St Olaf College
93% goes to programs $21 to raise $100 Strong reserves
St Olaf College is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Northfield, Minnesota, registered in 1934, with $333,072,638 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 93% of spending to programs.
1520 Saint Olaf Ave, Northfield, MN, 55057 EIN 41-0693979 Since 1934
Revenue (FY2024)
$333.1M
▲ 11.1% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2024)
$295.5M
Net assets
$1.1B
Employees
3,172
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
B+Program efficiency40% of the rating93% to programs · $21 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 St Olaf College: 93% to programs · $21 to raise $100 earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating43 mo reserves · +11% 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 St Olaf College: 43 mo reserves · +11% 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 St Olaf College: 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 St Olaf College: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
St. olaf college challenges students to excel in the liberal arts, examine faith and values, and explore meaningful vocation in an inclusive, globally engaged community nourished by lutheran tradition.
Contact & location
- Address
- 1520 Saint Olaf Ave, Northfield, MN, 55057
- City
- Northfield
- State
- Minnesota
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Colleges & Universities
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $203.0M (FY2013) to $333.1M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $180.8MNet assets $1.1B
Operating margin
11.3%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$1.2B
Total liabilities
$180.8M
Net assets
$1.1B
Salaries & benefits
$84.6M
29% of expenses
Board members
23
22 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $333,072,638▲11.1% | $295,499,530▲8.4% | $1,057,990,059▲6.0% | $1,238,766,221▲4.5% | 990 |
| 2023 | $299,892,996▲19.2% | $272,557,639▲7.8% | $997,884,084▲10.1% | $1,185,849,276▲10.3% | 990 |
| 2022 | $251,573,289▼14.3% | $252,822,741▲8.3% | $906,186,725▲1.9% | $1,075,424,048▲1.0% | 990 |
| 2021 | $293,547,623▲21.8% | $233,491,087▲8.5% | $889,161,961▼0.8% | $1,064,982,864▼0.7% | 990 |
| 2020 | $240,994,923▲13.8% | $215,281,780▼1.1% | $896,613,358▲27.9% | $1,072,190,588▲31.9% | 990 |
| 2019 | $211,758,083▼13.1% | $217,620,415▲3.5% | $701,076,593▼3.8% | $812,980,169▼3.6% | 990 |
| 2018 | $243,545,236▼14.4% | $210,254,505▲5.5% | $728,479,374▲0.8% | $843,443,410▼0.6% | 990 |
| 2017 | $284,581,123▲32.9% | $199,225,561▲4.0% | $722,868,813▲6.8% | $848,336,096▲5.3% | 990 |
| 2016 | $214,188,884▲7.9% | $191,471,549▲2.6% | $676,999,293▲8.7% | $805,923,602▲5.4% | 990 |
| 2015 | $198,530,242▼3.5% | $186,618,536▲6.2% | $622,752,941▼1.8% | $764,920,265▲1.0% | 990 |
| 2014 | $205,759,306▲1.4% | $175,765,833▲1.1% | $634,190,188▲3.4% | $757,230,334▲2.6% | 990 |
| 2013 | $203,000,691 | $173,850,295▲1.7% | $613,608,905▲11.2% | $738,198,372▲8.6% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $170,861,763▲4.3% | $551,590,725▲11.6% | $679,566,482▲8.5% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $163,787,047▲4.8% | $494,186,390▼2.1% | $626,413,381▼2.0% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $156,335,724▲5.0% | $504,582,045▲13.6% | $639,318,405▲10.7% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $148,842,236 | $444,365,969 | $577,747,127 | 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 (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Susan Rundell Singer — $511,318 (0.17% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Susan Rundell Singer | President | 40 | $511,318 |
| Michael Berthelsen | Vp and Cfo | 40 | $288,619 |
| Marci Sortor | Provost and Dean of the College | 40 | $272,599 |
| Carl Crosby Lehmann | General Counsel | 40 | $253,249 |
| Enoch Blazis | Vp For Advancement | 40 | $243,984 |
| Michael Kyle | Vp For External Relations | 40 | $235,057 |
| Hassel Morrison | Vp For Student Life | 40 | $185,734 |
| Christopher George | Associate Vp For Enrollment | 40 | $179,796 |
| Roberta Lembke | Chief Information Officer | 40 | $171,845 |
| Rebecca Otten | Asst Vp For Advancement | 40 | $166,379 |
| Katie Warren | Associate Vp For Marketing | 40 | $162,019 |
| Jo Beld | Secretary | 40 | $150,639 |
| David Anderson | Former President | 0 | $150,000 |
| Kevin Larson | Director of Facilities | 40 | $148,989 |
| Christen Cole | Former Avp For Human Resources | 40 | $144,549 |
| Jason Engbrecht | Associate Provost | 40 | $136,638 |
| Nathan Engle | Asst Vp and Controller | 40 | $133,801 |
| Eduardo Pazos Palma | Vp For Community and Belonging | 40 | $97,572 |
| Brenda Mccormick | Regent | 1.7 | — |
| Carmen Nordstrand | Regent | 1.7 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Bon Appetit Management Co Inc | Food Service Provider | $11,061,956 |
| The Boldt Company | Construction | $4,712,030 |
| Morton Buildings | Construction | $3,585,144 |
| Pacific Tank and Construction | Construction | $2,007,989 |
| Institute For the International Educatio | Travel Provider | $1,325,204 |
Grants received · $39.5M total
214 grants to St Olaf College totaling $39.5M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc | Education | 2024 | $162,500 |
| St Louis Community Foundation Incorporated | For every ole faculty addition campaign in honor of previous president anderson, board gift | 2024 | $125,000 |
| Minneapolis Foundation | Donor advised, education | 2024 | $102,350 |
| The Us Charitable Gift Trust | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2024 | $64,815 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $50,128 |
| American Gift Fund | Operations | 2024 | $41,750 |
| Greater Horizons | Education | 2024 | $32,000 |
| Ayco Charitable Foundation | Education | 2024 | $31,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $19,029 |
| Thrivent Financial For Lutherans | General support | 2024 | $16,140 |
| Community Fdn of Greater Des Moines | Grant distribution | 2024 | $15,000 |
| Columbus Foundation | Education | 2024 | $12,500 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2024 | $10,200 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $10,000 |
| Ecmc Foundation | General support | 2024 | $10,000 |
Grants made · $53K in FY2024
4 grants totaling $53K in FY2024. All grants made by St Olaf College →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Luther Seminary | Glesne seminary fund | $28,240 |
| St Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church | Knutson grant | $10,000 |
| Denton Wesley Foundation | Knutson grant | $8,500 |
| Emmaus Campus Ministry | Knutson grant | $6,500 |
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Compare St Olaf College
Frequently asked questions
- Is St Olaf College a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. St Olaf College is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 41-0693979, based in Northfield, Minnesota. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is St Olaf College's EIN?
- St Olaf College's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 41-0693979.
- How much revenue does St Olaf College report?
- St Olaf College reported $333,072,638 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of St Olaf College's spending goes to programs?
- St Olaf College spends about 93% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does St Olaf College have?
- CharityIndex grades St Olaf College A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does St Olaf College's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on St Olaf College's latest Form 990 is $511,318, paid to Susan Rundell Singer (President).
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Data for St Olaf College (EIN 41-0693979) 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.