American University
92% goes to programs $39 to raise $100 Strong reserves Growing revenue
American University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, District of Columbia, registered in 1935, with $937,058,878 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 92% of spending to programs.
4400 Massachusetts Ave Nw, Washington, DC, 20016 EIN 53-0196549 Since 1935
Revenue (FY2023)
$937.1M
▲ 0.3% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2023)
$918.4M
Net assets
$1.6B
Employees
8,816
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
BProgram efficiency40% of the rating92% to programs · $39 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For American University: 92% to programs · $39 to raise $100 earns a B on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating21 mo reserves · +2% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For American University: 21 mo reserves · +2% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For American University: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For American University: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
To advance knowledge, foster intellectual curiosity, build community, and empower lives of purpose, service, and leadership.
What they do
Scholarships and fellowships: american university awards financial aid to students based on a combination of demonstrated financial need, academic achievement, and the availability of funds. once a student is admitted, the financial aid office will determine need and develop a financial aid award that includes funds from the programs for which the student qualifies. to receive consideration for financial aid, a student must be a united states citizen or eligible non-citizen in a degree program.
Auxiliary enterprises: university dormitories, consisting of eleven residence halls, provide living quarters for almost 4,141 students. also provided are recreational facilities, dining services, parking, and other self-supporting faculty, staff, and student services.
Academic support - the university libraries, academic computer services, administrative offices and support for the six academic divisions.student services - health and counseling, career center, university registrar, financial aid and enrollment services, sports and recreation.institutional support - information technology, telecommunications, space management, security, mail and transportation services.research- research and technical assistance projects funded by federal and private agencies.public service - the operation of wamu 88.5 fm, a 24-hour, 50,000 watt public radio station licensed to the university since 1961.american university strategic planthe university's seven-year plan builds on our legacy of leadership, scholarship, and service and focuses on the challenges facing our community and higher education, as it boldly embraces opportunities for greater impact. our plan is organized into three strategic themes - scholarship, learning, and community - with key imperatives to guide our focused efforts.change can't wait campaignamerican university undertook the change can't wait campaign through a public launch in 2021. the campaign had a bold call to redefine what is possible for the eagle community. together, au changemakers turned ambition into action. at the conclusion of the change can't wait campaign in june 2024, the au community has given over $500 million dollars, marking the completion of the largest fundraising campaign in the university's history. as part of the campaign, over 180 scholarships were created or expanded, 9 faculty positions were endowed, 4 centers/institutes were created or named, and $34 million was raised for strategic capital projects, including the new student thriving complex.scholarship: scholarship is central to au's future. we will develop areas of strategic focus that draw on fields where au already excels, where our expertise crosses schools and disciplinary boundaries, and that hold promise for the future. we will establish new ways to support the work of faculty across a range of disciplines.learning: learning is at the core of au. as we prepare for tomorrow's opportunities, we continue to embrace the highest-quality teaching, while exploring new frontiers of learning and scholarship. we will expand opportunities for lifelong learning experiences that are more flexible, personalized, and accessible.community: au is an institution deeply rooted in community - locally, nationally, and globally - and when our community grows stronger, so do we. over the next seven years, our strategic efforts will expand and strengthen our ties to communities, both internal and external.american university: partner in our community community servicemany of au's partnerships with local governments, businesses, and individuals exemplify the university's commitment to public service. au views itself as a private university with a public responsibility. the university works with numerous local organizations and participates in a myriad of community service activities including: community-based learning and research, dc reads, one-day service events, and eagle endowment.working with dc schools and studentsau's school of education prepares educatio
Contact & location
- Address
- 4400 Massachusetts Ave Nw, Washington, DC, 20016
- City
- Washington
- State
- District of Columbia
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Colleges & Universities
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $647.4M (FY2013) to $937.1M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $856.1MNet assets $1.6B
Operating margin
2.0%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$2.5B
Total liabilities
$856.1M
Net assets
$1.6B
Salaries & benefits
$407.2M
44% of expenses
Board members
24
24 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $937,058,878▲0.3% | $918,431,551▲0.7% | $1,619,888,490▲5.5% | $2,475,986,197▲2.5% | 990 |
| 2022 | $933,862,010▼6.4% | $912,489,179▲5.6% | $1,534,805,866▲3.7% | $2,414,730,149▲2.8% | 990 |
| 2021 | $997,808,443▲28.3% | $864,229,056▲18.5% | $1,480,042,040▼4.1% | $2,349,689,128▼2.9% | 990 |
| 2020 | $777,986,841▼9.8% | $729,092,455▼8.2% | $1,543,233,883▲17.8% | $2,420,807,502▲17.5% | 990 |
| 2019 | $862,369,744▼9.5% | $794,127,433▲1.4% | $1,310,451,722▲1.4% | $2,059,436,434▲0.3% | 990 |
| 2018 | $953,033,100▲16.9% | $783,072,578▲6.7% | $1,291,851,896▲0.5% | $2,052,830,523▲2.6% | 990 |
| 2017 | $815,033,830▲10.8% | $733,930,689▲11.1% | $1,284,902,002▲7.5% | $2,000,480,593▲8.6% | 990 |
| 2016 | $735,586,816▲7.2% | $660,766,372▲5.0% | $1,194,711,238▲13.3% | $1,842,067,988▲6.8% | 990 |
| 2015 | $686,006,746▲1.9% | $629,296,168▲3.4% | $1,054,776,075▼0.2% | $1,724,755,967▲0.6% | 990 |
| 2014 | $672,895,460▲3.9% | $608,356,681▲5.4% | $1,056,920,386▲5.5% | $1,714,106,790▲10.7% | 990 |
| 2013 | $647,400,163 | $577,121,453▲1.9% | $1,001,537,153▲14.3% | $1,548,811,055▲9.1% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $566,312,040▲2.9% | $876,052,821▲11.5% | $1,419,399,768▲11.5% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $550,147,715▲5.4% | $785,521,740▼1.0% | $1,273,274,511▲9.6% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $521,855,169▲5.7% | $793,298,051▲13.9% | $1,161,428,269▲8.6% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $493,859,104 | $696,339,299 | $1,069,628,703 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2023)
Highest-paid: Sylvia M Burwell — $1,483,818 (0.16% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvia M Burwell | President Thru 6/24 | 50 | $1,483,818 |
| Traevena L Byrd | Vp, Uni. Counsel & Bot Secretary | 50 | $696,914 |
| Bronte Burleigh-jones | Cfo, Vp & Treasurer | 50 | $539,161 |
| Courtney Surls | Vp Dev. & Alum Rel. Thru 6/24 | 50 | $527,139 |
| Roger A Fairfax Jr | Dean & Professor | 50 | $526,379 |
| David Marchick | Dean & Professor | 50 | $507,380 |
| Claudio Grossman | Professor | 50 | $480,383 |
| Peter Starr | Prof. & Former Chief Academic Off | 50 | $470,204 |
| Sam Fulwood | Dean of Soc | 50 | $455,343 |
| Seth Grossman | Vp Ppl. & Ext. Affairs Thru 4/24 | 50 | $453,256 |
| Vicky Wilkins | Acting Provost, Cao As of 7/23 | 50 | $444,571 |
| Erdal Tekin | Professor | 50 | $440,673 |
| Wendy Boland | Dean Grad & Profess. Studies | 50 | $407,183 |
| Steve Munson | Vp & Cio | 50 | $375,805 |
| Robert Dinerstein | Professor & Former Dean | 50 | $345,115 |
| Matthew Bennett | Vp & Chief Communications | 50 | $340,881 |
| Sarah Baldassaro | Chief of Staff and Counselor | 50 | $318,333 |
| Andrea Felder | Int. Vp, Ug. Enroll. Thru 3/24 | 50 | $244,766 |
| Evelyn Thimba | Vp, Ug Enroll. Mgmt As of 7/23 | 50 | $228,005 |
| Raymond Lu Ming Ou | Vp, Student Affairs As of 7/23 | 50 | $185,277 |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Compass Group USA Inc | Management Service | $23,628,909 |
| The Donohoe Companies Inc | Construction Service | $11,564,349 |
| Aramark Services Inc | Management Service | $10,388,811 |
| 2u Inc | Education Consultant | $8,946,386 |
| Nextsource Inc | Management Service | $7,181,575 |
Grants received · $47.4M total
399 grants to American University totaling $47.4M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $333,551 |
| Strada Education Foundation Inc | Operating grant | 2024 | $300,000 |
| Give Back Foundation | Program support | 2024 | $262,447 |
| Ayco Charitable Foundation | Education | 2024 | $250,250 |
| New Venture Fund | Capacity building | 2024 | $250,000 |
| Silicon Valley Community Foundation | Education | 2024 | $151,720 |
| American Institutes For Research In the Behavioral Sciences | Fellowship grant for environmental justice | 2024 | $149,342 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Arts, culture | 2024 | $147,535 |
| The New York Community Trust | For program support. | 2024 | $125,000 |
| Community Foundation of Sarasota County Inc | Education | 2024 | $100,000 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | Education, agriculture & food, civil rights, social action & advocacy | 2024 | $85,000 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $80,000 |
| Greater Washington Community Foundation | General support | 2024 | $55,250 |
| Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc | Education | 2024 | $54,000 |
| Jewish Communal Fund | In furtherance of grantee's tax-exempt purpose | 2024 | $52,700 |
Grants made · $5.0M in FY2023
57 grants totaling $5.0M in FY2023 — showing the 15 largest. All grants made by American University →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University | Subaward | $681,887 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Subaward | $327,916 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Subaward | $325,980 |
| Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical Co | Subaward | $244,916 |
| The Ohio State University | Subaward | $226,791 |
| University of Arkansas System | Subaward | $222,233 |
| Trustees of Boston University | Subaward | $194,003 |
| Mass General Brigham Incorporated | Subaward | $188,316 |
| Morgan State University | Subaward | $182,329 |
| Regents of the University of California Davis | Subaward | $140,045 |
| Catholic University of America | Subaward | $133,093 |
| Florida International University Board of Trustees | Subaward | $120,783 |
| Brown University of Providence | Subaward | $118,158 |
| Freshfarm Markets Inc | Subaward | $100,000 |
| Building Bridges Across the River | Subaward | $100,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is American University a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. American University is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 53-0196549, based in Washington, District of Columbia. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is American University's EIN?
- American University's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 53-0196549.
- How much revenue does American University report?
- American University reported $937,058,878 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of American University's spending goes to programs?
- American University spends about 92% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does American University have?
- CharityIndex grades American University A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does American University's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on American University's latest Form 990 is $1,483,818, paid to Sylvia M Burwell (President Thru 6/24).
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Explore more
Data for American University (EIN 53-0196549) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.