The Corporation of Mercer University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Macon, Georgia, registered in 1946, with $477,213,144 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A+, and it directs about 95% of spending to programs.
Revenue (FY2023)
$477.2M
▲ 9.8% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2023)
$443.8M
Net assets
$718.0M
Employees
4,506
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 The Corporation of Mercer University: 95% to programs · $6 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 The Corporation of Mercer University: 19 mo reserves · +7% 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 The Corporation of Mercer 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 The Corporation of Mercer 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.
Mercer university's mission is to teach, to learn, to create, to discover, to inspire, to empower, and to serve.
Scholarships: these expenses are related to the support provided to the university's students based on donor stipulation, need, and merit. the university provides scholarship aid within 4 categories. mercer based aid scholarships are based on academic credentials and the scholarships are renewable up to 4 years. talent based aid scholarships are either athletic scholarships or music scholarships. need based aid scholarships are based on economic need. competitive aid scholarships are based on merit. over 90% of the university's students received scholarships and discounts.
Auxiliary services: the university's auxiliary services facilitates the creation of community, extends the learning environment beyond the classroom, and enhances the quality of campus life through the delivery of quality goods and services including residence, dining services, clinic operations, as well as athletic and retail operations for over 9,000 students. auxiliary services maintain the bear card system which provides for a variety of different dining options and easier access for students to pay for those options. auxiliary services also provides mail and document services as well as cable access for the university's student residences.
Revenue grew from $317.3M (FY2013) to $477.2M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Operating margin
7.0%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$1.0B
Total liabilities
$320.5M
Net assets
$718.0M
Salaries & benefits
$196.9M
44% of expenses
Board members
50
49 independent
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $477,213,144▲9.8% | $443,819,035▲6.9% | $718,036,670▲8.5% | $1,038,550,349▼0.9% | 990 |
| 2022 | $434,660,951▼1.9% | $414,983,749▼0.5% | $661,926,145▲8.8% | $1,048,317,053▲8.1% | 990 |
| 2021 | $443,031,895▼0.2% | $417,045,694▲7.1% | $608,391,895▼3.3% | $969,819,190▼0.6% | 990 |
| 2020 | $444,048,225▲9.2% | $389,289,694▲2.9% | $629,131,531▲31.2% | $975,470,567▲17.0% | 990 |
| 2019 | $406,533,025▲2.7% | $378,383,886▲2.1% | $479,526,997▲5.0% | $834,032,550▲3.1% | 990 |
| 2018 | $396,023,419▲5.3% | $370,516,792▲5.0% | $456,753,235▲8.1% | $808,696,382▲8.7% | 990 |
| 2017 | $376,143,289▲4.3% | $352,944,856▲2.8% | $422,589,503▲10.3% | $743,858,053▲1.5% | 990 |
| 2016 | $360,628,035▲5.7% | $343,377,564▲2.3% | $383,288,632▲14.2% | $732,991,534▲5.1% | 990 |
| 2015 | $341,100,847 | $335,588,972▲3.2% | $335,715,737▼1.8% | $697,727,079▲15.2% | 990 |
| 2014 | $341,014,975▲7.5% | $325,174,723▲5.6% | $341,984,032▲2.6% | $605,766,431▲5.5% | 990 |
| 2013 | $317,310,260 | $308,059,388▲6.5% | $333,300,408▲12.8% | $574,337,651▲4.9% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $289,316,908▲5.3% | $295,604,959▲9.1% | $547,249,532▲6.3% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $274,677,631▲4.7% | $270,842,060▲0.1% | $514,650,059▲10.2% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $262,317,005▲2.8% | $270,646,287▲21.5% | $467,126,295▲9.7% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $255,182,680 | $222,677,608 | $425,651,235 | 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: Don Nakayama — $951,444 (0.21% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don Nakayama | Senior Associate Dean/school of Medicine | 40 | $951,444 |
| William Underwood | President/professor | 40 | $672,316 |
| John Hawkins | Associate Professor | 40 | $491,494 |
| Jean Sumner | Dean/professor | 40 | $453,444 |
| James Netherton | Exec Vp-admin & Finance | 40 | $353,994 |
| David Davis | Provost | 40 | $341,763 |
| Gregory Gary | Head Men's Basketball Coach | 40 | $315,500 |
| Penny Elkins | Senior Vp For Entrollment Management | 40 | $306,718 |
| Andrew Cronic | Head Football Coach | 40 | $304,490 |
| Edwin Grimsley | Senior Associate Dean/school of Medicine | 40 | $302,691 |
| John Patterson | Senior Vp For Advancement | 40 | $282,568 |
| Larry Brummley | Senior Vp For Marketing Communications and Chief of Staff | 40 | $260,582 |
| Andrea Mitchell | Executive Director | 40 | $260,359 |
| Kellie Appel | Senior Vp For Strategic Initiatives | 40 | $245,040 |
| Matthew Hall | General Counsel | 40 | $197,168 |
| Julia Davis | Avp Finance & Treasurer | 40 | $182,200 |
| Anita Gustafson | Dean/professor | 40 | $99,982 |
| Amy Miller Wall | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Ashley Amos Copelan | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Benjamin W Griffith | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Chris R Sheridan & Co | Construction | $15,980,585 |
| Aramark Services Inc | Food Service | $11,585,966 |
| Choate Construction Company | Construction | $6,116,670 |
| National Management Resources Corporation | Facilities Mangagemt | $4,371,251 |
| Orbis Education Services LLC | Education Management | $3,722,330 |
157 grants to The Corporation of Mercer University totaling $21.0M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Inc | For general and nursing scholarships. | 2024 | $942,000 |
| Bny Mellon Charitable Gift Fund | To further the organization's exempt purpose | 2024 | $675,000 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2024 | $102,000 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Colleges and universities | 2024 | $71,500 |
| Hispanic Scholarship Fund | To provide scholarships for students | 2024 | $59,519 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $54,133 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $30,298 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $30,000 |
| Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund | General support | 2024 | $9,100 |
| Neo Philanthropy Inc | Program grant | 2024 | $5,000 |
| Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Inc | For nursing and allied health scholarships. | 2023 | $942,000 |
| The Chicago Community Trust | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes | 2023 | $749,383 |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association | Grants/scholarships | 2023 | $599,937 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2023 | $535,000 |
| American Heart Association Inc | Research | 2023 | $367,113 |
4 grants totaling $686K in FY2023. All grants made by The Corporation of Mercer University →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dalton State College | Instruction | $330,924 |
| Georgia Council For Recovery Inc | Research | $209,203 |
| East Georgia Healthcare Center Inc | Research | $129,180 |
| Fordham University | Research | $17,129 |
Explore more
Data for The Corporation of Mercer University (EIN 58-0566167) 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.