Lesley University
Overview
Mission
Lesley university engages students in transformative education through active learning, scholarly research, diverse forms of artistic expression, and the integration of rigorous academics with practical, professional experience, leading to meaningful careers and continuing lifelong learning. Lesley prepares socially responsible graduates with the knowledge, skills, understanding and ethical judgment to be catalysts shaping a more just, humane, and sustainable world.
What it reported doing in 2024
Expenses related to instructing full time and part time students: the university is home to a number of important centers that conduct research, help shape public policy, and provide continuing education and professional development opportunities across a wide range of disciplines.the institution serves approximately 3,700 students, including undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education populations. It offers more than 50 academic programs and maintains an alumni network exceeding 84,000 individuals, with its campus located in cambridge.lesley university academics:*undergraduate study:-courses + programs in cambridge -online courses + programs-college of art and design (la+d)-liberal arts & business programs-education programs-mental health & well-being programs*graduate study: -courses + programs in cambridge and Massachusetts-online courses + programs- education programs- mental health & well-being programs- art programs*unique program formats *centers*continuing education + professional development *threshold non-degree program*accreditation: -new england commission of higher education-national association of schools of art and design-the baccalaureate business management program is accredited by the accreditation council for business schools & programs (acbsp).-the bachelor of social work (bsw) is accredited by the council on social work education (cswe).-the master of social work (msw) is accredited by the council on social work education (cswe).-the clinical mental health counseling: art therapy is accredited by the commission on accreditation of allied health education programs (caahep) upon the recommendation of the accreditation council for art therapy education (acate).-the clinical mental health counseling: art therapy program is approved by the american art therapy association.-the clinical mental health counseling: dance therapy program is approved by the american dance therapy association.-the clinical mental health counseling: drama therapy program is accredited by the north american drama therapy association.-the clinical mental health counseling: music therapy program is approved by the american music therapy association
Operating model
- Revenue model
- Earned-program. 85% of the money available for current operations came from fees and other program revenue.
- Distribution model
- Direct operator. The nonprofit carried out 81% of its reported program work directly.
- Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.
Nonprofit profile at a glance
- EIN
- 042103589
- IRS 990 coverage
- 2009–2024
- Forms available
- Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024
- Headquarters
- Cambridge, MA, USA
- Rating
- 83
- Verdict
- STRONG
- Rating confidence
- Moderate
The verdict
STRONG - 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 expenses are high relative to revenue.
Rating breakdown
- Financial Efficiency: 87
- Transparency & Controls: 83
- Accountability: 92
- Sustainability: 36
- Growth: 60
Detailed rating inputs
Financial Efficiency
- Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
- Program expense ratio: 75.6%; rating input score 76
- Fundraising efficiency: $16.98 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings
Transparency & Controls
- Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 71st percentile among comparable filings
- Pay-setting controls: 6 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 100
- Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
- 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: 95%; rating input score 95; 46th percentile among comparable filings
- Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
- Public governance controls: Limited
- Zakat policy transparency: Limited
Sustainability
- Operating margin: -13.4%; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings
- Operating reserve ratio: 3.79; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
- Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.31; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings
- Officer compensation ratio: 4%; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings
Growth
- Program expense growth: -0.7% per year; rating input score 0; 6th percentile among comparable filings
- Revenue growth: 0.1% per year; rating input score 100; 6th percentile among comparable filings
- Asset growth: 1.9% per year; rating input score 100; 14th percentile among comparable filings
Details
- Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 75.6% of spending went to programs
- Governance: 19 of 20 board members independent · 8 of 9 filing controls reported
- Programs: 5 filed program accomplishments · $85.1M in reported program spending
- Leadership: top reported pay $698K · 35 people listed · 6 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
- Consistency: 39 of 39 current checks pass
- Schedules: 10 filed schedules · includes major donors, foreign activity, grants, and executive pay
- Filing history: 16 annual filings from 2009 to 2024
- Money network: 16 filed money-flow records