Trustees of Boston University
501(c)(3) Donations tax-deductible
91% goes to programs $6 to raise $100 Strong reserves Growing revenue
Trustees of Boston University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, registered in 1937, with $3,257,563,350 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A+, and it directs about 91% of spending to programs.
881 Commonwealth Ave 4th Floor, Boston, MA, 02215 EIN 04-2103547 Since 1937
Revenue (FY2023)
$3.3B
▼ 1.6% vs prior year
Expenses (FY2023)
$3.2B
Net assets
$6.0B
Employees
28,825
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A+
A+Program efficiency40% of the rating91% to programs · $6 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 Trustees of Boston University: 91% to programs · $6 to raise $100 earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating22 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 Trustees of Boston University: 22 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 Trustees of Boston 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 Trustees of Boston University: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
See schedule o
What they do
Research - what sets boston university apart as a research university is the breadth and depth of its research and the uniquely entrepreneurial spirit of its faculty. researchers at bu are not afraid to cross disciplinary boundaries, as can be seen by strategic efforts to support interdisciplinary research and education in neuroscience, religion and world affairs, integrative biology, clean energy, sustainability and the environment, health care delivery, and global health, to name a few. in each case, the emphasis is not on interdisciplinarity for its own sake, but on using a multifaceted approach to solve the important and complex problems facing society today.
Auxiliaries - auxiliary enterprises support the mission of boston university by providing essential services to the campus community. they are enterprises in that they are generally self-supporting activities, recovering their costs through the fees or prices they charge for their goods and services. at boston university, auxiliary enterprises are designed to deliver superior quality services that are expected by the students, faculty, staff and alumni.
Other program services consist of libraries, academic services, student services, external programs, and other deductions.
Contact & location
- Address
- 881 Commonwealth Ave 4th Floor, Boston, MA, 02215
- City
- Boston
- State
- Massachusetts
- Category
- —
- Subcategory
- —
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $2.1B (FY2013) to $3.3B (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $2.5BNet assets $6.0B
Operating margin
1.9%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$8.5B
Total liabilities
$2.5B
Net assets
$6.0B
Salaries & benefits
$1.5B
48% of expenses
Board members
32
30 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $3,257,563,350▼1.6% | $3,195,959,811▲6.3% | $5,955,865,781▲5.4% | $8,486,418,500▲2.0% | 990 |
| 2022 | $3,310,909,056▲5.8% | $3,006,440,897▲5.9% | $5,651,598,342▲7.9% | $8,318,947,751▲3.8% | 990 |
| 2021 | $3,129,652,283▲10.7% | $2,838,264,646▲14.9% | $5,237,209,862▼2.1% | $8,017,718,487▼3.3% | 990 |
| 2020 | $2,827,583,539▲8.1% | $2,471,119,524▼1.4% | $5,348,808,885▲27.4% | $8,292,157,093▲15.0% | 990 |
| 2019 | $2,615,858,845▼1.7% | $2,505,252,148▲3.1% | $4,197,834,069▲1.6% | $7,207,997,851▲2.7% | 990 |
| 2018 | $2,661,508,568▲6.3% | $2,428,902,662▲8.5% | $4,132,408,732▲5.5% | $7,019,919,366▲9.8% | 990 |
| 2017 | $2,503,487,956▲3.6% | $2,238,507,237▲8.6% | $3,918,643,040▲15.3% | $6,392,541,992▲8.5% | 990 |
| 2016 | $2,416,360,302▲9.6% | $2,061,034,585▲3.8% | $3,399,990,183▲17.7% | $5,890,986,351▲13.5% | 990 |
| 2015 | $2,203,820,636▲5.9% | $1,986,320,303▲3.5% | $2,887,660,935▲2.0% | $5,188,726,734▲3.0% | 990 |
| 2014 | $2,080,233,630▼0.7% | $1,918,469,822▲1.8% | $2,831,496,936▲4.0% | $5,035,817,244▲2.0% | 990 |
| 2013 | $2,094,280,227 | $1,884,583,375▲0.5% | $2,722,889,255▲11.8% | $4,939,052,767▲6.3% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $1,875,561,349▲2.5% | $2,436,416,625▲13.4% | $4,648,075,901▲7.3% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $1,830,263,881▲4.7% | $2,148,905,013▼3.6% | $4,329,848,069▲2.4% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $1,748,804,996▲3.5% | $2,229,654,635▲19.7% | $4,228,025,731▲7.7% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $1,690,403,812 | $1,863,256,957 | $3,925,721,370 | 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: Robert A Brown — $3,081,898 (0.10% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert A Brown | President (until 7/31/23) | 55 | $3,081,898 |
| Pushkar Mehra | Professor & Oral Surgeon | 55 | $1,796,153 |
| Jean Morrison | University Provost (until 6/30/23) | 55 | $1,670,350 |
| Clarissa C Hunnewell | Chief Investment Officer | 55 | $1,412,646 |
| Karen H Antman Md | Medical Campus Provost | 55 | $1,057,855 |
| Kenneth W Freeman | Interim Pres (8/1/23 - 6/30/24) | 55 | $971,647 |
| Erika Geetter | Sr Vp, Gen Counsel, Secretary | 55 | $746,329 |
| Gary W Nicksa | Sr Vp, Cfo, Treas (until 12/31/23) | 55 | $735,715 |
| Kenneth R Lutchen | Interim Uni Provost (7/1/23-6/30/24) | 55 | $729,185 |
| Derek Howe | Sr Vp Ops, Assistant Treasurer | 55 | $562,659 |
| Nicole Tirella | Sr Vp, Cfo, & Treas (as of 1/1/24) | 55 | $282,582 |
| Kevin E Smith | Trustee (as of 6/1/24) & Professor | 55 | $224,070 |
| Kimberly As Howard | Trustee (until 5/31/24) & Professor | 55 | $159,931 |
| Ahmass L Fakahany | Trustee | 3 | — |
| Alicia C Mullen | Trustee | 3 | — |
| Antoinette R Leatherberry | Trustee | 3 | — |
| Antonio G Gomes | Trustee (as of 12/7/23) | 3 | — |
| Carolyn Hessler-radelet | Trustee | 3 | — |
| Cassandra M Clay | Trustee | 3 | — |
| Chadi Tannoury | Professor & Physician | 0 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Suffolk Construction Company Inc | Construction | $29,769,295 |
| Aramark Food and Support Services Inc | Food & Hospitality | $24,432,028 |
| Consigli Construction Co Inc | Construction | $23,484,456 |
| Shawmut Woodworking & Supply Inc | Construction | $20,372,112 |
| Deloitte | Consulting | $17,806,538 |
Grants received · $445.2M total
1,206 grants to Trustees of Boston University totaling $445.2M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
Grants made · $92.0M in FY2023
263 grants totaling $92.0M in FY2023 — showing the 15 largest. All grants made by Trustees of Boston University →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mass General Brigham Incorporated | Research | $5,480,365 |
| Regents Univ of California | Research | $3,407,277 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Research | $3,251,809 |
| President and Fellows of Harvard College | Research | $3,117,846 |
| Avails Medical Inc | Research | $3,051,366 |
| Boston Medical Center Corporation | Research | $2,863,040 |
| Vaxcyte Inc | Research | $2,803,593 |
| Regents of the University of California At Berkeley | Research | $2,505,369 |
| Regents of the University of Michigan | Research | $2,060,599 |
| Locus Biosciences Inc | Research | $2,007,573 |
| Day Zero Diagnostics Inc | Research | $1,847,067 |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Inc | Research | $1,426,506 |
| Vedanta Biosciences Inc | Research | $1,389,180 |
| The University of Iowa | Research | $1,348,901 |
| Mass General Brigham Incorporated | Research | $1,319,968 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is Trustees of Boston University a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Trustees of Boston University is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 04-2103547, based in Boston, Massachusetts. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Trustees of Boston University's EIN?
- Trustees of Boston University's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 04-2103547.
- How much revenue does Trustees of Boston University report?
- Trustees of Boston University reported $3,257,563,350 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Trustees of Boston University's spending goes to programs?
- Trustees of Boston University spends about 91% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Trustees of Boston University have?
- CharityIndex grades Trustees of Boston University A+, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Trustees of Boston University's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Trustees of Boston University's latest Form 990 is $3,081,898, paid to Robert A Brown (President (until 7/31/23)).
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Data for Trustees of Boston University (EIN 04-2103547) 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.