SFU's mission is to advance knowledge through teaching researching and engagement with the community. We are an open inclusive university whose foundation is intellectual and academic freedom. Our scholarship unites teaching and research; we celebrate discovery diversity and dialogue. Our students and communities can expect teaching that is personal and learning opportunities that are lifelong. We champion the liberal arts and sciences and pioneering interdisciplinary and professional programs. We are a university where risks can be taken and hold initiatives embraced. Upon these foundations we will engage all our communities in building a robust and ethical society.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

Before you give

FY2023 · 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 by treaty
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 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $12.8M a year · 2% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
81%
of spending
Looks good: 81% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $798.9M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 0.7 months of spending in cash, plus $798.9M in investments.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $508K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.1B
55% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 55% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 15 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 15 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$656.3M
-5% vs prior year
Spent
$647.8M
To programs
81%
Net assets
$927.4M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$656.3M
FY2023▼ -5%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$659.1M
FY2022$690.3M
FY2023$656.3M
FY2024$721.5M
FY2025$709.1M
Expenses
$647.8M
FY2023▼ -3%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$626.2M
FY2022$668.6M
FY2023$647.8M
FY2024$725.2M
FY2025$704.5M
Net assets
$927.4M
FY2023▼ -10%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$953.5M
FY2022$1.0B
FY2023$927.4M
FY2024$974.0M
FY2025$966.6M

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending March 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 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 Apr 2009.

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

Where the money goes

81 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 81% · $522.7M Management & general 14% · $89.3M Fundraising 1% · $5.7M

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

31 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
Chancellor
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Alumni Order in Council
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Alumni Order in Council
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Order in Council
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Order in Council
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Deputy Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Order in Council
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Simon Fraser 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

Advance knowledge through teaching, research, and community engagement, fostering discovery and lifelong learning.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $514.3M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Post Secondary Education Teaching

Delivery of Academic courses to students enrolled in Undergraduate Master and Doctorate programs as well as distance education and non-credit courses offered through Life-Long Learning. Number of students enrolled in our fiscal year April 1 2022 through March 31 2023 29,447 Undergraduates; 5,544 Graduates; including 8,164 International…

$402.3Mprogram expense
02

Research

At SFU Research Matters it's an essential component of SFU's mission and also a major instructional activity as faculty work closely with graduate and undergraduate students in a wide variety of research settings including the Library laboratories computer facilities and studios.

$86.3Mprogram expense
03

Ancillary Services

The University provides goods and services with a student and community focus. Examples of such services include: student residences bookstore printing parking food meetings and events. In 2021 2022 these services were delivered internally alone to 29,660 Undergrad students 5,734 Grad students 4,137 full time faculty & staff and 2,504…

$25.7Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$508K
See all 4 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$656.3M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$348.5M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$226.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$55.1M
Money outPt IX
$647.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$522.7M
Managementcol C$89.3M
Fundraisingcol D$5.7M
Owns and owesPt X
$927.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$39.9M
Total assetsLn 16$2.1B
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.1B
PeoplePt VI, VII
31
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a15
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$226.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$198.2M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$2.6M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$348.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$55.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$26.6M
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$656.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$39.9M
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$39.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$798.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.10B
Other assetsLn 15$71.9M
Total assetsLn 16$2.1B
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.1B
Net assetsLn 32$927.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderMarch
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$29.3M$39.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$925.1M$798.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.12B$1.10B
Total assetsLn 16$2.22B$2.07B
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.19B$1.15B
Net assetsLn 32$1.03B$927.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$42.4M$42.4M
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$3.9M$2.3M$1.4M$208K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0$0$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$354.0M$299.8M$50.3M$3.9M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$18.8M$14.9M$3.6M$278K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$40.7M$31.7M$8.4M$704K
Payroll taxesLn 10$0$0$0$0
Management feesLn 11a$15.3M$11.4M$3.7M$228K
Legal feesLn 11b$1.9M$1.9M$0$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$166K$0$166K$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0$0$0$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$2.7M$0$2.7M$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.5M$1.2M$227K$22K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2.1M$1.6M$501K$5K
Office expensesLn 13$26.6M$24.7M$1.7M$160K
Information technologyLn 14$847K$847K$0$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$82K$0$82K$0
OccupancyLn 16$44.5M$29.1M$15.3M$64K
TravelLn 17$10.7M$9.7M$844K$113K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0$0$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$11.5M$11.0M$384K$33K
InterestLn 20$6.8M$6.8M$0$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$58.5M$28.5M$0$0
InsuranceLn 23$2.9M$2.9M$0$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.9M$1.9M$0$0
All other expensesLn 24e$0$0$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$647.8M$522.7M$89.3M$5.7M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $709.1M$704.5M$4.5M$966.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $721.5M$725.2M−$3.7M$974.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $656.3M$647.8M$8.6M$927.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $690.3M$668.6M$21.7M$1.0B 990 PDF
FY2021 $659.1M$626.2M$32.9M$953.5M 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 O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $656,320,206 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $273,245,952$226,133,004
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $350,465,106$348,497,511
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $34,705,081$55,084,391
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $31,887,495$26,605,300
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $690,303,634$656,320,206
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $43,761,637$42,353,552
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $446,168,919$417,473,331
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $178,676,025$187,933,214
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $668,606,581$647,760,097
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $21,697,053$8,560,109
Part VI · Governance 8 of 15 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body15
VI-1b Independent voting members8
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 $656,320,206 across 16 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for −$9,007,605 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$198,198,620
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$27,934,384
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$2,645,219
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$226,133,004
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $357,505,116 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$357,505,116
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $55,084,391 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$55,084,391
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $166,688 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$166,688
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $26,438,612 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$26,438,612
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $430,187,202 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$656,320,206
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $647,760,097 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $0$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $0$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $42,353,552$42,353,552
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for membersPrograms $0$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $2,275,219 · Management $1,382,811 · Fundraising $208,161$3,866,191
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $299,810,463 · Management $50,342,845 · Fundraising $3,885,354$354,038,662
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $14,949,328 · Management $3,599,589 · Fundraising $277,809$18,826,726
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $31,680,553 · Management $8,356,778 · Fundraising $704,421$40,741,752
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $11,375,477 · Management $3,697,932 · Fundraising $227,950$15,301,359
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $1,928,775 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$1,928,775
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $166,391 · Fundraising $0$166,391
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $0$0
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $2,719,242 · Fundraising $0$2,719,242
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,222,615 · Management $227,211 · Fundraising $21,508$1,471,334
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,617,060 · Management $500,706 · Fundraising $4,954$2,122,720
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $24,659,455 · Management $1,732,336 · Fundraising $159,867$26,551,658
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $847,195 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$847,195
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $0 · Management $81,558 · Fundraising $0$81,558
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $29,110,407 · Management $15,288,202 · Fundraising $63,952$44,462,561
IX-17 TravelPrograms $9,710,440 · Management $844,363 · Fundraising $113,090$10,667,893
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $11,032,504 · Management $384,226 · Fundraising $33,384$11,450,114
IX-20 InterestPrograms $6,807,225 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$6,807,225
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $28,490,261 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$58,490,261
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $2,938,054 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$2,938,054
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,926,874 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$1,926,874
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $522,735,457 · Management $89,324,190 · Fundraising $5,700,450$647,760,097
Part X · Balance sheet $2,074,314,597 assets, 22 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $29,274,190$39,907,376
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,130,552$1,250,695
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $66,971,122$53,515,815
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $871,644$1,206,988
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $11,864,577$5,035,905
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,121,799,522$1,102,595,709
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $915,519,674$784,909,016
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $9,627,075$14,013,757
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $61,585,239$71,879,336
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,219,643,595$2,074,314,597
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $111,357,569$125,477,907
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $835,133,996$813,751,136
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $67,173,517$57,977,573
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,191,384,173$1,146,926,996
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,028,259,422$927,387,601
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,219,643,595$2,074,314,597
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $927,387,601 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$656,320,206
XI-2 Total expenses$647,760,097
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$8,560,109
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,028,259,422
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$43,380,586
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$152,812,516
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$927,387,601

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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