Harding University
501(c)(3) Donations tax-deductible
89% goes to programs $9 to raise $100 Strong reserves Declining revenue
Harding University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Searcy, Arkansas, registered in 1959, with $128,859,823 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 89% of spending to programs.
915 E Market Ave Hu10772, Searcy, AR, 72149 EIN 71-0236896 Since 1959
Revenue (FY2023)
$128.9M
▲ 12.5% vs prior year
Expenses (FY2023)
$130.4M
Net assets
$403.1M
Employees
2,754
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 rating89% to programs · $9 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 Harding University: 89% to programs · $9 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating37 mo reserves · -1% 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 Harding University: 37 mo reserves · -1% 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 Harding 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 Harding University: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Show this grade on your website
A live seal — it updates automatically when the grade changes and links donors to this verified profile.
Mission
With christ as lord, harding university transforms learners for global impact by engaging minds and nuturing faith within a deeply connected community.
What they do
Room and board - the university provides housing in newly renovated residence halls and apartments as well as high quality meals in a cafeteria and student center.
Student services support - all activities necessary for a healthy and thriving educational environment including library services, athletics, counseling services, educational assistance, registrar and admissions.
Contact & location
Financial trends
Revenue declined from $160.7M (FY2013) to $128.9M (FY2023) across 8 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $73.8MNet assets $403.1M
Operating margin
-1.2%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$476.8M
Total liabilities
$73.8M
Net assets
$403.1M
Salaries & benefits
$69.6M
53% of expenses
Board members
21
14 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $128,859,823▲12.5% | $130,359,326▲3.8% | $403,081,581▼0.4% | $476,835,961▲0.2% | 990 |
| 2022 | $114,513,535▼10.9% | $125,587,337▲2.0% | $404,581,084▼2.7% | $475,682,750▲0.9% | 990 |
| 2021 | $128,532,309▼26.2% | $123,107,984▲9.8% | $415,654,892▲1.3% | $471,532,681▲0.3% | 990 |
| 2020 | $174,161,667▲3.0% | $112,152,359▼26.5% | $410,230,567▲35.4% | $470,222,822▲22.8% | 990 |
| 2016 | $169,097,469▲7.1% | $152,543,882▲1.7% | $303,018,678▲5.8% | $382,956,407▲2.0% | 990 |
| 2015 | $157,910,490▲0.9% | $150,042,029▲2.1% | $286,536,910▲2.8% | $375,303,717▲1.4% | 990 |
| 2014 | $156,472,089▼2.7% | $146,895,332▲1.2% | $278,668,449▲3.6% | $370,125,230▲4.1% | 990 |
| 2013 | $160,742,492 | $145,116,266▲4.1% | $269,091,692▲6.2% | $355,563,527▲2.5% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $139,353,277▲4.0% | $253,465,466▲4.3% | $346,902,626▲5.7% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $133,987,992▲6.2% | $243,102,306▲2.0% | $328,329,644▲6.9% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $126,217,352▲5.7% | $238,416,546▲5.9% | $307,055,126▲5.4% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $119,461,720 | $225,030,335 | $291,441,668 | 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: Michael Williams — $288,056 (0.22% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Williams | President | 40 | $288,056 |
| Jean-noel Thompson | Executive Vice President | 40 | $168,642 |
| Julie Hixson-wallace | Dean College of Pharmacy | 40 | $163,481 |
| Michael Mcgalliard | Dean Cah/assoc Provost Hs | 40 | $155,119 |
| Marty Spears | Provost | 40 | $152,455 |
| Tamara Hall | Secretary/treasurer | 40 | $145,545 |
| Paul Simmons | Head Football Coach | 40 | $133,704 |
| Rayanne Story | Assoc Pro/associate Dean Pharmacy | 40 | $120,452 |
| Debbie Knight | Prof/chs Ipe/co-curr Co | 40 | $108,887 |
| Amy Emerson | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Charles Ganus | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Craig Cheatham | Board Member | 1 | — |
| David Waldron | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Harold Redd | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Harrell Freeman | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Howard Wright | Board Member | 1 | — |
| James Cone | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Jim Holsombake | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Joe Wild | Board Member | 1 | — |
| John Reese | Board Member | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Chartwells Food Service | Residential Food Service | $6,586,560 |
| Flynco | Construction | $5,635,585 |
| Aramark Facility Services | Janitorial | $1,919,786 |
| Quality Roofing Contractors | Construction | $806,624 |
| Harvey Sheetmetal Inc | Construction | $778,201 |
Grants received · $31.8M total
167 grants to Harding University totaling $31.8M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation Inc | To support the walton international scholarship program at harding university for the freshman classes of 2022, 2023, 2024. | 2024 | $1,484,288 |
| The Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation Inc | To support the walton international scholarship program at harding university for the freshman classes of 2019, 2020, and 2021. | 2024 | $1,318,227 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Colleges and universities | 2024 | $626,202 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $195,000 |
| Christian Community Foundation of Memphis and the Mid-south Inc | Mental health | 2024 | $150,000 |
| Arkansas Community Foundation Inc | Fall 2024 scholarship tuition and book payments (see attachments) | 2024 | $99,263 |
| Signatry Charitable Trust | Education | 2024 | $90,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $62,661 |
| Arkansas Community Foundation Inc | Spring 2025 scholarship tuition and book payments (see attachments) | 2024 | $42,631 |
| Paypal Charitable Giving Fund | General support | 2024 | $32,480 |
| Giveclear Foundation | Program support | 2024 | $31,000 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2024 | $30,000 |
| Arkansas Community Foundation Inc | Spring 2025 scholarship tuition and book payments (see attachments) | 2024 | $22,932 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $18,099 |
| American Gift Fund | Operations | 2024 | $15,000 |
Grants made · $261K in FY2023
7 grants totaling $261K in FY2023. All grants made by Harding University →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| World Bible School | Mission work | $112,978 |
| College Church of Christ | Mission work | $56,398 |
| West Side Church of Christ | Mission work | $40,000 |
| Cloverdale Church of Christ | Mission work | $30,000 |
| Truth For Today | Mission work | $10,000 |
| Gadsen Church of Christ | Mission work | $5,778 |
| Sunset International Bible Institute | Mission work | $5,383 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is Harding University a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Harding University is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 71-0236896, based in Searcy, Arkansas. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Harding University's EIN?
- Harding University's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 71-0236896.
- How much revenue does Harding University report?
- Harding University reported $128,859,823 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Harding University's spending goes to programs?
- Harding University spends about 89% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Harding University have?
- CharityIndex grades Harding University A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Harding University's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Harding University's latest Form 990 is $288,056, paid to Michael Williams (President).
More nonprofits in Searcy
Explore more
Data for Harding University (EIN 71-0236896) 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.