Roberts Wesleyan University

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As new york's leading University for character education, rwu is a community of learners committed to historic christianity which seeks to prepare thoughtful, spiritually mature, service-oriented people who will transform society.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
90¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 40 volunteers and 1,093 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $2.2M a year · 4% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
90%
of spending
Looks good: 90% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.6M
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $37.9M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.1 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $26K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$29.8M
24% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 24% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
20
of 20 voting members
Looks good: 20 of 20 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$62.6M
+15% vs prior year
Spent
$65.6M
To programs
90%
Net assets
$92.0M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$62.6M
FY2025▲ +15%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$58.5M
FY2022$61.0M
FY2023$54.8M
FY2024$54.5M
FY2025$62.6M
Expenses
$65.6M
FY2025▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$56.4M
FY2022$59.1M
FY2023$59.8M
FY2024$61.6M
FY2025$65.6M
Net assets
$92.0M
FY2025▼ -3%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$105.8M
FY2022$102.4M
FY2023$99.0M
FY2024$94.7M
FY2025$92.0M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 1951.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

90 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 90% · $59.3M Management & general 9% · $6.0M Fundraising 0% · $272K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

40 people listed on the 990; $1.6M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$236,388Pt VII · Sec A
$130,614Pt VII · Sec A
$128,658Pt VII · Sec A
$123,686Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Academic Officer (interim) (start 7/1/24)
$119,380Pt VII · Sec A
$119,017Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Operations & Bus Dev
$118,837Pt VII · Sec A
Professor
$113,644Pt VII · Sec A

Rupert a Hayles JR’s $236K as President is at the 49th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3683 $10–100M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Rupert a Hayles JR$236,388————
Deana Porterfield——$229,475$206,376$192,082
Laurie J Leo Left 0324—$156,938———
Laurie Leo——$152,367$151,264$146,680
Rupert a Hayles JR Start 0723—$145,236———
David W Basinger$90,177$143,424———
Darrell Bell JR Left 32021————$142,770
David Basinger——$130,753$121,427$117,138

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Roberts Wesleyan University executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides over 90 Christian liberal arts and professional degree programs to prepare students for careers in business, the arts, and human services.

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1 program · $59.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Roberts is an innovative and distinctive christian university offering excellence in 50 plus liberal arts and professional programs. The university prepares students for service to humanity in business, the arts and a variety of human service fields. During the 24-25 fiscal year, over 1,700 students were enrolled.

$59.3Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$26K
Grants paid · 5 grants · $98.8M · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$21,710,818
Unitemized GrantFY2023$20,584,193
Unitemized GrantFY2022$18,319,118
Unitemized GrantFY2021$19,830,943
Unitemized GrantFY2020$18,375,864

Federal money

Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Jun 2025 · $17.5M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$14.0M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$2.6M
Federal Perkins Loan Program_federal Capital ContributionsDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$390K
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants)Department of Education · ALN 84.379 · Direct$130K
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$130K

Plus 1 smaller program.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2024 · $19.2M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$15.6M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$2.4M
Federal Perkins Loan Program_federal Capital ContributionsDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$574K
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$248K
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants)Department of Education · ALN 84.379 · Direct$176K

Plus 2 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2023 · $20.0M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$15.5M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$2.4M
Federal Perkins Loan ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$1.1M
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Direct$419K
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$218K

Plus 3 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2022 · $22.5M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$14.7M
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Direct$3.7M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$2.2M
Federal Perkins Loan ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$1.4M
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$203K

Plus 3 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$62.6M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$51.2M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$7.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$2.8M
Money outPt IX
$65.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$59.3M
Managementcol C$6.0M
Fundraisingcol D$272K
Owns and owesPt X
$92.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$5.9M
Total assetsLn 16$121.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$29.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
40
listed · VII A
PaidVII A15
Voting boardVI 1a20
IndependentVI 1b20
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$7.4M
Government grantsLn 1e$50K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$3.7M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$27K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$51.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$2.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$1.3M
Gains on assetsLn 7$1.2M
Total revenueLn 12$62.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$9K
SavingsLn 2$5.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$5.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$37.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$68.8M
Other assetsLn 15$786K
Total assetsLn 16$121.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$29.8M
Net assetsLn 32$92.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51,093
VolunteersI 640
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
BondsSch K, Pt X
Tax-exempt bond debt owedX 20$12.7M
Bond issues listedSch K Pt I1
Raised by those issuesSch K Pt I$26.0M
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$3.7M
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY25FY24FY23FY22FY21
End of yearLn 1g$39.0M$40.5M$33.9M$32.8M$35.2M
Given inLn 1b$223K$6.1M$507K$1.8M$960K
SpentLn 1d–1f$4.6M$3.1M$1.8M$1.3M$1.7M
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$6.2M$5.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$38.3M$37.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$69.7M$68.8M
Total assetsLn 16$122.4M$121.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$27.8M$29.8M
Net assetsLn 32$94.7M$92.0M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$21.7M$21.7M
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$21.8M$19.6M$2.1M$163K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$30K$27K$3K$225
Other employee benefitsLn 9$2.2M$2.0M$213K$17K
Legal feesLn 11b$326K$326K
Accounting feesLn 11c$87K$87K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$37K$37K
Investment management feesLn 11f$131K$131K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$3.0M$2.7M$308K$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$905K$905K
Office expensesLn 13$753K$675K$72K$6K
Information technologyLn 14$397K$397K
OccupancyLn 16$2.8M$2.5M$267K$21K
TravelLn 17$772K$692K$74K$6K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$65K$59K$6K
InterestLn 20$1.0M$906K$97K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$3.1M$2.8M$302K$23K
InsuranceLn 23$712K$712K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$5.7M$5.7M
All other expensesLn 24e$0$0$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$65.6M$59.3M$6.0M$272K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS May 15, 2026 $62.6M$65.6M−$2.9M$92.0M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS May 14, 2025 $54.5M$61.6M−$7.0M$94.7M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Apr 3, 2024 $54.8M$59.8M−$5.1M$99.0M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 11, 2022 $61.0M$59.1M$1.9M$102.4M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2021 $58.5M$56.4M$2.1M$105.8M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $62,623,063 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,640,427$7,382,420
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $49,562,932$51,213,487
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $949,275$2,759,224
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $1,384,421$1,267,932
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $54,537,055$62,623,063
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $20,584,193$21,710,818
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $23,166,846$24,077,481
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$36,755
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $17,817,410$19,740,932
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $61,568,449$65,565,986
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$7,031,394−$2,942,923
Part VI · Governance 20 of 20 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body20
VI-1b Independent voting members20
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $62,623,063 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$26,954
VIII-1e Government grants$50,152
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$7,305,314
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$3,677,913
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$7,382,420
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $51,213,487$51,213,487
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $8,288 · Excluded from tax $1,554,278$1,562,566
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $1,196,658$1,196,658
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$6,482−$6,482
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $1,274,414$1,274,414
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $52,487,901 · Unrelated business $8,288 · Excluded from tax $2,744,454$62,623,063
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $65,565,986 across 20 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $21,710,818$21,710,818
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $19,565,282 · Management $2,098,184 · Fundraising $163,089$21,826,555
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $26,940 · Management $2,889 · Fundraising $225$30,054
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,990,786 · Management $213,492 · Fundraising $16,594$2,220,872
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $326,295$326,295
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $86,992$86,992
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $36,755$36,755
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $131,034$131,034
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $2,664,830 · Management $307,990 · Fundraising $0$2,972,820
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $905,204$905,204
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $674,944 · Management $72,381 · Fundraising $5,626$752,951
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $396,660$396,660
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $2,490,200 · Management $267,049 · Fundraising $20,757$2,778,006
IX-17 TravelPrograms $692,404 · Management $74,253 · Fundraising $5,772$772,429
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $58,618 · Management $6,286$64,904
IX-20 InterestPrograms $905,737 · Management $97,131$1,002,868
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $2,812,549 · Management $301,618 · Fundraising $23,444$3,137,611
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $711,822$711,822
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $5,701,336$5,701,336
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $59,294,444 · Management $5,999,280 · Fundraising $272,262$65,565,986
Part X · Balance sheet $121,866,490 assets, 22 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $242,325; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $9,344$9,444
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $6,178,233$5,930,881
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,763,235$3,798,072
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $3,777,218$3,941,980
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $28,927$28,927
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $467,495$481,571
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $69,679,693$68,792,112
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $29,613,140$28,740,711
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $8,731,810$9,114,030
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $765,065$786,437
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $122,422,313$121,866,490
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,611,915$3,153,316
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,933,433$1,572,411
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $13,670,587$12,678,883
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $2,540,899$2,567,269
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $27,768,592$29,816,921
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $61,876,103$57,966,987
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $32,777,618$34,082,582
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $94,653,721$92,049,569
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $122,422,313$121,866,490
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $92,049,569 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$62,623,063
XI-2 Total expenses$65,565,986
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$2,942,923
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$94,653,721
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$130,036
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$208,735
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$92,049,569

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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