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
Earned-program. 85% of the money available for current operations came from fees and other program 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
Rating
78
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Universities

Official website

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The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 81
  • Transparency & Controls: 71
  • 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: 89.5%; rating input score 89; 5th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Foreign activity oversight: 1 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 12
  • 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
  • Public monitoring controls: Limited
  • Public policy transparency: Limited
  • Public financial transparency: Limited
  • Impact reporting controls: Limited
  • Public relationship 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
  • Public governance controls: Limited
  • Zakat policy transparency: Limited

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -4.7%; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings
  • Operating reserve 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
  • Consistency: 42 of 44 current checks pass · 2 findings to review
  • Schedules: 12 filed schedules · includes major donors, foreign activity, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 16 annual filings from 2009 to 2024
  • Money network: 8 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 2 filed related-organization links