8M
Owns and owesPt X
$509.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$19.2M
Total assetsLn 16$1.1B
LiabilitiesLn 26$619.9M
PeoplePt VI, VII
50
listed · VII A
PaidVII A12
Voting boardVI 1a24
IndependentVI 1b24
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$121.4M
Government grantsLn 1e$5.0M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$1.4M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$184K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$193.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$8.3M
Other incomeLn 4–11$8.9M
Gains on assetsLn 7−$11.5M
Total revenueLn 12$331.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$7.5M
SavingsLn 2$11.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$19.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$44.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$326.5M
Other assetsLn 15$362.5M
Total assetsLn 16$1.1B
LiabilitiesLn 26$619.9M
Net assetsLn 32$509.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 55,129
VolunteersI 635
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$22.4M$19.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$49.4M$44.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$281.9M$326.5M
Total assetsLn 16$1.01B$1.13B
LiabilitiesLn 26$450.0M$619.9M
Net assetsLn 32$555.2M$509.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$1.2M$1.2M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$108.7M$108.7M
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$5.9M$5.9M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$2.7M$156K$2.3M$221K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$109.3M$98.0M$9.7M$1.6M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$8.1M$6.7M$1.3M$126K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$23.2M$19.1M$3.6M$467K
Payroll taxesLn 10$15.4M$13.0M$2.0M$402K
Legal feesLn 11b$1.1M$807K$285K$5K
Accounting feesLn 11c$177K$130K$46K$868
Lobbying feesLn 11d$45K$45K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$121K$121K
Investment management feesLn 11f$59K$59K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$14.1M$10.4M$3.6M
Advertising and promotionLn 12$1.5M$1.4M$167K$6K
Office expensesLn 13$629K$559K$68K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$1.7M$1.5M$187K$7K
OccupancyLn 16$9.9M$9.7M$268K
TravelLn 17$20.0M$18.2M$830K$974K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$508K$451K$55K$2K
InterestLn 20$19.1M$18.7M$454K$13K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$11.6M$10.8M$716K$45K
InsuranceLn 23$2.0M$163K$1.8M
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$35.4M$28.9M$5.7M$846K
Total functional expensesLn 25$392.7M$354.6M$33.3M$4.8M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $930.3M$408.4M$521.9M$1.1B 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $331.9M$392.7M−$60.8M$509.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $304.0M$360.1M−$56.1M$555.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $396.7M$324.0M$72.7M$607.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $426.3M$289.7M$136.5M$549.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $371.2M$294.0M$77.2M$387.0M 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $331,888,900 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $107,869,017$121,417,581
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $187,733,202$193,341,752
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,351,298$8,263,887
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $7,000,550$8,865,680
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $303,954,067$331,888,900
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $114,237,596$115,840,899
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $147,345,182$158,771,747
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $10,779$121,040
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $98,486,188$117,942,784
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $360,079,745$392,676,470
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$56,125,678−$60,787,570
Part VI · Governance 24 of 24 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body24
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 $331,888,900 across 12 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$183,950
VIII-1e Government grants$5,034,966
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$116,198,665
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$1,395,447
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$121,417,581
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $193,341,752$193,341,752
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $19,797,280$19,797,280
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $9,003$9,003
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$11,533,393−$11,533,393
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$123,833−$123,833
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $8,980,510$8,980,510
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $202,322,262 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $8,149,057$331,888,900
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $392,676,470 across 24 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $1,199,817$1,199,817
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $108,717,142$108,717,142
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $5,923,940$5,923,940
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $155,618 · Management $2,324,301 · Fundraising $220,858$2,700,777
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $98,029,571 · Management $9,729,687 · Fundraising $1,573,364$109,332,622
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $6,678,470 · Management $1,341,473 · Fundraising $125,970$8,145,913
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $19,126,740 · Management $3,596,646 · Fundraising $467,371$23,190,757
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $13,038,023 · Management $1,961,421 · Fundraising $402,234$15,401,678
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $806,516 · Management $285,399 · Fundraising $5,370$1,097,285
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $130,336 · Management $46,121 · Fundraising $868$177,325
IX-11d Lobbying feesManagement $44,921$44,921
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $121,040$121,040
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $59,119$59,119
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $10,433,614 · Management $3,647,187$14,080,801
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,366,334 · Management $166,517 · Fundraising $5,834$1,538,685
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $558,957 · Management $68,121 · Fundraising $2,386$629,464
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,536,270 · Management $187,228 · Fundraising $6,559$1,730,057
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $9,668,380 · Management $268,470$9,936,850
IX-17 TravelPrograms $18,243,947 · Management $830,321 · Fundraising $973,711$20,047,979
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $451,293 · Management $55,000 · Fundraising $1,927$508,220
IX-20 InterestPrograms $18,655,254 · Management $454,413 · Fundraising $13,335$19,123,002
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $10,802,724 · Management $715,666 · Fundraising $45,122$11,563,512
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $162,543 · Management $1,838,587$2,001,130
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $28,880,868 · Management $5,677,490 · Fundraising $846,076$35,404,434
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $354,566,357 · Management $33,298,088 · Fundraising $4,812,025$392,676,470
Part X · Balance sheet $1,129,480,829 assets, 20 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $3,368,904; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $13,401,519$7,519,148
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $9,034,589$11,716,935
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $370,437,493$341,782,334
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $25,025,603$25,092,418
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $5,605,928$6,626,102
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $281,917,786$326,491,967
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $47,319,692$42,387,108
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $2,095,237$2,033,033
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $246,862,622$362,462,880
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,005,181,148$1,129,480,829
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $38,395,031$49,386,356
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $20,882,950$20,141,107
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $150,770,000$306,900,000
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $38,890,000$45,890,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $189,599,072$186,981,527
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $450,025,271$619,892,228
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $43,637,637$35,757,313
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $511,518,240$473,831,288
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $555,155,877$509,588,601
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,005,181,148$1,129,480,829
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $509,588,601 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$331,888,900
XI-2 Total expenses$392,676,470
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$60,787,570
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$555,155,877
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$15,282,498
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$62,204
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$509,588,601

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

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