Aurora University FY2024 filing

Tax-deductible

Aurora, IL501(c)(3)Since 1899Colleges & UniversitiesEIN 36-2166964Revenue $173.8M in FY2024

On file with the IRSaurora.edu347 S Gladstone Ave, 60506-4877 · Aurora, ILTax-exempt since Sep 1941School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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To provide post-secondary undergraduate and graduate education.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
86¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$2.8M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $7.0M a year · 4% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
86%
of spending
Looks good: 86% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.8M
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.1 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $14K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$60.6M
25% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 25% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
22
of 22 voting members
Looks good: 22 of 22 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$173.8M
+0.6% vs prior year
Spent
$171.9M
To programs
86%
Net assets
$185.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$173.8M
FY2024▲ +0.6%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$150.7M
FY2021$160.8M
FY2022$176.4M
FY2023$172.8M
FY2024$173.8M
FY2025$184.7M
Expenses
$171.9M
FY2024▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$146.7M
FY2021$148.9M
FY2022$167.2M
FY2023$165.3M
FY2024$171.9M
FY2025$177.2M
Net assets
$185.8M
FY2024▲ +3%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$151.4M
FY2021$170.9M
FY2022$171.4M
FY2023$180.7M
FY2024$185.8M
FY2025$196.7M

From the FY2024 Form 990 (year ending June 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2024 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Sep 1941.

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

Where the money goes

86 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 86% · $147.1M Management & general 13% · $22.6M Fundraising 1% · $2.2M

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

35 people listed on the 990; $2.8M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
Former University President
$638,417Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
$360,884Pt VII · Sec A
$327,374Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President for Academic Affairs
$326,795Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer & SVP for Business & Finance
$277,278Pt VII · Sec A
Head Football Coach
$263,738Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing
$256,876Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Vice President for Advancement
$225,549Pt VII · Sec A

Susana Rivera-Mills’s $541K as President is at the 44th percentile of top reported officer pay among 674 $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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Rebecca L Sherrick$185,658$638,417$728,251$708,793——
Rebecca L Sherrick PHD————$684,025$607,447
Susana Rivera-Mills$540,972$327,374————
Jeffrey a King$348,603$360,884$296,530———
John a Prall—$326,795$317,416———
Sharon W Maxwell$306,594$277,278$278,468$270,401$247,526$225,014
Deborah Maue$291,121$256,876$258,243$230,903$218,703$225,300
John Andrew Prall$287,486—————

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.

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Questions the 990 asks

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

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Offers college and graduate degrees to students.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $147.1M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Aurora university (au) provides post-secondary education and related activities and support services to 4,598 undergraduate students and 2,473 graduate students on its two locations in aurora, illinois and williams bay, wisconsin as well as on-line and various other locations.

$134.8Mprogram expense
02

Aurora university has residence hall capacity of 685 beds on its aurora campus. Food service for students and staff is provided at three locations on the aurora campus, additionally, a bookstore on the aurora campus sells textbooks, supplies and miscellaneous convenience items to students, faculty and staff.

$12.2Mprogram 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 1 funder$14K
Grants paid · 25 grants · $399.5M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$74,661,615
Unitemized GrantFY2024$150,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$43,500
Unitemized GrantFY2024$32,037
Unitemized GrantFY2024$30,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$70,441,697
Unitemized GrantFY2023$83,132
Unitemized GrantFY2023$30,000
Unitemized GrantFY2022$64,071,949
Unitemized GrantFY2022$330,238
Unitemized GrantFY2022$12,238
Unitemized GrantFY2022$10,000
Unitemized GrantFY2022$2,473
Unitemized GrantFY2022$1,400
Unitemized GrantFY2021$63,963,756
Unitemized GrantFY2021$6,958,000
Unitemized GrantFY2021$13,000
Unitemized GrantFY2021$10,000
See all 25 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$173.8M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$138.2M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$30.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$2.7M
Money outPt IX
$171.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$147.1M
Managementcol C$22.6M
Fundraisingcol D$2.2M
Owns and owesPt X
$185.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$16.1M
Total assetsLn 16$246.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$60.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
35
listed · VII A
PaidVII A9
Voting boardVI 1a22
IndependentVI 1b22
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$30.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$28.4M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$162K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$138.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$2.7M
Other incomeLn 4–11$2.2M
Gains on assetsLn 7$837K
Total revenueLn 12$173.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$6.0M
SavingsLn 2$10.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$16.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$53.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$168.2M
Other assetsLn 15$821K
Total assetsLn 16$246.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$60.6M
Net assetsLn 32$185.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51,736
VolunteersI 6447
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$15.4M$16.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$48.6M$53.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$170.7M$168.2M
Total assetsLn 16$243.8M$246.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$63.1M$60.6M
Net assetsLn 32$180.7M$185.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$70.2M$70.2M
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.0M$0$835K$190K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0$0$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$43.9M$34.8M$7.8M$1.2M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$1.6M$1.3M$285K$45K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$3.6M$2.8M$655K$99K
Payroll taxesLn 10$3.1M$2.4M$585K$94K
Management feesLn 11a$0$0$0$0
Legal feesLn 11b$259K$259K$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$104K$0$104K$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$195K$0$195K$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$126K$0$126K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$22.4M$19.9M$2.2M$201K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$1.0M$512K$508K$0
Office expensesLn 13$3.8M$2.4M$1.3M$49K
Information technologyLn 14$2.6M$245K$2.2M$108K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0$0$0$0
OccupancyLn 16$2.8M$2.2M$526K$47K
TravelLn 17$1.1M$1.0M$55K$6K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0$0$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$329K$166K$159K$4K
InterestLn 20$935K$935K$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$10.5M$8.6M$1.8M$171K
InsuranceLn 23$1.2M$51K$1.1M$959
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.4M$463K$892K$20K
All other expensesLn 24e$0$0$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$171.9M$147.1M$22.6M$2.2M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $184.7M$177.2M$7.5M$196.7M 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $173.8M$171.9M$1.9M$185.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $172.8M$165.3M$7.5M$180.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $176.4M$167.2M$9.2M$171.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $160.8M$148.9M$11.9M$170.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 $150.7M$146.7M$4.0M$151.4M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $173,819,493 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $34,386,030$30,765,926
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $133,587,960$138,176,968
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $3,125,548$2,716,862
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $1,703,576$2,159,737
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $172,803,114$173,819,493
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $64,879,992$70,157,099
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $53,856,578$53,154,073
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $46,549,843$48,624,229
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $165,286,413$171,935,401
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $7,516,701$1,884,092
Part VI · Governance 22 of 22 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body22
VI-1b Independent voting members22
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
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 $173,819,493 across 11 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $1,168,354 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$28,355,546
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,410,380
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$161,647
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$30,765,926
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $138,087,356 · Unrelated business $89,612$138,176,968
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,879,861$1,879,861
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $1,274$1,274
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $154,648$154,648
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $837,001$837,001
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $504,331 · Unrelated business $331,130$835,461
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $139,484,994 · Unrelated business $420,742 · Excluded from tax $3,147,831$173,819,493
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $171,935,401 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $0$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $70,157,099$70,157,099
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $0$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for membersPrograms $0$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $0 · Management $835,459 · Fundraising $190,295$1,025,754
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $34,840,077 · Management $7,810,701 · Fundraising $1,204,061$43,854,839
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $1,311,541 · Management $284,572 · Fundraising $45,122$1,641,235
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $2,820,507 · Management $655,255 · Fundraising $99,152$3,574,914
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $2,378,413 · Management $585,018 · Fundraising $93,900$3,057,331
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $259,340 · Fundraising $0$259,340
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $103,891 · Fundraising $0$103,891
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $0 · Management $195,307 · Fundraising $0$195,307
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $0$0
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $125,558 · Fundraising $0$125,558
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $19,947,146 · Management $2,221,786 · Fundraising $200,901$22,369,833
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $512,447 · Management $507,726 · Fundraising $0$1,020,173
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $2,369,400 · Management $1,335,475 · Fundraising $49,285$3,754,160
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $245,485 · Management $2,208,590 · Fundraising $108,383$2,562,458
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $2,179,690 · Management $525,878 · Fundraising $46,767$2,752,335
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,043,435 · Management $55,198 · Fundraising $6,302$1,104,935
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $165,763 · Management $159,185 · Fundraising $3,622$328,570
IX-20 InterestManagement $935,172 · Fundraising $0$935,172
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $8,590,776 · Management $1,774,554 · Fundraising $170,904$10,536,234
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $51,003 · Management $1,149,518 · Fundraising $959$1,201,480
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $462,887 · Management $891,949 · Fundraising $19,947$1,374,783
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $147,075,669 · Management $22,620,132 · Fundraising $2,239,600$171,935,401
Part X · Balance sheet $246,432,083 assets, 23 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $986,850; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,608,552$6,036,736
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $11,818,615$10,032,044
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $377,669$320,463
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $2,836,298$2,399,547
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $392,828$388,237
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $2,956,666$3,570,607
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $170,662,745$168,192,316
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $40,961,553$45,559,577
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $7,663,223$8,124,327
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,558,162$821,379
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $243,783,011$246,432,083
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $9,142,618$9,052,299
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $4,152,403$4,402,843
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $46,466,813$44,394,657
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $2,317,611$2,116,165
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $63,091,672$60,619,641
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $134,490,071$134,594,765
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $46,201,268$51,217,677
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $180,691,339$185,812,442
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $243,783,011$246,432,083
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $185,812,442 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$173,819,493
XI-2 Total expenses$171,935,401
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,884,092
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$180,691,339
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$3,906,824
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$669,773
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$185,812,442

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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