Bethel University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, registered in 1997, with $138,482,716 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 74% of spending to programs.
Revenue (FY2024)
$138.5M
▲ 8.9% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2024)
$132.3M
Net assets
$172.1M
Employees
2,223
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Bethel University: 74% to programs · $8 to raise $100 earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Bethel University: 16 mo reserves · +4% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Bethel University: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Bethel University: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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To educate and energize men and women for excellence in leadership, scholarship and service.
Academic support services:services including but not limited to: bethel university library, office of university registrar, information technology services, health services, counseling center, and athletics.
Auxiliary services:services including but not limited to: student housing, food service, campus store.
Revenue held steady from $138.4M (FY2013) to $138.5M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Operating margin
4.5%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$251.0M
Total liabilities
$78.9M
Net assets
$172.1M
Salaries & benefits
$51.3M
39% of expenses
Board members
29
28 independent
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $138,482,716▲8.9% | $132,261,620▲5.7% | $172,147,422▲7.3% | $251,026,001▲6.5% | 990 |
| 2023 | $127,136,085▲1.8% | $125,158,728▼0.4% | $160,361,765▲13.5% | $235,708,441▲6.7% | 990 |
| 2022 | $124,922,475▼23.8% | $125,612,255▼8.5% | $141,239,088▼0.4% | $220,920,531▼2.7% | 990 |
| 2021 | $163,942,333▲19.9% | $137,330,745▼2.1% | $141,830,839▲19.9% | $227,108,582▲7.8% | 990 |
| 2020 | $136,689,038▼6.9% | $140,321,203▼2.0% | $118,327,510▲37.7% | $210,773,506▲2.1% | 990 |
| 2019 | $146,758,836▲4.6% | $143,225,963▲0.2% | $85,911,208▼11.1% | $206,434,060▲4.5% | 990 |
| 2018 | $140,267,855▼1.0% | $142,962,869▼0.4% | $96,683,236▼10.4% | $197,570,130▼3.4% | 990 |
| 2017 | $141,706,321▲0.5% | $143,474,824▲5.0% | $107,861,325▲3.2% | $204,441,760▲1.8% | 990 |
| 2016 | $141,040,214▼5.0% | $136,630,509▼4.8% | $104,473,137▲13.1% | $200,781,750▲2.8% | 990 |
| 2015 | $148,396,272▼0.1% | $143,481,996▲8.4% | $92,358,997▼1.1% | $195,247,484▲0.3% | 990 |
| 2014 | $148,524,808▲7.3% | $132,401,452▼0.5% | $93,386,135▲4.1% | $194,664,119▲12.1% | 990 |
| 2013 | $138,397,769 | $133,098,336▼3.7% | $89,694,663▲5.2% | $173,692,433▲2.2% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $138,213,257▲3.0% | $85,287,660▲39.5% | $170,022,766▲5.5% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $134,181,940▲9.5% | $61,116,272▼20.1% | $161,185,281▲0.3% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $122,516,619▼2.2% | $76,490,384▲23.2% | $160,711,142▲6.9% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $125,325,937 | $62,109,852 | $150,323,044 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Highest-paid: Ross Allen — $350,639 (0.27% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ross Allen | President | 40 | $350,639 |
| Rahn Franklin | Vp of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion | 40 | $174,519 |
| Robin Rylaarsdam | University Provost | 40 | $174,519 |
| Joel Costa | Cfo & Vp Finance & Operations | 40 | $161,496 |
| Mark Hintz | Vp of Transformational Giving | 40 | $158,149 |
| Michael Freer | Chief Human Resources Officer | 40 | $156,533 |
| Chuck Broz | Hvac, Plumbing & Electric Supervisor | 40 | $151,405 |
| Paul Mcginnis | Vp of Marketing & Enrollment | 40 | $150,679 |
| Cynthia Goetz | Physician Assistant Program Director | 40 | $141,014 |
| Jeanne Osgood | Chief of Staff | 40 | $139,375 |
| Alan Johnson | Chair | 5 | — |
| Andrea Schilling | Vice-chair | 5 | — |
| Ann Tschetter | Trustee | 5 | — |
| Chris Meidt | Trustee | 5 | — |
| Daniel Lindh | Trustee | 5 | — |
| David Edgerton Jr | Trustee | 5 | — |
| Dawn Marcus | Trustee | 5 | — |
| Gasby Brown | Trustee | 5 | — |
| George Soltero | Trustee | 5 | — |
| Jim Green | Trustee | 5 | — |
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Sodexo America LLC | Food Service Management | $6,119,300 |
| Dynamic Campus Solutions Inc | Its Management | $3,857,782 |
| Modern Climate LLC | Marketing | $2,696,657 |
| Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors | Constructon/remodeling | $1,101,979 |
| Slingshot LP | Campus Store Management | $937,678 |
113 grants to Bethel University totaling $10.6M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Colleges and universities | 2024 | $665,950 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $60,943 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $44,861 |
| Minneapolis Foundation | Donor advised, education | 2024 | $30,856 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2024 | $15,200 |
| Thrivent Financial For Lutherans | General support | 2024 | $10,468 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Growth | 2023 | $411,050 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Education | 2023 | $218,160 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $213,772 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2023 | $33,693 |
| Minneapolis Foundation | Donor-advised, education | 2023 | $30,093 |
| The Us Charitable Gift Trust | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2023 | $27,000 |
| Servant Foundation | Education | 2023 | $11,000 |
| National Philanthropic Tr | Religion | 2023 | $8,685 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | Scholarships | 2023 | $7,500 |
1 grant totaling $166K in FY2024. All grants made by Bethel University →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bethel University Foundation | General operating | $165,605 |
Explore more
Data for Bethel University (EIN 41-0708577) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.