Denison University
88% goes to programs $17 to raise $100 Strong reserves
Denison University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Granville, Ohio, registered in 1942, with $295,712,847 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 88% of spending to programs.
100 W College St, Granville, OH, 43023 EIN 31-4379459 Since 1942
Revenue (FY2023)
$295.7M
▲ 11.4% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2023)
$273.8M
Net assets
$1.3B
Employees
2,654
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
AProgram efficiency40% of the rating88% to programs · $17 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 Denison University: 88% to programs · $17 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating57 mo reserves · +7% 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 Denison University: 57 mo reserves · +7% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AGovernance25% of the rating5 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 Denison University: 5 of 6 checks met earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
ATransparency10% of the rating4 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 Denison University: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Through an emphasis on active learning, denison university engages students in the liberal arts, which fosters self-determination and the transformative power of education.
Contact & location
- Address
- 100 W College St, Granville, OH, 43023
- City
- Granville
- State
- Ohio
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Colleges & Universities
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $193.3M (FY2013) to $295.7M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $252.7MNet assets $1.3B
Operating margin
7.4%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$1.6B
Total liabilities
$252.7M
Net assets
$1.3B
Salaries & benefits
$102.5M
37% of expenses
Board members
37
37 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $295,712,847▲11.4% | $273,828,504▲7.4% | $1,304,474,258▲4.2% | $1,557,167,145▲6.4% | 990 |
| 2022 | $265,383,442▼3.8% | $254,857,397▲13.6% | $1,251,883,984▼1.5% | $1,463,954,073▼2.6% | 990 |
| 2021 | $275,909,448▼7.2% | $224,280,076▲7.8% | $1,271,113,428▼12.2% | $1,502,847,785▼11.9% | 990 |
| 2020 | $297,443,289▲19.7% | $208,062,501▲2.5% | $1,447,447,330▲27.5% | $1,706,364,119▲20.9% | 990 |
| 2019 | $248,509,652▲16.5% | $202,991,198▲1.3% | $1,134,896,063▲1.8% | $1,411,393,687▲4.0% | 990 |
| 2018 | $213,251,671▼16.6% | $200,397,127▲3.6% | $1,114,910,118▲4.7% | $1,357,579,565▲6.3% | 990 |
| 2017 | $255,577,046▲18.5% | $193,391,707▲3.5% | $1,064,838,272▲6.3% | $1,277,374,789▲2.6% | 990 |
| 2016 | $215,753,037▲5.3% | $186,864,113▲2.3% | $1,001,367,731▲10.3% | $1,245,505,948▲9.8% | 990 |
| 2015 | $204,812,226▼10.3% | $182,711,340▲6.6% | $907,871,494▼7.6% | $1,134,601,548▼3.2% | 990 |
| 2014 | $228,329,167▲18.2% | $171,402,330▲5.2% | $982,678,545▲3.3% | $1,172,062,887▲0.4% | 990 |
| 2013 | $193,253,605 | $162,901,015▲4.3% | $951,145,501▲12.5% | $1,167,619,796▲9.0% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $156,235,097▲6.4% | $845,814,633▲7.0% | $1,071,115,487▲5.9% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $146,844,135▲3.1% | $790,602,738▼1.8% | $1,011,544,837▼2.9% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $142,422,266▲4.7% | $805,027,340▲16.0% | $1,041,387,035▲11.6% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $136,000,284 | $694,074,496 | $933,230,236 | 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: Adam S Weinberg — $767,842 (0.28% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adam S Weinberg | President | 40 | $767,842 |
| Kathleen R Browne | Chief Investment Officer | 40 | $716,984 |
| Julia Crosby | Managing Dir., Investments | 40 | $536,350 |
| Alexandra T Schimmer | Vp&general Counsel | 40 | $346,096 |
| David A English | Vp Finance & Mgmt and Cfo | 40 | $345,956 |
| Ann Townsend | Professor | 40 | $332,308 |
| Gregory R Bader | Vp Instiutional Advancement | 40 | $328,094 |
| Joshua M Beitzel | Managing Dir., Investments | 40 | $325,383 |
| Kimberly A Coplin | Provost | 40 | $324,284 |
| Gregory W Sneed | Vp Enrollment Mgmt | 40 | $297,580 |
| Alex Miller | Vp Student Life | 40 | $266,138 |
| Elizabeth Eckhardt | Vp Univ.communications | 40 | $251,140 |
| Janine Watkins | Vp People&culture and Chro | 40 | $235,593 |
| Abigail E Pringle '96 | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Amy Todd Middleton '93 | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Arthur P Steinmetz Jr '80 | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Ashley Edwards Bradley '93 | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Crystal Roberts Jezierski '94 | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Cynthia Ooten Booth '79 | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Daniel J Brickman '80 | Trustee | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Bon Appetit Management Co | Food Svc. Management | $11,068,486 |
| Corna Kokosing Construction Co | Construction Mgmt. | $8,937,328 |
| Robertson Construction Serv Inc | Construction Mgmt. | $6,105,010 |
| Barton Marlow Builders | Construction Mgmt. | $5,008,693 |
| Mrm Painting | Painting Services | $1,495,477 |
Grants received · $37.6M total
309 grants to Denison University totaling $37.6M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Community Foundation | This award is designated support for the financial aid grant fund. | 2024 | $3,000,000 |
| Community Foundation For Southeast Michigan | Education | 2024 | $515,000 |
| Ayco Charitable Foundation | Education | 2024 | $331,800 |
| Columbus Foundation | Education | 2024 | $311,434 |
| Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc | Education | 2024 | $232,000 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $125,000 |
| Baltimore Community Foundation Inc | General support and various projects | 2024 | $110,000 |
| Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund | General support | 2024 | $105,300 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2024 | $86,750 |
| Greater Horizons | Education | 2024 | $65,000 |
| Cleveland Foundation | Endowment fund | 2024 | $60,069 |
| The Us Charitable Gift Trust | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2024 | $33,380 |
| The Bessemer Giving Fund | Annual gift | 2024 | $28,500 |
| Greater Kansas City Community Foundation | Education | 2024 | $25,750 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $18,229 |
Grants made · $349K in FY2023
11 grants totaling $349K in FY2023. All grants made by Denison University →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Granville Township Board of Trustees | Annual fire department assistance | $216,000 |
| United Way of Licking County Ohio Inc | Community sponsorship | $25,000 |
| Licking County Transit Board | Community sponsorship | $25,000 |
| The Works Ohio Center of History Art & Technology | Community sponsorship | $21,200 |
| Granville Exempted Village School District | Community sponsorship | $15,250 |
| Licking Land Trust | Community sponsorship | $10,000 |
| Indianapolis Downtown Inc | Memorial contribution | $10,000 |
| Columbus Association For the Performing Arts Inc | Collaborative partnership sponsor | $8,000 |
| Licking Memorial Hospital | Community sponsorship | $7,476 |
| Granville Area Chamber of Commerce | Community sponsorship | $5,450 |
| Grow Licking County | Community sponsorship | $5,200 |
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Compare Denison University
Frequently asked questions
- Is Denison University a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Denison University is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 31-4379459, based in Granville, Ohio. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Denison University's EIN?
- Denison University's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 31-4379459.
- How much revenue does Denison University report?
- Denison University reported $295,712,847 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Denison University's spending goes to programs?
- Denison University spends about 88% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Denison University have?
- CharityIndex grades Denison University A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Denison University's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Denison University's latest Form 990 is $767,842, paid to Adam S Weinberg (President).
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Explore more
Data for Denison University (EIN 31-4379459) 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.