Willamette University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Salem, Oregon, registered in 1935, with $175,758,393 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it B+, and it directs about 89% of spending to programs.
Revenue (FY2024)
$175.8M
▲ 7.7% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2024)
$197.3M
Net assets
$398.4M
Employees
2,057
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 Willamette University: 89% to programs · $23 to raise $100 earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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 Willamette University: 24 mo reserves · -12% margin earns a C+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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 Willamette University: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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 Willamette University: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Through nationally distinctive programs connecting liberal education to professional practice, willamette university prepares graduates to turn knowledge into action and lead lives of achievement, contribution, and meaning.
Higher education - auxiliary functions: includes room & board (for 1,235 students) and summer conferences.
Revenue grew from $147.0M (FY2013) to $175.8M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Operating margin
-12.2%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$552.1M
Total liabilities
$153.8M
Net assets
$398.4M
Salaries & benefits
$69.5M
35% of expenses
Board members
36
33 independent
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $175,758,393▲7.7% | $197,287,493▲3.5% | $398,350,991▲4.8% | $552,119,279▲2.6% | 990 |
| 2023 | $163,265,362▲18.5% | $190,546,447▲10.2% | $380,086,998▲1.4% | $537,942,266▲0.3% | 990 |
| 2022 | $137,752,242▲5.1% | $172,915,669▲10.9% | $374,796,527▼4.3% | $536,279,964▼3.4% | 990 |
| 2021 | $131,114,519▲13.0% | $155,951,633▲19.6% | $391,610,801▼2.9% | $555,407,413▼0.4% | 990 |
| 2020 | $116,017,351▼10.9% | $130,431,119▼7.3% | $403,164,088▲18.6% | $557,446,619▲25.6% | 990 |
| 2019 | $130,252,198▲1.7% | $140,703,942▼0.7% | $339,921,607▼4.4% | $443,732,072▼3.9% | 990 |
| 2018 | $128,026,752▼4.1% | $141,644,195▼1.7% | $355,596,264▼1.5% | $461,698,461▼2.0% | 990 |
| 2017 | $133,466,370▼2.1% | $144,114,106▼4.1% | $361,101,820▲4.2% | $470,919,843▲3.0% | 990 |
| 2016 | $136,336,400▼1.3% | $150,285,053▲0.4% | $346,616,447▲2.4% | $457,044,870▲4.3% | 990 |
| 2015 | $138,194,706▼22.9% | $149,670,294▲2.9% | $338,485,309▼5.4% | $438,379,987▼4.5% | 990 |
| 2014 | $179,129,448▲21.8% | $145,478,416▲2.1% | $357,639,451▲2.7% | $458,860,701▲2.3% | 990 |
| 2013 | $147,011,198 | $142,512,725▲0.4% | $348,315,057▲5.8% | $448,732,824▲4.3% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $141,907,741▲2.5% | $329,358,622▲4.7% | $430,164,245▲3.7% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $138,507,389▲6.5% | $314,552,240▼6.4% | $414,649,915▼4.6% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $130,099,831▲3.4% | $336,053,118▲8.0% | $434,576,098▲6.5% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $125,788,272 | $311,054,785 | $408,135,711 | 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.
Highest-paid: Stephen Thorsett — $500,509 (0.25% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Thorsett | President | 40 | $500,509 |
| Shelby Radcliffe | Vice President For Advancement | 40 | $272,564 |
| Carol Long | Provost & Senior Vice President | 40 | $250,701 |
| Daniel Valles Sr Vice | President, Coo & Treasurer - 11/1/24 | 40 | $246,390 |
| Shana Sechrist | Vice President & General Counsel | 40 | $240,978 |
| William Mullen | Vp For Enrollment Management | 40 | $239,870 |
| Romana Autrey Interim Dean | Atkinson Grad School of Management | 40 | $224,928 |
| Ruth Feingold | Dean of Willamette College | 40 | $222,615 |
| Jennifer Cole | Dean of Pnca | 40 | $218,573 |
| Jameson Watts Dean | School of Computing & Info Science | 40 | $207,196 |
| Jeffrey Dobbins Interim Dean | School of Law | 40 | $197,465 |
| Lisa Landreman | Vp For Student Affairs | 40 | $186,533 |
| Colleen Kawahara Chief of | Staff, Administrative Secretary | 40 | $177,257 |
| Anne Gallagher | Vp of Finance & Cfo | 40 | $175,077 |
| Blythe Butler | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Bonnie Flynn | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Brian Hufft | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Charlotte Carpenter | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Cortlandt Cuffee | Trustee | 1 | — |
| David Drinkward | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Compass Group USA | Food Service | $5,686,383 |
| Macdonald-miller Facility Solutions LLC | Construction | $5,680,325 |
| America Cleaning Solutions Inc | Janitorial | $1,661,290 |
| Global Endowment Management | Investment Management | $1,608,634 |
| Siemens Industry Inc | Information Technology | $1,304,577 |
99 grants to Willamette University totaling $9.5M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon Community Foundation | Higher education | 2024 | $252,495 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $63,205 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $35,250 |
| Accesslex Institute | Program support/research | 2024 | $14,944 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $10,000 |
| Jewish Communal Fund | In furtherance of grantee's tax-exempt purpose | 2024 | $10,000 |
| Ocf Joseph E Weston Public Foundation | Higher education | 2024 | $7,500 |
| Credit Unions In the State of Washington | Donation | 2024 | $5,000 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Education | 2023 | $358,800 |
| Oregon Community Foundation | Higher education | 2023 | $252,845 |
| St Louis Community Foundation Incorporated | General support | 2023 | $220,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $98,450 |
| Accesslex Institute | Program support/research | 2023 | $90,000 |
| National Philanthropic Tr | Education | 2023 | $45,250 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2023 | $45,209 |
1 grant totaling $82K in FY2024. All grants made by Willamette University →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Willamette Institute For Continued Learning | The institute for continued learning (icl) was spun off as an independent nonprofit entity | $81,734 |
Explore more
Data for Willamette University (EIN 93-0386972) 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.