Grand Canyon University
98% goes to programs $21 to raise $100 Growing revenue
Grand Canyon University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Phoenix, Arizona, registered in 2015, with $2,009,925,571 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 98% of spending to programs.
3300 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85017 EIN 47-2507725 Since 2015
Revenue (FY2024)
$2.0B
▲ 7.4% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2024)
$2.0B
Net assets
$547.2M
Employees
12,802
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 rating98% to programs · $21 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 Grand Canyon University: 98% to programs · $21 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating3 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 Grand Canyon University: 3 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 Grand Canyon 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 Grand Canyon University: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Gcu is a premier christian university, educating people to lead and serve by providing post-secondary education services on its traditional arizona campus as well as online.
What they do
Auxiliary enterprises - auxiliary enterprises represent various business units that operate to enhance the educational experience of the university's students, including an arena, hotel, restaurants, golf course, and campus/online shops.
Contact & location
- Address
- 3300 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85017
- City
- Phoenix
- State
- Arizona
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Colleges & Universities
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $1.7B (FY2018) to $2.0B (FY2024) across 7 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $1.5BNet assets $547.2M
Operating margin
1.8%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$2.1B
Total liabilities
$1.5B
Net assets
$547.2M
Salaries & benefits
$304.9M
15% of expenses
Board members
8
5 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,009,925,571▲7.4% | $1,974,185,329▲7.5% | $547,174,669▲7.0% | $2,090,273,231▲2.1% | 990 |
| 2023 | $1,870,735,835▲10.8% | $1,836,959,828▲10.3% | $511,402,113▲7.1% | $2,047,713,640▲0.9% | 990 |
| 2022 | $1,688,317,236▲2.6% | $1,665,639,619▲1.9% | $477,626,106▲5.0% | $2,029,077,541▲3.3% | 990 |
| 2021 | $1,645,639,814▲3.6% | $1,633,843,789▲5.0% | $454,948,489▲2.7% | $1,965,149,910▲7.3% | 990 |
| 2020 | $1,588,609,610▲8.1% | $1,556,197,920▲7.5% | $443,152,464▲7.9% | $1,831,364,701▲9.3% | 990 |
| 2019 | $1,470,193,710▼13.9% | $1,447,124,091▲9.6% | $410,740,774▲6.0% | $1,676,203,892▲1.7% | 990 |
| 2018 | $1,708,190,506 | $1,320,519,351 | $387,671,155 | $1,647,641,748 | 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 (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Bryce Drew — $1,726,205 (0.09% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Drew | Head Basketball Coach | 40 | $1,726,205 |
| Daniel Majerle | Former Head Basketball Coach | 0 | $1,000,000 |
| Brian Mueller | President | 20 | $799,495 |
| Randall Gibb | Provost | 40 | $606,652 |
| Jennifer Lech | Vice Provost | 40 | $539,497 |
| Junette West | Cfo/treasurer | 40 | $483,772 |
| Timothy Griffin | Dean of Students | 40 | $416,762 |
| Raymond Kaselonis | Cao/general Counsel/secretary | 40 | $394,537 |
| Taylor Gober | Vp For Advancement | 40 | $386,032 |
| Kenneth Wooden | Dean, College of Natural Sciences | 40 | $382,332 |
| Jerry Colangelo | Director | 0.5 | $127,712 |
| Fred Miller | Chairman of the Board | 0.5 | $10,000 |
| Jim Rice | Director | 0.5 | $10,000 |
| Lupita Hightower | Director | 0.5 | $10,000 |
| Marion Kelly | Director | 0.5 | $10,000 |
| Peggy Chase | Director | 0.5 | $10,000 |
| Dave Donaldson | Director (term 04/2025) | 0.5 | $2,500 |
| Mike Ingram | Director | 0.5 | $2,500 |
| Shawn Boskie | Director | 0.5 | $2,500 |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon Education Inc | Support Services | $1,001,654,352 |
| Sodexo Inc & Affiliates | Food Service | $42,338,754 |
| Pono Construction LLC | Construction | $33,179,165 |
| Gombos Leyton PC | Legal | $4,130,390 |
| Lester Hospitality - Chandler LLC | Hospitality | $1,677,146 |
Grants received · $3.3M total
31 grants to Grand Canyon University totaling $3.3M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $185,538 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Colleges and universities | 2024 | $50,400 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2024 | $45,000 |
| Signatry Charitable Trust | Education | 2024 | $20,000 |
| Arizona Community Foundation | Scholarship/tafolla lopez, guadalupe | 2024 | $18,650 |
| South Dakota Community Foundation | Education | 2024 | $11,400 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $10,103 |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association | Grants/scholarships | 2023 | $720,507 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2023 | $56,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $35,300 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Education | 2023 | $15,100 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2023 | $14,500 |
| Servant Foundation | Education | 2023 | $10,000 |
| Arizona Community Foundation | General support | 2023 | $7,600 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2023 | $5,000 |
Grants made · $262K in FY2024
4 grants totaling $262K in FY2024. All grants made by Grand Canyon University →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Habitiat For Humanity International Inc | In support of their mission | $150,000 |
| Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inc 1150 West Columbus Ave | In support of their mission | $75,000 |
| Barry Goldwater Institute For Public Policy Research | In support of their mission | $25,000 |
| Fiesta Events Inc | In support of their mission | $12,360 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Grand Canyon University a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Grand Canyon University is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 47-2507725, based in Phoenix, Arizona. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Grand Canyon University's EIN?
- Grand Canyon University's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 47-2507725.
- How much revenue does Grand Canyon University report?
- Grand Canyon University reported $2,009,925,571 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Grand Canyon University's spending goes to programs?
- Grand Canyon University spends about 98% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Grand Canyon University have?
- CharityIndex grades Grand Canyon University A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Grand Canyon University's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Grand Canyon University's latest Form 990 is $1,726,205, paid to Bryce Drew (Head Basketball Coach).
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Explore more
Data for Grand Canyon University (EIN 47-2507725) 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.