Gardner-webb University
87% goes to programs $7 to raise $100 Strong reserves
Gardner-webb University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Boiling Spgs, North Carolina, registered in 2000, with $101,871,457 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 87% of spending to programs.
Po Box 997, Boiling Spgs, NC, 28017 EIN 56-0529972 Since 2000
Revenue (FY2023)
$101.9M
▲ 4.6% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2023)
$99.9M
Net assets
$134.1M
Employees
1,435
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
AProgram efficiency40% of the rating87% to programs · $7 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 Gardner-webb University: 87% to programs · $7 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating16 mo reserves · +2% 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 Gardner-webb University: 16 mo reserves · +2% 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 Gardner-webb University: 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 Gardner-webb University: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Gardner-webb university, a private, christian, baptist-related university, provides outstanding undergraduate and graduate education that is strongly grounded in the liberal arts while offering opportunities to prepare for various professions. fostering meaningful intellectual thought, critical analysis, and spiritual challenge within a diverse community of learning, gardner-webb is dedicated to higher education that integrates scholarship with christian life. by embracing faith and intellectual freedom, balancing conviction with compassion, and inspiring a love of learning, service, and leadership, gardner-webb prepares its graduates to make significant contributions for god and humanity in an ever-changing global community.
What they do
The university awarded approximately $28.5m in university grants during the '17-18 year.
Contact & location
- Address
- Po Box 997, Boiling Spgs, NC, 28017
- City
- Boiling Spgs
- State
- North Carolina
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Colleges & Universities
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $83.6M (FY2013) to $101.9M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $32.0MNet assets $134.1M
Operating margin
2.0%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$166.1M
Total liabilities
$32.0M
Net assets
$134.1M
Salaries & benefits
$34.9M
35% of expenses
Board members
28
27 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $101,871,457▲4.6% | $99,861,154▲0.6% | $134,052,697▲6.4% | $166,069,640▲7.7% | 990 |
| 2022 | $97,349,269▼5.6% | $99,286,236▲0.5% | $125,993,267▲2.5% | $154,233,950▲0.4% | 990 |
| 2021 | $103,135,532▲2.2% | $98,819,790▲3.7% | $122,929,635▼6.5% | $153,582,895▼6.1% | 990 |
| 2020 | $100,956,877▲10.4% | $95,283,903▲0.8% | $131,515,034▲13.7% | $163,499,840▲8.7% | 990 |
| 2019 | $91,458,586▼2.4% | $94,505,307▲2.3% | $115,667,968▼5.1% | $150,371,986▼4.6% | 990 |
| 2018 | $93,664,938▲4.7% | $92,406,249▲2.3% | $121,887,250▲2.6% | $157,622,923▲2.5% | 990 |
| 2017 | $89,470,793▼4.6% | $90,317,230▼4.2% | $118,802,223▲0.9% | $153,722,632▼1.8% | 990 |
| 2016 | $93,783,243▲6.1% | $94,291,764▲10.1% | $117,799,178▲1.9% | $156,510,328▼0.4% | 990 |
| 2015 | $88,353,491▲5.5% | $85,603,782▲5.8% | $115,596,289▲0.9% | $157,106,807▼1.5% | 990 |
| 2014 | $83,777,931▲0.3% | $80,895,462▲4.4% | $114,616,137▲1.3% | $159,462,122▲4.5% | 990 |
| 2013 | $83,551,697 | $77,463,842▲3.1% | $113,113,367▲8.9% | $152,585,746▲5.0% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $75,141,054▲8.1% | $103,844,770▲5.8% | $145,371,197▲2.5% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $69,484,086▲8.2% | $98,136,235▲5.2% | $141,807,699▲1.5% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $64,192,823▲9.5% | $93,264,469▲17.9% | $139,747,861▲32.6% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $58,607,729 | $79,107,851 | $105,409,195 | 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: William M Downs — $511,876 (0.51% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| William M Downs | President | 40 | $511,876 |
| Andrew Goodrich | Vice President and Director of Athletics | 40 | $207,981 |
| James Craft | Head Basketball Coach | 40 | $204,362 |
| Karen Aubrey | Provost | 40 | $197,435 |
| Prince Hycy Ibidun Bull | Professor / Dean, School of Education | 40 | $174,550 |
| Tre Lamb | Head Football Coach | 40 | $166,061 |
| Archie Wood | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Ashley Lowery | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Bill Ellis | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Chris Gash | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Chris Welch | Secretary | 1 | — |
| David Brinkley | Trustee | 1 | — |
| David Royster | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Delaina Adams Jones | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Ed Cook | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Gary H Smith | Chair | 1 | — |
| George Gilliam | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Jennifer Marion Mills | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Jensen Turner | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Jesse Sprinkle | Trustee | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Aramark | Cafeteria Services | $6,510,940 |
| Morrison Contruction Company Inc | General Contractor | $2,739,249 |
| Greene Building Corporation | General Contractor | $2,430,261 |
| K12 Teachers Alliance | Recruiting Services | $1,469,081 |
| Eab | Consulting Services | $541,490 |
Grants received · $11.3M total
74 grants to Gardner-webb University totaling $11.3M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
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Compare Gardner-webb University
Frequently asked questions
- Is Gardner-webb University a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Gardner-webb University is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 56-0529972, based in Boiling Spgs, North Carolina. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Gardner-webb University's EIN?
- Gardner-webb University's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 56-0529972.
- How much revenue does Gardner-webb University report?
- Gardner-webb University reported $101,871,457 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Gardner-webb University's spending goes to programs?
- Gardner-webb University spends about 87% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Gardner-webb University have?
- CharityIndex grades Gardner-webb University A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Gardner-webb University's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Gardner-webb University's latest Form 990 is $511,876, paid to William M Downs (President).
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Explore more
Data for Gardner-webb University (EIN 56-0529972) 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.