Executive Compensation at Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame (the legal name is the “University of Notre Dame du Lac” but more often referred to as “Notre Dame”) is a Catholic teaching university in South Bend, Indiana and a non-profit 501 (c) 3. With 12,400 students (8,500 undergraduate and 3,900 graduate students), Notre Dame is one of the most well-known religious-affiliated universities in the country.

The annual undergraduate cost is approximately $74,000 annually or about $300,000 for four (4) years.  However, the most recent IRS Form 990’s (for the years ending June 30, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017).  However, it is important to note that over the past 4 years, Notre Dame reported approximately $2 billion a year in revenue and spent about $1.5 billion, leaving about $500 million to be added to the endowment annually although in 2014 and 2015, the unspent revenue was closer to $700 million and $800 million, respectively). This appears to be because of the many sources of revenue – tuition, contributions, investment income, gains on the sale of assets, auxiliary enterprises, government grants, and more.

Notre Dame reported 18,513 total employees in 2017 who collectively were compensated $711 million, which equates to an average compensation of $38,400 (compare this to $45,800 at Georgetown, $37,900 at DePaul University, $41,700 at Boston College, $40,000 at Villanova, $40,500 at Seton Hall, and $28,800 at Marquette and Saint Leo). 1,175 individuals were compensated more than $100,000 with the 13 most highly compensated listed below:

• $6,191,631:  Scott C Malpass, VP and Chief Investment Officer
• $2,754,303:  Michael D Donavan, Managing Director, Investments
• $2,732,629:  Thomas G Burish, Provost and Trustee
• $2,129,638:  Brian Kelly, Head Coach, Football
• $1,611,908:  John B Swarbrick, Jr, Athletic Director
• $1,395,398:  Muffet McGraw, Head Coach, Basketball
• $1,270,838:  Michael P Brey, Head Coach, Basketball
• $1,195,289:  Brian VanGorder, Ass’t Coach/Coordinator, Football
• $1,056,872:  Rev John I Jenkins, President and Trustee
• $  854,467:  John F Affleck-Graves, EVP and Trustee
• $  594,235:  Mananne Corr, VP and General Counsel
• $  212,000:  Rev Timothy R Scully, Professor and Trustee
• $  198,489:  Rev Austin Collins, Professor and Trustee

Of the 13 most highly compensated individuals, 11 (or 85%) are male, while 2 (or 15%) are female.  The 5 most highly compensated individuals are male. The compensation to three individuals – Jenkins, Scully, and Collins – was paid to their religious order, the Congregation of Holly Cross.

The IRS Form 990 also indicates the following:

Notre Dame paid for first class or charter travel (to 13 persons) and travel for companions (to 5 persons). Notre Dame also paid tax indemnification and gross up payments (to 9 persons), provided housing allowance or residence for personal use, and paid for health or social club dues or initiation fees (to 6 persons). To read the detail about these expenses, go to the IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III Supplemental Information.

Notre Dame reported $11.8 billion in net fund assets at year-end. Over the past five years, $500 – $800 million has been added (from revenue not spent) to the net fund assets.

A termination payment of $257,074 was paid to Brian VanGorder under a separation agreement.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2016) for the year ending June 30, 2017, click here.