Central College
88% goes to programs $41 to raise $100 Strong reserves
Central College is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Pella, Iowa, registered in 1939, with $51,726,412 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it B, and it directs about 88% of spending to programs.
812 University St, Pella, IA, 50219 EIN 42-0680344 Since 1939
Revenue (FY2023)
$51.7M
▲ 2.9% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2023)
$53.9M
Net assets
$106.0M
Employees
1,336
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
B
CProgram efficiency40% of the rating88% to programs · $41 to raise $100
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 Central College: 88% to programs · $41 to raise $100 earns a C on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
B+Financial health25% of the rating24 mo reserves · -4% margin
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 Central College: 24 mo reserves · -4% margin earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
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 Central College: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
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 Central College: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Central college is a private liberal arts institution dedicated to the four year undergraduate experience.
What they do
Provided room and board on a residential campus to 1,006 students living in residential units and 994 students with board contracts.
Expenses related to providing personal services and activities for students at a residential college, including counseling, extra-curricular activities, wellness, admissions, and student government.
Government-sponsored trio programs - expenses of federal grant program
Contact & location
- Address
- 812 University St, Pella, IA, 50219
- City
- Pella
- State
- Iowa
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Colleges & Universities
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue declined from $69.2M (FY2013) to $51.7M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $70.2MNet assets $106.0M
Operating margin
-4.1%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$176.3M
Total liabilities
$70.2M
Net assets
$106.0M
Salaries & benefits
$23.0M
43% of expenses
Board members
40
40 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $51,726,412▲2.9% | $53,858,135▼1.0% | $106,020,074▼0.7% | $176,265,625▼1.1% | 990 |
| 2022 | $50,261,534▼0.7% | $54,375,050▲6.3% | $106,750,667▼7.0% | $178,143,243▼5.1% | 990 |
| 2021 | $50,607,367▼3.4% | $51,154,042▲1.5% | $114,764,489▼5.8% | $187,622,625▼4.2% | 990 |
| 2020 | $52,413,154▼19.8% | $50,392,592▼29.0% | $121,874,490▲18.6% | $195,820,230▲7.6% | 990 |
| 2019 | $65,374,610▼5.7% | $70,929,384▲1.7% | $102,739,650▼6.5% | $182,044,293▼1.9% | 990 |
| 2018 | $69,348,263▲2.6% | $69,776,345▼2.1% | $109,920,812▼2.7% | $185,528,700▼1.0% | 990 |
| 2017 | $67,571,678▲3.0% | $71,278,026▲2.5% | $112,968,981▼0.2% | $187,395,705▲0.7% | 990 |
| 2016 | $65,577,407▼6.1% | $69,569,852▲1.1% | $113,200,731▼6.0% | $186,156,341▼0.2% | 990 |
| 2015 | $69,812,868▼6.9% | $68,786,220▼1.4% | $120,469,415▼5.3% | $186,452,005▼3.9% | 990 |
| 2014 | $74,977,626▲8.3% | $69,797,022▲6.6% | $127,277,698▲2.0% | $194,072,252▲1.2% | 990 |
| 2013 | $69,208,345 | $65,451,469▼2.0% | $124,822,541▲9.3% | $191,727,699▲5.0% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $66,772,548▲40.0% | $114,175,827▲5.2% | $182,622,011▲1.2% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $47,702,556▲3.3% | $108,544,164▼6.9% | $180,403,041▼3.0% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $46,197,756▲6.0% | $116,647,609▲9.5% | $186,036,464▲4.5% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $43,599,797 | $106,564,648 | $178,102,693 | 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.
Leadership & compensation (FY2023)
Highest-paid: Mark Putnam — $279,236 (0.52% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Putnam | President | 40 | $279,236 |
| Mary Strey | Vp Academics | 40 | $202,637 |
| Karen Tumlinson | Vp Finance & | 40 | $167,406 |
| Sunny Eighmy | Vp Developme | 40 | $155,385 |
| Chevy Freiburger | Vp Enrollmen | 40 | $139,673 |
| Jeff Mcmartin | Football Coa | 40 | $126,411 |
| Eric Van Kley | Athletic Dir | 40 | $113,498 |
| Andrew Green | Director of | 40 | $107,853 |
| Amy Eilers | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Barbara Pettit | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Bernadette Allen | Vice Chair O | 1 | — |
| Chad Huyser | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Christine Ieuter | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Daniel De Cook | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Dave Smith | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Deanna Ver Steeg | Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Donna Smith | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Harry Smith | Trustee | 1 | — |
| James Griffith | Trustee | 1 | — |
| James Israel | Trustee | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Ellucian Company LP | Software | $324,780 |
| Nationwide Office Cleaners | Building Srvcs | $167,846 |
| Universal Protection Service LP | Security | $158,023 |
| Ruffalo Noel Levitz | Consultant | $116,979 |
| Capture LLC | Consultant | $103,525 |
Grants received · $4.6M total
124 grants to Central College totaling $4.6M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Central College a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Central College is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 42-0680344, based in Pella, Iowa. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Central College's EIN?
- Central College's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 42-0680344.
- How much revenue does Central College report?
- Central College reported $51,726,412 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Central College's spending goes to programs?
- Central College spends about 88% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Central College have?
- CharityIndex grades Central College B, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Central College's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Central College's latest Form 990 is $279,236, paid to Mark Putnam (President).
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Data for Central College (EIN 42-0680344) 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.