Seattle University
501(c)(3) Donations tax-deductible
86% goes to programs $5 to raise $100 Strong reserves Growing revenue
Seattle University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Seattle, Washington, registered in 1992, with $455,110,469 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 86% of spending to programs.
901 12th Ave - Payroll Office, Seattle, WA, 98122 EIN 91-0565006 Since 1992
Revenue (FY2023)
$455.1M
▲ 30.1% vs prior year
Expenses (FY2023)
$400.3M
Net assets
$766.0M
Employees
4,110
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 rating86% to programs · $5 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 Seattle University: 86% to programs · $5 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating23 mo reserves · +12% 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 Seattle University: 23 mo reserves · +12% 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 Seattle University: 6 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 Seattle University: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Seattle university, an institution of higher education, is dedicated to educating the whole person, to professional formation, and to empowering leaders for a just and humane world.
Contact & location
- Address
- 901 12th Ave - Payroll Office, Seattle, WA, 98122
- City
- Seattle
- State
- Washington
- Category
- —
- Subcategory
- —
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $307.6M (FY2013) to $455.1M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $205.5MNet assets $766.0M
Operating margin
12.0%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$971.5M
Total liabilities
$205.5M
Net assets
$766.0M
Salaries & benefits
$184.5M
46% of expenses
Board members
41
39 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $455,110,469▲30.1% | $400,285,206▲7.4% | $766,015,115▲10.4% | $971,466,289▲7.4% | 990 |
| 2022 | $349,870,682▼9.0% | $372,559,090▲6.1% | $693,542,319▲0.6% | $904,395,345▼0.8% | 990 |
| 2021 | $384,624,846▼1.0% | $351,276,919▲12.6% | $689,318,399▼3.3% | $911,418,859▼3.9% | 990 |
| 2020 | $388,497,065▲4.7% | $311,894,506▼6.4% | $712,864,675▲20.8% | $948,615,677▲19.7% | 990 |
| 2019 | $370,909,912▲4.9% | $333,196,840▲1.5% | $589,947,839▲3.2% | $792,238,831▲4.5% | 990 |
| 2018 | $353,689,800▲7.5% | $328,161,799▲2.3% | $571,516,810▲4.5% | $758,485,233▲3.4% | 990 |
| 2017 | $328,949,063▲2.6% | $320,656,213▲1.5% | $547,057,153▲3.0% | $733,212,245▲4.0% | 990 |
| 2016 | $320,495,176▲0.2% | $315,939,378▲7.7% | $531,011,667▲5.0% | $704,923,991▲2.5% | 990 |
| 2015 | $319,868,480▲4.6% | $293,290,435▲3.7% | $505,777,516▲3.7% | $687,830,919▲3.4% | 990 |
| 2014 | $305,768,665▼0.6% | $282,960,295▲2.5% | $487,950,350▲3.6% | $665,217,568▲2.6% | 990 |
| 2013 | $307,637,134 | $276,032,683 | $471,120,652▲13.2% | $648,153,098▲7.2% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $276,103,422▲8.5% | $416,224,626▲4.2% | $604,699,151▲2.3% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $254,396,627▲2.0% | $399,469,324▲0.8% | $591,361,365 | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $249,399,249▲10.8% | $396,431,605▲8.2% | $591,265,813▲4.5% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $225,171,731 | $366,303,400 | $565,611,586 | 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: Eduardo Penalver — $781,288 (0.20% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eduardo Penalver | President and Board Member | 37.5 | $781,288 |
| Shane Martin | Provost | 37.5 | $453,163 |
| Anthony Varona | Dean, School of Law | 37.5 | $358,344 |
| Charles O'kelley | Professor, Law | 37.5 | $334,890 |
| Joseph Phillips | Dean, Albers Sch of Bus and Econ | 37.5 | $310,265 |
| Edgardo Gonzalez | Vp, Advancement Services | 37.5 | $306,387 |
| Mary Petersen | Vp and University Counsel; Corp Secretary | 37.5 | $305,171 |
| Christopher Victor | Head Coach, Men's Basketball | 37.5 | $303,854 |
| Amit Shukla | Dean, College of Science and Engineering | 37.5 | $276,283 |
| Brooke Coleman | Professor, Law | 37.5 | $268,049 |
| Jerron Lowe | Vice President For Human Resources | 37.5 | $258,587 |
| Melore Nielsen | Vice Provost For Enrollment Management | 37.5 | $252,789 |
| Alvin Sturdivant | Vice Provost For Student Development | 37.5 | $251,956 |
| Christopher Van Liew | Vice President For Strategic Initiatives | 37.5 | $250,631 |
| Sharon Fink | Director of Athletics | 37.5 | $250,619 |
| Cynthia Dillard | Dean, College of Education | 37.5 | $235,931 |
| David Powers | Dean, College of Arts and Sciences | 37.5 | $233,921 |
| Kristen Swanson | Dean, College of Nursing | 37.5 | $232,566 |
| Travis Nation | Vice Provost and Chief Information Officer | 37.5 | $232,244 |
| Robert Dullea | Deputy Provost | 37.5 | $230,029 |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Skanska USA Building Inc | Construction | $3,334,207 |
| Arthur J Gallagher Risk Mgt | Risk Management | $2,502,558 |
| Hes Intermediate Holdings LLC | Facilities Maintenance | $1,652,399 |
| The Tambellini Group LLC | Market Advisors | $1,189,181 |
| Shaw Integrated and Turf Solutions Inc | Specialty Product Supplier | $881,259 |
Grants received · $26.2M total
230 grants to Seattle University totaling $26.2M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Gift Fund | Operations | 2024 | $930,000 |
| The Seattle Foundation | For a new athletic performance center. | 2024 | $500,000 |
| The Seattle Foundation | To support the athletic performance center | 2024 | $300,000 |
| The Seattle Foundation | To support the athletics weight room | 2024 | $250,000 |
| Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc | Education | 2024 | $180,000 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $95,324 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2024 | $63,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $33,475 |
| Swedish Health Services | Operational support | 2024 | $30,000 |
| Lawschool Admissions Council Inc | 2024 plus program grant | 2024 | $26,947 |
| The Seattle Foundation | Donna merlino scholarship fund | 2024 | $25,000 |
| Philanthropic Ventures Foundation | General support | 2024 | $25,000 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $20,000 |
| The Seattle Foundation | Support for the law school. | 2024 | $10,000 |
| The Seattle Foundation | To provide general support | 2024 | $10,000 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is Seattle University a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Seattle University is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 91-0565006, based in Seattle, Washington. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Seattle University's EIN?
- Seattle University's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 91-0565006.
- How much revenue does Seattle University report?
- Seattle University reported $455,110,469 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Seattle University's spending goes to programs?
- Seattle University spends about 86% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Seattle University have?
- CharityIndex grades Seattle University A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Seattle University's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Seattle University's latest Form 990 is $781,288, paid to Eduardo Penalver (President and Board Member).
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Data for Seattle University (EIN 91-0565006) 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.