Samford University
89% goes to programs $15 to raise $100 Strong reserves
Samford University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Birmingham, Alabama, registered in 1951, with $299,656,579 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 89% of spending to programs.
800 Lakeshore Dr, Birmingham, AL, 35229 EIN 63-0312914 Since 1951
Revenue (FY2023)
$299.7M
▲ 6.4% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2023)
$296.6M
Net assets
$558.4M
Employees
2,703
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 · $15 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 Samford University: 89% to programs · $15 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating23 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 Samford University: 23 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 Samford 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 Samford University: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
A university that nurtures persons in their development of intellect, creativity, faith, and personhood: fosters academic, career, and ethical compentency while encouraging social and civic responsibility and service to others.
What they do
Samford university awarded over $89 million in aid to almost 5,600 students during the 2023-2024 aid year.
Additional program services include food services and vending, educational workshops/programs and other types of program services.
Samford university maintains a beautiful campus of academic and administrative buildings and student housing.
Contact & location
- Address
- 800 Lakeshore Dr, Birmingham, AL, 35229
- City
- Birmingham
- State
- Alabama
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Colleges & Universities
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $204.7M (FY2013) to $299.7M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $347.1MNet assets $558.4M
Operating margin
1.0%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$905.5M
Total liabilities
$347.1M
Net assets
$558.4M
Salaries & benefits
$116.7M
39% of expenses
Board members
40
40 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $299,656,579▲6.4% | $296,580,224▲9.5% | $558,420,073▲7.9% | $905,489,496▼6.6% | 990 |
| 2022 | $281,552,616▼23.2% | $270,879,733▲5.3% | $517,572,622▲3.3% | $969,787,118▲11.3% | 990 |
| 2021 | $366,702,247▲30.8% | $257,124,034▲7.1% | $501,064,785▲26.7% | $871,369,127▲8.7% | 990 |
| 2020 | $280,325,292▲20.3% | $240,167,389▼0.1% | $395,371,734▲54.2% | $801,305,714▲11.7% | 990 |
| 2019 | $233,018,125▼2.1% | $240,422,444▲0.1% | $256,446,538▼11.3% | $717,316,592▼0.6% | 990 |
| 2018 | $238,137,206▲3.3% | $240,241,509▲4.7% | $289,248,752▼9.1% | $721,884,021▲2.1% | 990 |
| 2017 | $230,528,422▼0.6% | $229,447,493▲2.4% | $318,053,356▲2.3% | $707,308,926▲1.7% | 990 |
| 2016 | $232,026,789▲16.0% | $224,077,016▼6.4% | $310,803,220▲10.0% | $695,296,431▲10.5% | 990 |
| 2015 | $200,011,658▲5.1% | $239,330,936▲15.1% | $282,424,350▼13.1% | $629,166,485▼0.7% | 990 |
| 2014 | $190,287,508▼7.0% | $207,982,586▲11.3% | $324,839,053▼6.9% | $633,671,347▲7.0% | 990 |
| 2013 | $204,687,848 | $186,843,001▲7.1% | $348,812,480▲7.9% | $592,181,673▲5.2% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $174,507,562▼9.9% | $323,281,554▲13.8% | $562,922,741▲11.3% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $193,656,300▲23.7% | $283,963,013▼11.4% | $505,719,270▼1.7% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $156,528,128▲2.7% | $320,463,912▲15.9% | $514,497,875▲8.0% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $152,382,166 | $276,500,298 | $476,596,010 | 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: Beck A Taylor — $492,995 (0.17% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beck A Taylor | President | 40 | $492,995 |
| Henry W Mcmillan | Head Coach, Basketball | 40 | $417,969 |
| Ryan B Hudson | Dean, Cumberland School of Law | 40 | $315,084 |
| Christopher M Hatcher | Head Coach, Football | 40 | $298,622 |
| Elizabeth B Holloway | Vice President For Advancement and Marketing | 40 | $295,759 |
| Charles Martin Newton Jr | Director of Athletics | 40 | $295,081 |
| Colin M Coyne | Vice President For Finance, Business Affairs and Strategy | 40 | $290,684 |
| Henry C Strickland | Professor | 40 | $289,148 |
| James Michael Hardin | Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs | 40 | $260,937 |
| Jason E Black | Vice President For Enrollment Management | 40 | $254,536 |
| R Philip Kimrey | Vice President For Student Affairs | 40 | $254,018 |
| W Randall Pittman | Trustee | 1 | $21,060 |
| Alan Long Md | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Amy Allen | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Andrew B Cundiff | Vice Chair/trustee | 1 | — |
| Andy D Birchfield | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Beth Thorne Stukes | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Brent M Fielder | Assistant Secretary/trustee | 1 | — |
| Bryan L Kelly | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Cecelia A Walker | Trustee | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hoar Construction LLC | Construction Contractor | $13,439,824 |
| Aramark Services Inc | Dining Services | $11,963,237 |
| Creactiva LLC | Cleaning Services | $2,491,767 |
| Davis Architects Inc | Architecture/design Services | $1,786,584 |
| Csi Leasing Incorporated | Leasing Company | $1,341,911 |
Grants received · $19.2M total
129 grants to Samford University totaling $19.2M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
Grants made · $17K in FY2023
2 grants totaling $17K in FY2023. All grants made by Samford University →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| International Ministry of Jesus Inc | House construction | $10,000 |
| Dawson Memorial Baptist Church | General support | $6,600 |
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Compare Samford University
Frequently asked questions
- Is Samford University a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Samford University is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 63-0312914, based in Birmingham, Alabama. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Samford University's EIN?
- Samford University's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 63-0312914.
- How much revenue does Samford University report?
- Samford University reported $299,656,579 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Samford University's spending goes to programs?
- Samford University spends about 89% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Samford University have?
- CharityIndex grades Samford University A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Samford University's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Samford University's latest Form 990 is $492,995, paid to Beck A Taylor (President).
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Data for Samford University (EIN 63-0312914) 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.