Lasell University

Overview

Mission

We immerse students in experiential and collaborative learning that fosters lifelong intellectual exploration and social responsibility.

What it reported doing in 2024

Lasell university is a comprehensive coeducational university which offers professionally oriented bachelor's and master's degree programs, including more than 25 academic majors.our students are given the opportunity to practice and prepare for the real world through a project-based and problem-based approach to teaching, through exposure to diverse cultures and peoples, through the development of critical skills such as writing and speaking in front of groups, and through confrontation with ethical and moral questions.lasell university is known for helping students make the connection between classroom lessons and real life through hands-on activities such as internships, practical, service learning, and meaningful projects. Connected learning at lasell university involves students directly and actively in the fields they are learning. In all majors, students explore real issues, events, problems, and solutions. Lasell university faculty are committed to creatively integrating challenging coursework with practical experience in an environment that fosters lifelong intellectual exploration, active citizenship and social responsibiltiy.

Operating model

Revenue model
Other-operating. 85% of the money available for current operations came from other operating revenue.
Distribution model
Hybrid. The nonprofit split its reported program spending across 76% for direct work, and 24% for grants.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
042103585
IRS 990 coverage
2009–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024
Headquarters
Newton, MA, USA
Phone
6172432000
Rating
79
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Standard
Sector
Undergraduate College (4-year)

Official website

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. The filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad and fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 81
  • Transparency & Controls: 73
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 32
  • Growth: 60

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 91.6%; rating input score 92
  • Program expense ratio: 86.9%; rating input score 87
  • Fundraising efficiency: $2.97 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 94.7%; rating input score 95; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
    • Compensation committee: Pass
    • Independent consultant: Missing
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
    • Written employment contract: Pass
    • Compensation survey or study: Missing
    • Board or committee approval: Missing
  • Foreign activity oversight: 1 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 12
    • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
    • Requires narrative reports: Fail
    • Conducts field audits: Fail
    • May suspend future funding: Fail
    • Requires financial reports: Fail
    • Conducts site visits: Fail
    • Requires grant agreements: Fail
    • May require repayment: Fail
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -4.7%; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.83; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.54; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 3.1%; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -1% per year; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 1.2% per year; rating input score 100; 10th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 1.1% per year; rating input score 100; 11th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 91.6% of revenue deployed · 86.9% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 19 of 19 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 4 filed program accomplishments · $62.2M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $495K · 29 people listed · 3 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 5 contractors listed · $8.7M reported
  • Consistency: 43 of 44 current checks pass · 1 finding to review
  • Schedules: 12 filed schedules · includes major donors, foreign activity, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 16 annual filings from 2009 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 8 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 2 filed related-organization links
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
  • Staff and benefit plans: Retirement and health plans the organization files with the Department of Labor, and the people in them.

Leadership & pay

29 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • ERIC TURNER (PRESIDENT): $494,709 total reported compensation
  • ZEHRA ABID-WOOD (PRESIDENT OF LASELL VILLAGE): $362,291 total reported compensation
  • CHRYSTAL PORTER (PROVOST): $287,436 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2024.