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Nonprofit · EIN 04-1286950

EMERSON COLLEGE

Tax-exempt · BOSTON, MA 02116

Financials

$331.8M$319M2022$345.5M$342.5M2023$340.2M$348.8M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of EMERSON COLLEGE by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
June 30, 2025990$340,234,910$348,760,928-$8,526,018$1,162,646,095$556,693,904$605,952,191
June 30, 2024990$345,463,060$342,509,298$2,953,762$1,158,204,287$574,177,978$584,026,309
June 30, 2023990$331,849,178$318,980,558$12,868,620$1,142,841,556$592,022,004$550,819,552
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$9,875,044
of which government grants
$1,193,428
Program service revenue
$302,885,688
Investment income
$12,435,257
Royalties
$2,928,000
Net rental income
$1,614,132
Net gain from sales of assets
$217,840
Net income from fundraising events
$14,828
Other revenue
$15,038,921

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$77,837,641
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$2,987,701
Other salaries and wages
$105,663,033
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$138,653,281
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$1,158,651
Accounting fees
$404,521
Occupancy
$12,843,303
Travel
$3,312,459
Depreciation
$21,533,402
Program services (functional)
$294,268,928
Management and general (functional)
$48,545,452
Fundraising (functional)
$5,946,548

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$1,158,204,287
Total assets, end of year
$1,162,646,095
Total liabilities, end of year
$556,693,904
Net assets, end of year
$605,952,191
Land, buildings and equipment
$719,539,454
Publicly traded securities
$293,769,780
Net assets without donor restrictions
$507,078,332
Net assets with donor restrictions
$98,873,859
Gross unrelated business income
$133,327
Gross receipts
$538,860,558
Employees
3,504
Volunteers
1,077
Year formed
1880
State of legal domicile
MA

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
JAY BERNHARDTPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
40$859,615$190,551
PAUL DWORKISVP ADMIN & FIN (THRU 01/2025)
Officer
40$452,976$60,936
ALLISON DAWSONVP FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Highest-paid employee
40$354,187$55,298
JAN ROBERTS-BRESLINPROF(THRU 12/24)/DEAN GRAD/PROF STUD
Highest-paid employee
40$316,103$58,248
ROBERT J BUTLER JRAVP FIN(THRU 1/25)/INT VP FIN/CFO
Officer
40$281,324$69,409
MELISSA RICHARDSVP & CHIEF OF STAFF (THRU 05/2024)
Highest-paid employee
40$316,916$21,894
CAROLINA AVELLANEDAGENERAL COUNSEL
Officer
40$301,422$33,332
SPENCER KIMBALLDIR OF POLLING CENTER/ASSOC PROF
Highest-paid employee
40$283,223$47,457
SHAYA GREGORY POKUVP FOR EQUITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Highest-paid employee
40$284,129$31,716
ALEXANDRA SOCARIDESPROVOST & VP ACAD AFF (AS OF 07/24)
Officer
2$271,332$35,206
MATT BOYCEVP FOR ENROLLMENT MGMT (AS OF 07/24)
Key employee
2$212,801$17,124
ERIC ALEXANDERCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
ROBERT MILLERCO-VICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
SHEILA ROBINSONCO-VICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
DOUG HERZOGSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
26 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
SCOTT GOLDENBERGBOARD MEMBER (THRU 05/25)/TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
MICHAEL MACWADETREASURER (THRU 05/2025)
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
RANDY BARBATOBOARD MEMBER (AS OF 05/2025)
Trustee or director
2$0
VIVIAN BEARDBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
TRACI BLACKWELLBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
KEVIN BRIGHTBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
ELLEN CALMASBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
LORENZO DI BONAVENTURABOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
BILL GERSHBOARD MEMBER (AS OF 05/2025)
Trustee or director
2$0
LIZ DALY GERSHBOARD MEMBER (AS OF 05/2025)
Trustee or director
2$0
IRA GOLDSTONEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
SETH GRAHAME-SMITHBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
DOUGLAS HOLLOWAYBOARD MEMBER (THRU 05/2025)
Trustee or director
2$0
JOSEPH JOHNSON IIIBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
ADELE LIMBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
PETER LOGEBOARD MEMBER (AS OF 05/2025)
Trustee or director
2$0
KEVIN MCKEONBOARD MEMBER (AS OF 05/2025)
Trustee or director
2$0
ANDREA MONTONIBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
PAUL J MORRABOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
MAX MUTCHNICKBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
PATRICIA PEYTONBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
SAM PRESTIBOARD MEMBER (AS OF 05/2025)
Trustee or director
2$0
STEVEN SAMUELSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
SUSAN NAMM SPENCERBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
CATHY WEISSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
PETER ZAMOREBOARD MEMBER (THRU 03/2025)
Trustee or director
2$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 42 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
JAY BERNHARDTPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
40$512,601$145,042
PAUL DWORKISVP FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Officer
40$456,992$59,976
WILLIAM GILLIGANFORMER INTERIM PRESIDENT
Highest-paid employee
40$463,837$23,601
DAVID CHRISTOPHER HOWSEVP, OFFICE OF THE ARTS(THRU 11/2023)
Highest-paid employee
40$428,403$32,302
JAN ROBERTS-BRESLININT. PROVOST & VP FOR ACADEMIC AFF.
Officer
40$325,429$58,718
SPENCER KIMBALLDIR OF POLLING CENTER/ASSOC PROF
Highest-paid employee
40$275,371$43,117
ROBERT J BUTLER JRASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE
Highest-paid employee
40$259,457$46,348
SHAYA GREGORY POKUVP FOR EQUITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Highest-paid employee
40$270,028$14,096
ERIC ALEXANDERCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
KEVIN BRIGHTCO-VICE CHAIR (THRU 5/24)/BOARD MEM
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
DOUGLAS HOLLOWAYCO-VICE CHAIR (THRU 5/24)/BOARD MEM
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
ELLEN CALMASTREASURER (THRU 5/24)/BOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
ROBERT MILLERSECRETARY (THRU 5/24)/CO-VICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
SHEILA ROBINSONBOARD MEM(THRU 5/24)/CO-VICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
DOUG HERZOGBOARD MEM(THRU 5/24)/SECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
MICHAEL MACWADEBOARD MEMBER (THRU 5/24)/TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
VIVIAN BEARDBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
TRACI BLACKWELLBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DENA DAVISBOARD MEMBER (THRU 03/2024)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
VINCENT J DI BONABOARD MEMBER (THRU 05/2024)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
LORENZO DI BONAVENTURABOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
ROBERT FRIENDBOARD MEMBER (THRU 05/2024)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SCOTT GOLDENBERGBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
IRA GOLDSTONEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SETH GRAHAME-SMITHBOARD MEMBER (AS OF 05/2024)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JEFFREY D GREENHAWTBOARD MEMBER (THRU 05/2024)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
ALBERT M JAFFEBOARD MEMBER (THRU 05/2024)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JOSEPH JOHNSON IIIBOARD MEMBER (AS OF 05/2024)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
ADELE LIMBOARD MEMBER (AS OF 05/2024)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MICHAEL MARABOARD MEMBER (THRU 01/2024)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
ANDREA MONTONIBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
PAUL J MORRABOARD MEMBER (AS OF 05/2024)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MAX MUTCHNICKBOARD MEMBER (AS OF 05/2024)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
PATRICIA PEYTONBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
NATE PUSEYBOARD MEMBER (THRU 05/2024)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
STEVEN SAMUELSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
RAJ SHARMABOARD MEMBER (THRU 05/2024)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SUSAN NAMM SPENCERBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
CATHY WEISSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
PETER ZAMOREBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MARILLYN ZACHARISBOARD MEMBER (THRU 05/2024)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
CAROLINA AVELLANEDAGENERAL COUNSEL (AS OF 03/2024)
Officer
40$0$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 40 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
WILLIAM GILLIGANINTERIM PRESIDENT (THRU 05/2023)
Trustee or director, Officer
40$934,593$63,663
PAUL DWORKISVP FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Officer
40$436,023$61,211
JAN ROBERTS-BRESLININT. PROVOST & VP FOR ACADEMIC AFF.
Officer
40$308,593$58,909
RUTHANNE MADSENVP FOR ENROLLMENT MGT. (THRU 11/22)
Key employee
40$291,440$38,734
DAVID CHRISTOPHER HOWSEVP OF THE OFFICE OF THE ARTS
Highest-paid employee
40$293,271$36,864
MARGARET INGSVP, GOVT. AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Highest-paid employee
40$307,622$18,873
ANNE SHAUGHNESSYVP AND CHIEF OF STAFF
Highest-paid employee
40$251,804$56,464
SPENCER KIMBALLDIR OF POLLING CENTER/ASSOC PROF
Highest-paid employee
40$247,208$42,670
ROBERT J BUTLER JRASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE
Highest-paid employee
40$245,543$27,165
MEREDITH AINBINDERFORMER GENERAL COUNSEL
Former
40$124,782$17,267
JAY BERNHARDTPRESIDENT (AS OF 06/2023)
Trustee or director, Officer
40$0$0
ERIC ALEXANDERCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
KEVIN BRIGHTCO-VICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
DOUGLAS HOLLOWAYCO-VICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
ELLEN CALMASTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
ROBERT MILLERSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
VIVIAN BEARDBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
TRACI BLACKWELLBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
VINCENT J DI BONABOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DENA DAVISBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
LORENZO DI BONAVENTURABOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
ROBERT FRIENDBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SCOTT GOLDENBERGBOARD MEMBER (AS OF 05/2023)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
IRA GOLDSTONEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JEFFREY D GREENHAWTBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
GARY GROSSMANBOARD MEMBER (THRU 05/2023)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DOUG HERZOGBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
ALBERT M JAFFEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MICHAEL MACWADEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MICHAEL MARABOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
ANDREA MONTONIBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
PATRICIA PEYTONBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
NATE PUSEYBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SHEILA ROBINSONBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
STEVEN SAMUELSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
RAJ SHARMABOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SUSAN NAMM SPENCERBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
CATHY WEISSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
PETER ZAMOREBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MARILLYN ZACHARISBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
120 BOYLSTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02116-4611
In care of
% JONATHAN PEARSALL
Mailing address (990-N for 2021)
120 Boylston Street, Boston MA 02116
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
JAY BERNHARDT, 120 BOYLSTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 021164624
Principal officer (990-N for 2021)
Jonathan Ruest, 13 north main street, assonet MA 02702
Signed the 990
RICHARD MADONNA, VP OF FINANCE AND CFO
Phone
(617) 824-8500
Return prepared by
GRANT THORNTON ADVISORS LLC

Mission

SEE SCHEDULE O.EMERSON COLLEGE'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND ELEVATE EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTS, COMMUNICATORS, SCHOLARS, AND PROFESSIONALS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF HUMANITY. WE PURSUE THIS MISSION THROUGH WORLD-CLASS TEACHING, PRACTICE, PERFORMANCE, AND DISCOVERY THAT ARE EXPERIENTIAL, INNOVATIVE, AND INCLUSIVE.

990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • EMERSON COLLEGE'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND ELEVATE EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTS, COMMUNICATORS, SCHOLARS, AND PROFESSIONALS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF HUMANITY. WE PURSUE THIS MISSION THROUGH WORLD-CLASS TEACHING, PRACTICE, PERFORMANCE, AND DISCOVERY THAT ARE EXPERIENTIAL, INNOVATIVE, AND INCLUSIVE. THE COLLEGE EDUCATES APPROXIMATELY 3,500 UNDERGRADUATE AND 1,300 GRADUATE STUDENTS ANNUALLY - THIS YEAR FROM 50 U.S. STATES, WASHINGTON, D.C., PUERTO RICO, THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND 69 COUNTRIES. THE COLLEGE HAS MORE THAN 600 FULL AND PART-TIME FACULTY.
    Expenses $221,251,928 · grants $77,837,641 · revenue $246,768,799
  • AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES PROVIDE SERVICES FOR STUDENTS TO ENSURE THEY ARE APPROPRIATELY SUPPORTED. THESE SERVICES PREDOMINANTLY INCLUDE ROOM, BOARD, AND BOOKSTORE OPERATIONS. THEATRE OPERATIONS ARE ALSO CLASSIFIED AS AN AUXILIARY ENTERPRISE.
    Expenses $73,017,000 · revenue $66,117,355

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025June 30, 2026November 16, 2026Not due yet
2024June 30, 2025November 17, 2025990 on file
2023June 30, 2024November 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
04-1286950
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
School
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1959
Accounting year ends
June
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Education (B42)
Assets (IRS master file)
$1,162,646,095
Income (IRS master file)
$538,860,558

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990June 2025$340,234,910$348,760,928$1,162,646,095IRS
990-TJune 2025–––IRS
990June 2024$345,463,060$342,509,298$1,158,204,287IRS
990-TJune 2024–––IRS
990June 2023$331,849,178$318,980,558$1,142,841,556XML
990-TJune 2023–––IRS
990-N for 2021
Officer: Jonathan Ruest
June 30, 2022≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard
990June 2022–––IRS
990-TJune 2022–––IRS
990June 2021–––IRS
990-TJune 2021–––IRS
990June 2020–––IRS
990June 2018–––IRS
990-N for 2008
Officer: Jonathan Ruest
June 30, 2009≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 04-1286950).

Questions about EMERSON COLLEGE

What is the EIN of EMERSON COLLEGE?
The employer identification number (EIN) of EMERSON COLLEGE is 04-1286950.
Is EMERSON COLLEGE tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1959.
Are donations to EMERSON COLLEGE tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does EMERSON COLLEGE file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of EMERSON COLLEGE due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did EMERSON COLLEGE last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
Who is the principal officer of EMERSON COLLEGE?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names JAY BERNHARDT.
Who are the officers and directors of EMERSON COLLEGE?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 41 people; 11 received compensation from the organization, the highest $859,615 (JAY BERNHARDT, PRESIDENT).
How much revenue does EMERSON COLLEGE have?
On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $340,234,910, expenses of $348,760,928 and total assets of $1,162,646,095 at year end.

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