Spring Arbor University
91% goes to programs $7 to raise $100 Strong reserves
Spring Arbor University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Spring Arbor, Michigan, registered in 1972, with $74,550,409 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A+, and it directs about 91% of spending to programs.
106 E Main St, Spring Arbor, MI, 49283 EIN 38-1359569 Since 1972
Revenue (FY2024)
$74.6M
▲ 19.5% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2024)
$58.6M
Net assets
$108.5M
Employees
1,118
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A+
A+Program efficiency40% of the rating91% 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 Spring Arbor University: 91% to programs · $7 to raise $100 earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating22 mo reserves · +21% 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 Spring Arbor University: 22 mo reserves · +21% 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 Spring Arbor University: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
ATransparency10% of the rating4 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 Spring Arbor University: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Spring arbor university provides post-secondary education to over 2,441 students, granting ba, bs, ma ,ms, and dnp degrees.
Contact & location
- Address
- 106 E Main St, Spring Arbor, MI, 49283
- City
- Spring Arbor
- State
- Michigan
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Colleges & Universities
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $69.3M (FY2013) to $74.6M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $25.1MNet assets $108.5M
Operating margin
21.4%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$133.6M
Total liabilities
$25.1M
Net assets
$108.5M
Salaries & benefits
$19.8M
34% of expenses
Board members
20
20 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $74,550,409▲19.5% | $58,628,842▲1.1% | $108,516,308▲9.5% | $133,610,054▲7.6% | 990 |
| 2023 | $62,400,836▲8.0% | $57,994,359▼2.3% | $99,065,106▲10.0% | $124,142,690▲6.4% | 990 |
| 2022 | $57,791,065▼18.5% | $59,385,693▼2.2% | $90,056,066▼0.9% | $116,679,644▼3.6% | 990 |
| 2021 | $70,879,673 | $60,723,226▼1.2% | $90,900,765▲10.8% | $120,986,593▲2.8% | 990 |
| 2020 | $70,872,846▲4.2% | $61,470,748▼4.8% | $82,066,860▲23.3% | $117,706,711▲12.8% | 990 |
| 2019 | $67,985,552▼5.6% | $64,588,391▼2.5% | $66,580,040▲6.5% | $104,395,498▲6.8% | 990 |
| 2018 | $72,035,689▲4.1% | $66,234,924▲1.0% | $62,509,352▲7.8% | $97,762,717▲1.7% | 990 |
| 2017 | $69,184,655▼3.4% | $65,608,107▲1.0% | $57,990,077▲11.3% | $96,095,707▲5.7% | 990 |
| 2016 | $71,595,982▲9.3% | $64,961,756▲1.2% | $52,118,905▲13.7% | $90,886,006▲2.9% | 990 |
| 2015 | $65,533,391▼2.4% | $64,195,309▼2.5% | $45,841,192▲0.9% | $88,364,269▲0.2% | 990 |
| 2014 | $67,123,148▼3.1% | $65,849,585▼0.7% | $45,429,638▲4.3% | $88,195,475▲0.2% | 990 |
| 2013 | $69,254,436 | $66,330,275▲3.9% | $43,553,157▲9.6% | $87,988,885▲2.3% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $63,830,945▼5.0% | $39,748,109▲15.0% | $86,028,760▲2.8% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $67,155,810▲0.7% | $34,567,980▲1.0% | $83,725,693▲7.8% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $66,707,606▲8.9% | $34,218,876▼4.4% | $77,692,268▼4.2% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $61,234,566 | $35,801,532 | $81,131,919 | 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: Brent Ellis — $326,066 (0.56% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brent Ellis | President | 50 | $326,066 |
| Carol Green | Provost/cao | 50 | $145,880 |
| Doug Wilcoxson | Executive Vice President | 50 | $134,224 |
| Randall Melton | Chief Information Officer | 50 | $123,631 |
| Marla Sanford | Vp For Enrollment and Marketing | 50 | $107,680 |
| Dawn Schnitkey | Vp of Finance & Administration (left 09/24) | 50 | $92,362 |
| Abdu Murray | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Amber Wright | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Babbie Mason | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Daryl Miller | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Dave Page | Board Member | 2 | — |
| David Kendall | Board Member | 3 | — |
| Debra Mckenna Blews | Secretary-treasurer | 4 | — |
| Don Walker | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Douglas Matthews | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Edward Lamoreaux | Board Member | 3 | — |
| Greg Bontrager | Chair | 4 | — |
| Jennifer Boss Mainka | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Jim Mol | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Ken Johnson | Board Member | 2 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Keypath Education LLC | College/student Svcs | $3,693,796 |
| Chartwells Dining Svcs | Food Svc Provider | $2,720,625 |
| Rw Mercer Co | Construction Svcs | $1,500,180 |
| Mlive Media Group | On-line Marketing | $864,280 |
| Sierra-cedar LLC | Computer Support/svcs | $309,335 |
Grants received · $3.2M total
43 grants to Spring Arbor University totaling $3.2M, 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 | $80,000 |
| True Community Credit Union | $5,000 sau golf open sponsor, $15,000 year 5 of 5 for multi-year sponsor for trading center | 2024 | $20,000 |
| National Philanthropic Tr | Education | 2023 | $1,500,000 |
| The Us Charitable Gift Trust | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2023 | $100,000 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Growth | 2023 | $69,500 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $32,900 |
| Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund | General support | 2023 | $25,100 |
| True Community Credit Union | Charitable contribution | 2023 | $25,000 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Education | 2023 | $24,000 |
| Community Foundation For Southeast Michigan | Education program | 2022 | $400,000 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Education | 2022 | $111,000 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Growth | 2022 | $63,000 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Growth | 2022 | $63,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2022 | $19,050 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | Scholarships | 2022 | $6,300 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Spring Arbor University a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Spring Arbor University is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 38-1359569, based in Spring Arbor, Michigan. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Spring Arbor University's EIN?
- Spring Arbor University's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 38-1359569.
- How much revenue does Spring Arbor University report?
- Spring Arbor University reported $74,550,409 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Spring Arbor University's spending goes to programs?
- Spring Arbor University spends about 91% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Spring Arbor University have?
- CharityIndex grades Spring Arbor University A+, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Spring Arbor University's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Spring Arbor University's latest Form 990 is $326,066, paid to Brent Ellis (President).
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Data for Spring Arbor University (EIN 38-1359569) 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.