Transylvania University
89% goes to programs $20 to raise $100 Strong reserves
Transylvania University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Lexington, Kentucky, registered in 1943, with $71,833,655 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 89% of spending to programs.
300 N Broadway, Lexington, KY, 40508 EIN 61-0444825 Since 1943
Revenue (FY2023)
$71.8M
▲ 8.0% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2023)
$69.8M
Net assets
$203.3M
Employees
857
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
B+Program efficiency40% of the rating89% to programs · $20 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 Transylvania University: 89% to programs · $20 to raise $100 earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating35 mo reserves · +3% 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 Transylvania University: 35 mo reserves · +3% 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 Transylvania 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 Transylvania University: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Post-secondary education
Contact & location
- Address
- 300 N Broadway, Lexington, KY, 40508
- City
- Lexington
- State
- Kentucky
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Colleges & Universities
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $64.8M (FY2013) to $71.8M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $61.3MNet assets $203.3M
Operating margin
2.8%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$264.5M
Total liabilities
$61.3M
Net assets
$203.3M
Salaries & benefits
$23.1M
33% of expenses
Board members
32
32 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $71,833,655▲8.0% | $69,813,197▲1.4% | $203,253,892▲7.7% | $264,515,550▲4.7% | 990 |
| 2022 | $66,491,830▲14.7% | $68,860,956▲7.2% | $188,776,473▲1.9% | $252,651,160▲1.2% | 990 |
| 2021 | $57,979,581▼17.9% | $64,217,503▲7.5% | $185,182,943▼8.5% | $249,634,669▼7.1% | 990 |
| 2020 | $70,586,888▲26.6% | $59,754,162▲7.1% | $202,311,229▲22.1% | $268,650,228▲13.9% | 990 |
| 2019 | $55,763,422▼11.5% | $55,781,525▼2.6% | $165,691,634▼2.6% | $235,942,352▼3.7% | 990 |
| 2018 | $63,019,479▲14.4% | $57,255,553▲2.6% | $170,032,795▲6.0% | $244,884,187▲16.1% | 990 |
| 2017 | $55,070,436▲1.6% | $55,798,840▲5.4% | $160,410,430▼2.0% | $210,893,240▼3.7% | 990 |
| 2016 | $54,189,492▲5.3% | $52,956,979▼3.9% | $163,651,196▲7.6% | $219,013,552▲8.8% | 990 |
| 2015 | $51,474,659▲6.0% | $55,099,543▲0.8% | $152,114,970▼1.5% | $201,256,609▲5.2% | 990 |
| 2014 | $48,567,054▼25.0% | $54,636,204▼1.3% | $154,428,136▼3.3% | $191,335,445▲1.6% | 990 |
| 2013 | $64,763,636 | $55,357,469▲5.8% | $159,723,394▲6.3% | $188,398,276▲4.7% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $52,332,298▲7.5% | $150,317,228▲6.4% | $179,936,184▲4.8% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $48,696,504▲5.0% | $141,327,675▼3.0% | $171,655,775▲2.7% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $46,371,626▲8.4% | $145,714,816▲5.0% | $167,097,270▲3.3% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $42,775,277 | $138,834,331 | $161,749,259 | 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: William Brien Lewis — $437,461 (0.63% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Brien Lewis | President | 40 | $437,461 |
| S Rebecca Thomas | Vice President For Academic Affairs and Dean of the University | 40 | $196,514 |
| Shawn Lyons | Vice President For Advancement | 40 | $184,585 |
| Sarah Coen | Vice President For Strategic Initiatives and Enrollment Management | 40 | $144,835 |
| Michael Covert | Vice President For Student Life and Dean of Students | 40 | $138,316 |
| Lisa Custardo | Evp For Business Affairs, Cfo | 40 | $132,859 |
| Holly Sheilley | Vice President For Athletics | 40 | $132,480 |
| G Rod Erfani | Professor | 40 | $129,885 |
| Megan Moloney | Vice President For Marketing and Communication | 40 | $129,524 |
| Don Dugi | Professor | 40 | $129,155 |
| Sarah Bray | Professor | 40 | $124,799 |
| Michael Cairo | Professor | 40 | $122,988 |
| Deepa Dubal | Vice President For Information Technology | 40 | $120,679 |
| Kara Covert | Vice President For Advancement | 40 | $119,816 |
| Rhyan Conyers | Vice President For Institutional Effectiveness | 40 | $118,645 |
| Gregory Partain | Professor | 40 | $117,894 |
| Deidra Dennie | Vice President For Diversity and Inclusion | 40 | $109,160 |
| Ann Orme Windley | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Aristides S Candris | Vice-chair of the Board and Board Member | 1 | — |
| Betsy Brooks Bulleit | Board Member | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Bon Apetit Management Company | Food Service Provider | $2,530,516 |
| B&r Construction | Construction Services | $718,476 |
| Cowgill Inc | Construction Services | $644,419 |
| Marsh & Mclennan Agency | Insurance Services | $557,465 |
| Ellucian Inc | Software Services | $495,978 |
Grants received · $2.6M total
82 grants to Transylvania University totaling $2.6M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $24,372 |
| The Us Charitable Gift Trust | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2024 | $16,500 |
| Paypal Charitable Giving Fund | General support | 2024 | $6,727 |
| The New York Community Trust | For a scholarship award. | 2024 | $5,960 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2023 | $66,553 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $49,960 |
| American Chemical Society | General support | 2023 | $23,333 |
| The Community Foundation of Louisville Inc | B43 university or technological | 2023 | $20,372 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Education | 2023 | $12,501 |
| The New York Community Trust | For a scholarship award. | 2023 | $11,210 |
| Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc | Education | 2023 | $10,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2023 | $7,992 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Growth | 2023 | $5,500 |
| Paypal Charitable Giving Fund | — | 2023 | $5,104 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2022 | $155,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Transylvania University a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Transylvania University is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 61-0444825, based in Lexington, Kentucky. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Transylvania University's EIN?
- Transylvania University's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 61-0444825.
- How much revenue does Transylvania University report?
- Transylvania University reported $71,833,655 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Transylvania University's spending goes to programs?
- Transylvania University spends about 89% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Transylvania University have?
- CharityIndex grades Transylvania University A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Transylvania University's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Transylvania University's latest Form 990 is $437,461, paid to William Brien Lewis (President).
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Data for Transylvania University (EIN 61-0444825) 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.