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VASSAR COLLEGE
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY · EIN 141338587 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Very Large (>$50M) · vassar.edu
revenue
$371.1M
expenses
$352.9M
net assets
$1.7B
employees
3,715
volunteers
1,425
program ratio
79%
mission · from form 990

THE MISSION OF VASSAR COLLEGE IS TO MAKE ACCESSIBLE "THE MEANS OF A THOROUGH, WELL-PROPORTIONED AND LIBERAL EDUCATION" THAT INSPIRES EACH INDIVIDUAL TO LEAD A PURPOSEFUL.

profile · synthesized from sources

Vassar College is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, dedicated to providing a rigorous, well-rounded education that fosters intellectual exploration and personal growth. The institution supports students through comprehensive academic and student services, including faculty advising, library resources, career education, and mental health support. Vassar emphasizes inclusive community engagement, global education, and the development of critical thinking skills grounded in the liberal arts tradition.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $39.90M
    ACADEMIC SERVICES - SEE SCHEDULE OACADEMIC SERVICES - THE COLLEGE PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES TO ENHANCE AND STRENGTHEN STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND OUTCOMES. THIS INCLUDES FACULTY ADVISING FROM NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION THROUGH GRADUATION, A LIBRARY WITH MORE THAN A MILLION BOOKS AND ACCESS TO THOUSANDS OF ONLINE JOURNALS, AN ART MUSEUM THAT SUPPORTS EDUCATION THROUGH THE PRESERVATION, DOCUMENTATION, INTERPRETATION, PRESENTATION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF ITS COLLECTIONS; A ROBUST INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFICE THAT SUPPORTS STUDENTS' GLOBAL EDUCATION, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER SUPPORT RESOURCES THAT IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES. THESE ROBUST ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES CONTRIBUTE TO VASSAR'S OVERALL FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 90% AND 6-YEAR GRADUATION RATE THAT OFTEN EXCEEDS 90%. APPROXIMATELY 20% OF VASSAR'S STUDENTS ARE PELL RECIPIENTS WHO HAVE SIMILAR GRADUATION RATES.
  2. #2 $34.67M
    STUDENT SERVICES - SEE SCHEDULE OSTUDENT SERVICES - AS A RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE, VASSAR IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING SUPPORT SERVICES TO HELP STUDENTS MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR TIME AT VASSAR. THE DIVISION OF THE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE PROVIDES AND COORDINATES SERVICES THAT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF ACADEMIC AND CO-CURRICULAR STUDENT LIFE. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE A ROBUST RESIDENTIAL LIFE PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES FACULTY AND STAFF DELIVERING PROGRAMMING TO ENHANCE THE ON-CAMPUS STUDENT EXPERIENCE. THIS ALSO INCLUDES MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO HELP STUDENTS MAINTAIN THEIR HOLISTIC WELL-BEING THROUGH GRADUATION AS WELL AS CAREER EDUCATION SERVICES, WHICH HELP STUDENTS PLAN FOR THEIR POST-GRADUATION CAREER. THESE SERVICES CONTRIBUTE TO THE HIGH GRADUATION AND RETENTION RATES AND ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO HIGH JOB AND GRADUATE SCHOOL PLACEMENT RATES. OVER 90% OF STUDENTS ARE EMPLOYED, ENROLLED IN GRADUATE SCHOOL, OR RECEIVE A COMPETITIVE FELLOWSHIP WITHIN 6-MONTHS OF GRADUATION.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Academic Services
Comprehensive academic support including faculty advising, library resources with over a million books and online journals, international programs, and specialized centers such as the Winton Evans Bridge for Laboratory Sciences and the Dede Thompson Bartlett Center for Admission and Career Education.
Consortium on Forced Migration
Academic initiative focused on research, teaching, and public engagement related to forced migration, displacement, and refugee experiences.
International Programs Office
Supports students' global education through study abroad opportunities, international partnerships, and cross-cultural academic initiatives.
Student Services
Residential life programming, medical and mental health services, career education, and co-curricular support coordinated by the Division of the Dean of the College to enhance student well-being and post-graduation outcomes.
Women, Feminist, and Queer Studies Program
Interdisciplinary program promoting scholarship and teaching on gender, sexuality, and social justice; includes faculty and student engagement through research and workshops.
activities · 12 groups

What they do

  • Student Support and Academic Services 2 activities
    • Promote student well-being and community engagement
      Supports student intellectual, personal, and spiritual development through residential life programs, personal support services, Families Weekend events, and community-building initiatives.
    • Provide academic and co-curricular student support services
      Offers academic advising, library resources with over a million books and thousands of online journals, career education, medical and mental health services, and residential life programming to support holistic student development and success.
  • Interscholastic and Inclusive School Sports Programs 1 activity
    • Compete in NCAA Division III athletics
      Fields competitive athletic teams that participate in NCAA Division III championships and regional competitions, achieving top placements in track and field, rowing, and league championships.
  • Academic Journal and Scholarly Publication 1 activity
    • Conduct peer-reviewed scholarly research and publication
      Produces and publishes original research in philosophy, media studies, and literature, including books, journal articles, and translated historical texts, in venues such as the Journal of the APA, Hackett Press, and academic anthologies.
  • Alumni Community Building 1 activity
    • Deliver global and local alumni engagement programs
      Organizes global and local events, career conversations, and recognition programs—including the AAVC Young Alum Achievement Award—to maintain lifelong engagement with a network of over 42,000 alumni.
  • Academic Medical Training Support 1 activity
    • Deliver narrative and art-based clinical training for medical residents
      Conducts narrative medicine and art observation exercises for resident physicians from Northwell Vassar Brothers Medical Center to enhance clinical skills, reflection, and patient connection, engaging over 100 residents through ongoing collaboration.
  • Educator Conferences & Professional Development Events 1 activity
    • Facilitate peacebuilding education and collaboration
      Hosts multi-institutional conferences and discussions for educators and administrators focused on peacebuilding, collaboration, and preparing students for global changemaking, involving participants from 32 institutions.
  • New Play Development Programs 1 activity
    • Produce and present original performing arts works
      Creates and stages new dance and theater works through collaborations with contemporary choreographers, performance concerts, and the annual Steerman Festival of New Work, resulting in the production of 11 new plays by Vassar writers.
  • Alumni Leadership and Career Support Programs 1 activity
    • Provide career development mentorship
      Offers career-focused mentorship and conversations for students and young alumni, particularly in fields such as drama and advertising, through events and direct engagement with accomplished graduates.
  • Study Abroad and Global Immersion Programs 1 activity
    • Support international study and community integration
      Operates a long-standing study-abroad program in Clifden, Ireland, where students teach in local schools, engage with Irish culture, deliver educational content such as astronomy units, and participate in community integration activities.
  • International Student Recruitment & Academic Partnerships 1 activity
    • Support liberal arts education through international collaboration
      Builds capacity for higher education institutions globally by integrating liberal arts content and pedagogy into degree programs through partnerships across North America, Africa, and Western Europe.
  • Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
    • Support student-led peacebuilding initiatives
      Supports student-led projects focused on immigrant support, workforce development for homeless individuals, and community infrastructure improvement in Hawaii, California, Nigeria, and internationally through the Projects for Peace grant program.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Administer faculty tenure and academic advancement
      Grants tenure to faculty members across diverse academic disciplines as part of ongoing academic leadership and institutional capacity development.
    • Advance sustainability in campus operations
      Implements sustainable practices and systems to reduce carbon emissions and minimize environmental impact across campus operations.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$371.09M
Contributions & grants$71.05M19%
Program service revenue$233.06M63%
Investment income$63.14M17%
Other revenue$3.84M
expenses
Total expenses$352.95M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$156.47M
Grants paid out$85.01M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.03B
Cash$61.73M
Investments$1.39B
Liabilities$355.28M
Net assets$1.68B
Liquid reserves49.2 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +13.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 18
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ELIZABETH HOWE BRADLEY PRESIDENT & TRUSTEE 40 $877K
TIMOTHY KANE VP FOR ADVANCEMENT 40 $487K
BRYAN A SWARTHOUT VP FOR FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION 40 $446K
WILLIAM HOYNES PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY 40 $380K
CARLOS LEONCIO GARCIA - VP FOR TECH. & HR / CHIEF INFO. OFFICER 40 $379K
CARLOS ALAMO DEAN OF COLLEGE 40 $367K
ROBERT K BRIGHAM PROFESSOR OF HISTORY 40 $360K
SHAY HUMPHREY GENERAL COUNSEL 40 $341K
ROBERT DEMARIA PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH 40 $333K
VICTORIA GRANTHAM VP FOR COMMUNICATIONS 40 $314K
SONYA SMITH - DEAN OF ADMIN & STUDENT FIN. SERVICES 40 $310K
MARIANNE BEGEMANN - DEAN OF STRAT. PLANNING & ACADEMIC RESOURCES 40 $308K
DAVID A KENNETT PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS 40 $301K
LIZABETH PARAVISINI-GEBERT PROFESSOR OF HISPANIC STUDIES 40 $270K
ANGELIQUE CRUMP CONTROLLER (THRU 06/2025) 40 $258K
BRIAN DALY INT. DEAN OF FACULTY (AS OF 07/2024) 40 $251K
GLADWYN LOPEZ - AVP DEPUTY TO THE VP FOR COMMUNICATIONS 40 $231K
WESLEY DIXON SECRETARY OF THE BOARD 40 $218K
board members · 7
  • ALEXANDRA SHIVA — TRUSTEE
  • AMY GUERLY — TRUSTEE
  • ANNE GREEN — TRUSTEE (AS OF 07/2024)
  • BRIAN FARKAS — TRUSTEE AND COMMITTEE CHAIR
  • CAROL S OSTROW — TRUSTEE AND COMMITTEE CHAIR
  • CYNTHIA PATTON — TRUSTEE AND COMMITTEE CHAIR
  • DELIA CHEUNG HOM — TRUSTEE
relationships · 24

Who they work with

  • Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Funder — Provided fellowships and grants to Associate Professor Denise Iris.
  • Alumnae/i Association of Vassar College (AAVC) Network — Recognizes distinguished alumni through the Young Alum Achievement Award.
  • Alumnae/i Association of Vassar College (AAVC) Network — Vassar College's alumni association that recognizes faculty, staff, and alumni for service, achievement, and leadership.
  • American Association of Italian Studies Network — Vassar faculty member serves on advisory board of its Queer Studies Caucus.
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Partner — Collaborated with President Elizabeth H. Bradley on a model of innovation scale-up.
  • Brendan Flynn Partner — Co-founder of the Vassar Clifden program and mentor to Vassar students, organizing cultural excursions and supporting teaching activities in Clifden, Ireland.
  • Christopher Grabowski Partner — Professor and Chair of Drama who co-hosted career conversations with visiting alumnus Ethan Slater ’14.
  • Clinton Health Access Initiative Partner — Collaborated with President Elizabeth H. Bradley to create the first Masters of Health Administration on the African continent.
  • Cognitive Science Department Partner — Collaborates with the Dance Department on cross-disciplinary courses.
  • Consortium on Forced Migration Network — Vassar faculty member serves on steering committee of this consortium.
  • Desmond Lally Partner — Co-director of the Vassar Clifden program and tutor to Vassar students, involved in mentoring and organizing cultural and educational experiences in Clifden, Ireland.
  • Jon Lehrer Partner — Renowned contemporary choreographer who created a new piece for the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre.
  • LinkedIn Network — Hosts a private LinkedIn group (VassarNet) for the Vassar community.
  • MacDowell Colony Funder — Awarded fellowships and grants to Associate Professor Denise Iris.
  • Mellon Foundation Funder — Awarded a New Directions Fellowship to Associate Professor Sofia Ortiz-Hinojosa.
  • NY Foundation for the Arts Funder — Provided fellowships and grants to Associate Professor Denise Iris.
  • NY State Council on the Arts Funder — Provided fellowships and grants to Associate Professor Denise Iris.
  • Northwell Vassar Brothers Medical Center Partner — Collaborates with Vassar College’s Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center to provide art-based training for resident physicians.
  • Northwell Vassar Brothers Medical Center Partner — Collaborates with Vassar on narrative medicine exercises for new doctors.
  • Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practices Partner — Collaborates with the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practices to support religious and civic communities on campus and serve as a liaison to the mid-Hudson Valley community.
  • Projects for Peace Partner — Collaborates with Projects for Peace to fund and support student-led peacebuilding initiatives globally.
  • Shona Tucker Partner — Professor of Drama who co-hosted career conversations with visiting alumnus Ethan Slater ’14.
  • Vassar College Partner — Michael Fanuele ’94 is an alumnus who mentors current students and recent graduates.
  • Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre Partner — Faculty-led student dance company that performs and collaborates with guest artists.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Deep and Embodied Learning Through the Arts
    methodology: embodied_learning_through_arts
    By using visual thinking strategies and embodied performance training, Vassar strengthens observational, interpretive, and expressive skills because engaging with art and performance cultivates clinical empathy, compassion, and holistic understanding in both medical and creative contexts.
  • Interdisciplinary and Intersectional Learning
    methodology: intersectional_peacebuilding
    By combining insights from diverse fields such as history, ecology, psychology, literature, and the arts, Vassar advances peacebuilding and critical thinking because intersectional approaches enable deeper understanding of complex social issues and foster innovative solutions.
  • Residential Liberal Arts Model
    methodology: residential_liberal_arts_model
    By integrating academic and co-curricular life through a residential model with self-governing student houses and embedded faculty, Vassar fosters student development through lived diversity and shared governance, enhancing engagement and success because sustained community interaction deepens learning and personal growth.
  • Student-Centered Holistic Development
    methodology: holistic_student_development
    By combining intellectual challenge, personal support, and community connection, Vassar fosters student thriving because sustained engagement in a nurturing environment enables growth, belonging, and resilience.