Messiah University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, registered in 1945, with $149,665,441 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 87% of spending to programs.
Revenue (FY2023)
$149.7M
▲ 3.6% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2023)
$151.8M
Net assets
$226.6M
Employees
2,905
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 Messiah University: 87% to programs · $24 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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 Messiah University: 18 mo reserves · -1% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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 Messiah University: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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 Messiah University: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Messiah university is a christian university of the liberal and applied arts and sciences, offering undergraduate and graduate level programs.
Revenue grew from $126.0M (FY2013) to $149.7M (FY2023) across 10 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Operating margin
-1.4%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$322.3M
Total liabilities
$95.7M
Net assets
$226.6M
Salaries & benefits
$63.5M
42% of expenses
Board members
31
25 independent
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $149,665,441▲3.6% | $151,816,506▲2.0% | $226,563,470▲1.5% | $322,303,436▲3.7% | 990 |
| 2022 | $144,399,121▼4.2% | $148,812,684▲1.7% | $223,155,207▼1.1% | $310,845,655▼1.4% | 990 |
| 2021 | $150,730,448▲8.2% | $146,385,822▲1.3% | $225,588,094▼6.5% | $315,235,591▼6.5% | 990 |
| 2020 | $139,344,259▼2.1% | $144,446,377▼0.7% | $241,183,997▼1.5% | $337,144,643▲1.9% | 990 |
| 2018 | $142,322,736▼5.7% | $145,521,863▲1.6% | $244,951,366▼1.9% | $330,760,394▼2.7% | 990 |
| 2017 | $150,936,598▲5.5% | $143,265,535▲4.6% | $249,726,923▲2.5% | $339,936,919▲3.0% | 990 |
| 2016 | $143,079,714▲7.9% | $137,024,723▲3.2% | $243,717,954▲2.4% | $330,090,324▲0.3% | 990 |
| 2015 | $132,650,058▲3.5% | $132,744,339▲3.2% | $238,085,274▼2.5% | $329,187,782▲5.9% | 990 |
| 2014 | $128,108,900▲1.6% | $128,577,501▲2.2% | $244,291,510▼2.3% | $310,789,107▼2.8% | 990 |
| 2013 | $126,030,560 | $125,820,288▲3.8% | $249,965,186▲6.5% | $319,850,172▲5.9% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $121,222,641▲4.4% | $234,675,820▲3.2% | $302,155,446▲0.8% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $116,155,443▲3.0% | $227,361,333▼2.8% | $299,844,662▼2.2% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $112,756,121▲4.8% | $233,945,817▲14.4% | $306,711,739▲8.1% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $107,548,209 | $204,504,371 | $283,826,412 | 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.
Highest-paid: Kim S Phipps — $552,952 (0.36% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kim S Phipps | President | 40 | $552,952 |
| Gary Paul Nowicki | Vp Finance A | 40 | $224,902 |
| Alison Noble | Interim Prov | 40 | $166,087 |
| Jon Stuckey | Vp Advanceme | 40 | $161,884 |
| Amanda A Coffey | Vp Hr | 40 | $155,703 |
| Karl Bergmann | Director Gra | 40 | $154,362 |
| John A Chopka | Vp Enrollmen | 40 | $153,913 |
| Kathrynne G Shafer | Vp Operation | 40 | $150,415 |
| Robert C Pepper | Asst To Pres | 40 | $138,184 |
| Alan Robinson | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Andrew Samuel | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Anthony H Hahn | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Anthony J Schiano | Treasurer, T | 2 | — |
| Barbara A Avery | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Chuck Hoober | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Craig E Sider | Chair, Trust | 2 | — |
| David H Millary | Vice Chair, | 2 | — |
| Edward P Nevin | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Eunice F Steinbrecher | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Garret W Larsen | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Pyramid Construction Services | Construction | $2,063,880 |
| Witmer Restoration LLC | Construction | $655,248 |
| Derck Edson Associates LLC | Architect | $416,483 |
| Edwin L Heim Company | Construction | $298,241 |
| Wolf's Bus Lines Inc | Bus Transport | $259,906 |
90 grants to Messiah University totaling $4.0M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Colleges and universities | 2024 | $90,535 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2024 | $53,500 |
| T Rowe Price Program For Charitable Giving Inc | Multiple | 2024 | $32,500 |
| Parkinsons Foundation Inc | Community engagement & advocacy | 2024 | $17,000 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $16,511 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $11,213 |
| Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund | General support | 2024 | $10,500 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Education | 2023 | $94,300 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $66,000 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Growth | 2023 | $56,900 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2023 | $30,500 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2023 | $20,668 |
| T Rowe Price Program For Charitable Giving Inc | Multiple | 2023 | $17,500 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2023 | $17,500 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | Scholarships | 2023 | $17,500 |
2 grants totaling $20K in FY2023. All grants made by Messiah University →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Allen Township Fire Department | General operations | $12,500 |
| Living and Learning Education Nonprofit Corporation | General operations | $7,545 |
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Data for Messiah University (EIN 23-1352661) 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.