You’re viewing the FY2021 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 May 1972.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
90 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
32 people listed on the 990; $920K paid to officers and key staff.
Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
President
$230,987Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Vice President
$127,634Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Academic Affairs/Cao
$119,964Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Information Officer
$116,784Pt VII · Sec A
Assoc. VP of Academic Affairs
$108,961Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Finance & Administration
$107,760Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Enrollment & Marketing
$107,539Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chairman
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Chairman
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Brent Ellis’s $326K as President is at the 70th 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
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brent Ellis | $326,066 | $319,643 | $314,893 | $405,109 | $230,987 | $241,949 |
| Carol Green | $145,880 | $144,888 | $139,396 | $122,353 | $119,964 | $122,188 |
| Doug Wilcoxson | $134,224 | $134,047 | $130,205 | $128,342 | $127,634 | $126,671 |
| Kevin Rose | — | — | — | — | — | $131,707 |
| Randall Melton | $123,631 | $122,649 | $119,726 | $126,686 | $116,784 | $111,584 |
| Dawn Schnitkey | $92,362 | $126,405 | $125,113 | $123,214 | $107,760 | — |
| Ronald Delap | — | — | $103,205 | — | $108,961 | — |
| Ron Delap | — | — | — | — | — | $108,149 |
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 Spring Arbor 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 Christian post-secondary education to over 2,400 students through on-campus and online programs, granting associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
Questions for Spring Arbor University
Your first name shows with your question. Spring Arbor University answers here, for everyone.
1 program · $55.4M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01
Spring arbor university is a christian institution serving over 3,100 students. All program service expenses are related to instruction, academic support, student and auxiliary services for those students who study at our main campus, through our online education or at one of our sites around the state of michigan.
$55.4Mprogram 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
Myer & Lois Franklin Charitable TrFY2025$17K
Faith F Small Foundation TrFY2025$8K
Folds of Honor FoundationFY2025$6K
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$35K
Grants paid · 9 grants · $100.0M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$17,464,574
Unitemized GrantFY2023$16,217,011
Unitemized GrantFY2022$15,758,938
Unitemized GrantFY2021$15,349,437
Unitemized GrantFY2021$2,388,725
Unitemized GrantFY2020$15,268,344
Unitemized GrantFY2020$811,268
Unitemized GrantFY2019$16,004,298
Unitemized GrantFY2019$770,000
Federal money
Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending May 2025 · $26.3M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$23.3M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$2.2M
Federal Perkins Loan Program_federal Capital ContributionsDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$294K
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity GrantsDepartment of Education · ALN 84.007 · Direct$224K
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$211K
Plus 2 smaller programs.
The auditor reported: a weakness in money controls.
Year ending May 2024 · $26.8M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$24.0M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$1.8M
Federal Perkins Loan ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$473K
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity GrantsDepartment of Education · ALN 84.007 · Direct$223K
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$111K
Plus 2 smaller programs.
The auditor reported no findings.
Year ending May 2023 · $25.3M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$22.3M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$1.5M
Federal Perkins LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$1.2M
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity GrantsDepartment of Education · ALN 84.007 · Direct$223K
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants)Department of Education · ALN 84.379 · Direct$74K
Plus 1 smaller program.
The auditor reported no findings.
Year ending May 2022 · $30.1M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$23.9M
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Direct$2.6M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$1.5M
Federal Perkins LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$1.4M
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$374K
Plus 2 smaller programs.
The auditor reported no findings.
By the numbers
The FY2021 990, line by line.
Download 990
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$70.9M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$58.0M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$12.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$459K
Money outPt IX
$61.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$55.4M
Managementcol C$5.3M
Fundraisingcol D$786K
Owns and owesPt X
$82.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$28.2M
Total assetsLn 16$117.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$35.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
32
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a25
IndependentVI 1b23
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$12.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$7.7M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$2K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$86K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$58.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$420K
Other incomeLn 4–11$459K
Gains on assetsLn 7$394K
Total revenueLn 12$70.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$8K
SavingsLn 2$28.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$28.2M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$646K
Accounts receivableLn 4$4.6M
Notes and loans receivableLn 7$996K
Inventories for sale or useLn 8$40K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$895K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$58.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$22.5M
Other assetsLn 15$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$117.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$35.6M
Net assetsLn 32$82.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51,118
VolunteersI 620
Fiscal year endsHeaderMay
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14No
3More from this return
Investment feesPt IX, Sch D
Investment fees, as reportedPt IX 11f$23K
Share of the $24.1M endowmentSch D 1g0.09%
Typical, median of 1,806 orgs0.44%
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
| Line | FY21 | FY20 | FY19 | FY18 | FY17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End of yearLn 1g | $24.1M | $17.6M | $16.9M | $16.5M | $14.8M |
| Given inLn 1b | $1.6M | $553K | $1.2M | $974K | $585K |
| SpentLn 1d–1f | $599K | $558K | $523K | $566K | $489K |
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
| Line | Start FY21 | End FY21 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $23.6M | $28.2M |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $17.5M | $22.5M |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $57.0M | $58.6M |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $104.4M | $117.7M |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $37.8M | $35.6M |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $66.6M | $82.1M |
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1 | $0 | |||
| Grants to domestic individualsLn 2 | $16.1M | $16.1M | ||
| Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3 | $0 | |||
| Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4 | $0 | |||
| Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5 | $220K | $187K | $29K | $4K |
| Pay of disqualified personsLn 6 | $179K | $152K | $23K | $4K |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $18.7M | $15.9M | $2.4M | $374K |
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $705K | $599K | $92K | $14K |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $2.2M | $1.8M | $282K | $43K |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $1.3M | $1.1M | $167K | $26K |
| Management feesLn 11a | $0 | |||
| Legal feesLn 11b | $65K | $65K | ||
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $91K | $91K | ||
| Lobbying feesLn 11d | $0 | |||
| Professional fundraising feesLn 11e | $10K | $10K | ||
| Investment management feesLn 11f | $23K | $23K | ||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $762K | $648K | $99K | $15K |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $7.9M | $6.7M | $1.0M | $157K |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $1.1M | $933K | $143K | $22K |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $759K | $645K | $99K | $15K |
| RoyaltiesLn 15 | $0 | |||
| OccupancyLn 16 | $4.3M | $3.7M | $560K | $86K |
| TravelLn 17 | $280K | $238K | $36K | $6K |
| Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18 | $0 | |||
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $440K | $374K | $57K | $9K |
| InterestLn 20 | $782K | $782K | ||
| Payments to affiliatesLn 21 | $0 | |||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $2.0M | $2.0M | ||
| InsuranceLn 23 | $659K | $560K | $99K | |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $2.7M | $2.7M | ||
| All other expensesLn 24e | $331K | $331K | ||
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $61.5M | $55.4M | $5.3M | $786K |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS Apr 15, 2026 | $74.6M | $58.6M | $15.9M | $108.5M | 990 PDF |
| FY2024Filed with the IRS Apr 15, 2025 | $62.4M | $58.0M | $4.4M | $99.1M | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS Apr 14, 2024 | $57.8M | $59.4M | −$1.6M | $90.1M | 990 PDF |
| FY2022 | $70.9M | $60.7M | $10.2M | $90.9M | 990 PDF |
| FY2021 ViewingFiled with the IRS Apr 12, 2022 | $70.9M | $61.5M | $9.4M | $82.1M | 990 PDF |
| FY2020Filed with the IRS Apr 12, 2021 | $68.0M | $64.6M | $3.4M | $66.6M | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
III · Programs
R · Related orgs
G · Fundraising
L · Interested persons
I · Grants
A · Public support
J · Pay
O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $70,872,846 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $7,149,138$12,023,744
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $60,877,642$57,970,570
I-10 Investment incomePrior year −$753,941$419,907
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $712,713$458,625
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $67,985,552$70,872,846
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $16,774,298$16,079,612
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $24,312,813$23,256,547
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $10,000$10,000
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $23,491,280$22,124,589
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $64,588,391$61,470,748
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $3,397,161$9,402,098
Part VI · Governance 23 of 25 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body25
VI-1b Independent voting members23
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $70,872,846 across 13 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $47,462 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$85,629
VIII-1e Government grants$7,718,568
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,219,547
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$2,500
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$12,023,744
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $57,656,829 · Unrelated business $313,741$57,970,570
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $25,635$25,635
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $394,272$394,272
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$12,855−$12,855
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $424,018$424,018
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $58,128,309 · Unrelated business $313,741 · Excluded from tax $407,052$70,872,846
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $61,470,748 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $16,079,612$16,079,612
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $187,108 · Management $28,617 · Fundraising $4,403$220,128
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $151,901 · Management $23,231 · Fundraising $3,574$178,706
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $15,891,435 · Management $2,430,455 · Fundraising $373,916$18,695,806
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $599,151 · Management $91,635 · Fundraising $14,098$704,884
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,844,214 · Management $282,056 · Fundraising $43,393$2,169,663
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,094,256 · Management $167,357 · Fundraising $25,747$1,287,360
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $64,562$64,562
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $90,700$90,700
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $10,000$10,000
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $22,858$22,858
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $647,731 · Management $99,065 · Fundraising $15,241$762,037
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $6,690,445 · Management $1,023,245 · Fundraising $157,422$7,871,112
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $932,674 · Management $142,644 · Fundraising $21,945$1,097,263
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $645,266 · Management $98,688 · Fundraising $15,183$759,137
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $3,663,183 · Management $560,252 · Fundraising $86,193$4,309,628
IX-17 TravelPrograms $238,168 · Management $36,426 · Fundraising $5,604$280,198
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $373,740 · Management $57,159 · Fundraising $8,793$439,692
IX-20 InterestPrograms $781,898$781,898
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,980,470$1,980,470
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $559,887 · Management $98,804$658,691
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,675,806$2,675,806
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $330,537$330,537
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $55,367,482 · Management $5,317,754 · Fundraising $785,512$61,470,748
Part X · Balance sheet $117,706,711 assets, 30 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $7,500$7,500
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $23,552,198$28,155,348
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,210,228$646,026
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,943,487$4,608,264
X-5 Loans to officers and key peopleStart of year $0$0
X-6 Loans to other insidersStart of year $0$0
X-7 Notes and loans receivableStart of year $1,480,084$996,223
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $37,382$39,843
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $451,486$895,348
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $57,044,890$58,596,870
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $17,337,670$22,246,075
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $205,386$205,386
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,125,187$1,309,828
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $104,395,498$117,706,711
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $3,742,300$6,095,301
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $5,878,431$2,784,489
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-21 Escrow or custodial accountsStart of year $0$0
X-22 Loans from officers and insidersStart of year $0$0
X-23 Secured mortgages and notes payableStart of year $21,244,277$20,848,416
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $6,950,450$5,911,645
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $37,815,458$35,639,851
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $46,344,138$57,747,825
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $20,235,902$24,319,035
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $66,580,040$82,066,860
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $104,395,498$117,706,711
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $82,066,860 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$70,872,846
XI-2 Total expenses$61,470,748
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$9,402,098
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$66,580,040
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$5,403,172
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$681,550
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$82,066,860
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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