Fisk University
64% goes to programs $4 to raise $100 Strong reserves
Fisk University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Nashville, Tennessee, registered in 1934, with $61,439,408 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 64% of spending to programs.
1000 17th Ave N, Nashville, TN, 37208 EIN 62-0202000 Since 1934
Revenue (FY2023)
$61.4M
▲ 9.4% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2023)
$59.4M
Net assets
$169.4M
Employees
630
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
BProgram efficiency40% of the rating64% to programs · $4 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 Fisk University: 64% to programs · $4 to raise $100 earns a B on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating34 mo reserves · +3% 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 Fisk University: 34 mo reserves · +3% margin earns a A 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 Fisk University: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
ATransparency10% of the rating4 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 Fisk University: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Fisk university produces graduates from diverse backgrounds with the integrity and intellect required for substantive contributions to society.
Contact & location
- Address
- 1000 17th Ave N, Nashville, TN, 37208
- City
- Nashville
- State
- Tennessee
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Colleges & Universities
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $32.8M (FY2013) to $61.4M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $64.4MNet assets $169.4M
Operating margin
3.3%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$233.9M
Total liabilities
$64.4M
Net assets
$169.4M
Salaries & benefits
$18.8M
32% of expenses
Board members
16
15 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $61,439,408▲9.4% | $59,429,447▲7.6% | $169,406,746▲2.4% | $233,851,318▲16.4% | 990 |
| 2022 | $56,177,115▼4.0% | $55,246,168▲14.0% | $165,471,084▲1.4% | $200,857,800▲10.6% | 990 |
| 2021 | $58,504,715▲7.4% | $48,452,507▲14.0% | $163,212,123▲4.7% | $181,684,993▲3.7% | 990 |
| 2020 | $54,477,071▲7.6% | $42,507,733▲4.2% | $155,911,087▲10.8% | $175,139,464▲10.0% | 990 |
| 2019 | $50,629,533▲10.3% | $40,777,770▲2.4% | $140,763,435▲25.2% | $159,157,685▲23.1% | 990 |
| 2018 | $45,907,896▲21.4% | $39,810,124▲3.5% | $112,423,127▲3.8% | $129,270,142▲1.7% | 990 |
| 2017 | $37,809,090▼5.0% | $38,448,443▼0.5% | $108,339,293▲0.1% | $127,113,080▲2.2% | 990 |
| 2016 | $39,803,441▼4.6% | $38,650,148▼3.5% | $108,254,645▲1.9% | $124,429,651▲2.4% | 990 |
| 2015 | $41,714,185▲15.8% | $40,068,725▼1.2% | $106,285,093▲1.4% | $121,551,837▲1.2% | 990 |
| 2014 | $36,029,860▲9.8% | $40,568,177▲24.5% | $104,864,434▲2.3% | $120,089,368▲5.4% | 990 |
| 2013 | $32,811,290 | $32,580,609▲6.8% | $102,505,843▲24.9% | $113,982,813▲20.5% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $30,494,129▼0.4% | $82,043,150▲0.4% | $94,619,702▼4.3% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $30,629,442▲8.5% | $81,709,192▼7.7% | $98,829,068▼8.1% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $28,229,783 | $88,514,410 | $107,539,550 | 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: Jens Frederiksen — $208,595 (0.35% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jens Frederiksen | Sr. Vp For Instit. Adv. & | 40 | $208,595 |
| Duncan Pelly | Professor - Chair of Business | 40 | $193,446 |
| Arnold Burger | Professor | 40 | $181,967 |
| Norman Jones | Cfo/vice President of Fina | 40 | $171,099 |
| Robert Carr | Provost/vice President of | 40 | $170,194 |
| Sufyan Baksh | Professor & Exec Dir of Innovation | 40 | $168,080 |
| Marlon Thomas | Assistant Professor | 40 | $141,041 |
| Isaac Thompson | Program Director of Stem | 40 | $140,268 |
| Brian Nelms | Dean, School of Natural Sciences, Math, & Business | 40 | $131,726 |
| Steven M Damo | Assistant Professor | 40 | $128,509 |
| Natara Garvin | Vice President of Student | 40 | $123,128 |
| Shieila Smith | Associate Vp For Inst. Adv | 40 | $118,532 |
| Jamaal Sheats | Associate Provost | 40 | $118,000 |
| Reginald Amerson | Associate Vice President O | 40 | $115,400 |
| Edward Brian Garner | Director of It | 40 | $115,237 |
| Qingxia Li | Associate Professor | 40 | $105,496 |
| Tdka Kilimanjaro | Assoc Provost Institutional Accred., Eff., & Asses | 40 | $103,940 |
| Sajid Hussain | Director of Sponsored Programs | 40 | $102,774 |
| Shirley Brown | Professor | 40 | $101,707 |
| Angenia Clark | President | 40 | $83,022 |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Construction Services LLC | Contract Services | $7,431,568 |
| Sodexo Inc & Affiliates | Contract Services | $4,335,510 |
| Aramark Corporation Contract | Contract Services | $3,036,861 |
| Broussard Mechanical Inc | Contract Services | $1,556,090 |
| Interstate Ac | Contract Services | $1,537,248 |
Grants received · $30.6M total
171 grants to Fisk University totaling $30.6M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Negro College Fund Inc | Grants & scholarships, tech assist, area office joint campaign | 2024 | $1,472,955 |
| Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc | Education | 2024 | $1,000,000 |
| Winston-salem Foundation | 1 grant(s) for varying purposes | 2024 | $850,000 |
| The Community Fdn of Middle Tn Inc | Annual designated fund distribution: restricted for support of the fund established exclusively for the care of the alfred stieglitz collection | 2024 | $203,306 |
| Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Inc | For general scholarship support. | 2024 | $167,000 |
| The Community Fdn of Middle Tn Inc | Gift from class of 1974 in support of their 50th reunion in 2024. (list of class members and their contributions to be sent separately. there is one additional deposit expected after this to include last minute contributions. | 2024 | $122,600 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $44,134 |
| The Community Fdn of Middle Tn Inc | The fisk fund c/o mary f. dromgoole advancement services | 2024 | $10,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $6,736 |
| The Community Fdn of Middle Tn Inc | For unrestricted use. | 2024 | $5,000 |
| United Negro College Fund Inc | Grants & scholarships, tech assist, area office joint campaign | 2023 | $1,336,577 |
| The Community Fdn of Middle Tn Inc | Designated for fisk athletic programs | 2023 | $500,000 |
| The Community Fdn of Middle Tn Inc | Annual distribution to support care of alfred stieglitz collection (restricted account). please notify reginald amerson and jamaal sheats of this gift. | 2023 | $205,431 |
| Goldman Sachs Charitable Gift Fund | Educational programs & other student svc | 2023 | $200,000 |
| Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Inc | For general scholarship support. | 2023 | $167,000 |
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Compare Fisk University
Frequently asked questions
- Is Fisk University a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Fisk University is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 62-0202000, based in Nashville, Tennessee. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Fisk University's EIN?
- Fisk University's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 62-0202000.
- How much revenue does Fisk University report?
- Fisk University reported $61,439,408 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Fisk University's spending goes to programs?
- Fisk University spends about 64% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Fisk University have?
- CharityIndex grades Fisk University A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Fisk University's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Fisk University's latest Form 990 is $208,595, paid to Jens Frederiksen (Sr. Vp For Instit. Adv. &).
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Data for Fisk University (EIN 62-0202000) 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.