You’re viewing the FY2023 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
29 people listed on the 990; $1.0M paid to officers and key staff.
Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
President
$314,893Pt VII · Sec A
Provost/Cao
$139,396Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Vice President
$130,205Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Finance & Administration
$125,113Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Information Officer
$119,726Pt VII · Sec A
VP for Enrollment Management
$105,576Pt VII · Sec A
Professor Electrical Engineer
$103,205Pt 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
Secretary-Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Chairman (start 06/22)
$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
Vice Chairman (start 06/22)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Members
$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 · $53.7M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01
Spring arbor university is a christian institution serving over 2,390 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.
$53.7Mprogram 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 FY2023 990, line by line.
Download 990
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$57.8M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$51.7M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$325K
Money outPt IX
$59.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$53.7M
Managementcol C$5.0M
Fundraisingcol D$721K
Owns and owesPt X
$90.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$24.3M
Total assetsLn 16$116.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$26.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
29
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a22
IndependentVI 1b21
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.4M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.5M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$806K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$73K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$51.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$325K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$680K
Total revenueLn 12$57.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$6K
SavingsLn 2$24.3M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$24.3M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$5.6M
Accounts receivableLn 4$3.8M
Notes and loans receivableLn 7$273K
Inventories for sale or useLn 8$22K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$1.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$56.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$22.4M
Other assetsLn 15$2.7M
Total assetsLn 16$116.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$26.6M
Net assetsLn 32$90.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51,118
VolunteersI 620
Fiscal year endsHeaderMay
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$809K
Investment feesPt IX, Sch D
Investment fees, as reportedPt IX 11f$28K
Share of the $22.3M endowmentSch D 1g0.12%
Typical, median of 1,806 orgs0.44%
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
| Line | FY23 | FY22 | FY21 | FY20 | FY19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End of yearLn 1g | $22.3M | $22.3M | $24.1M | $17.6M | $16.9M |
| Given inLn 1b | $1.1M | $800K | $1.6M | $553K | $1.2M |
| SpentLn 1d–1f | $815K | $462K | $599K | $558K | $523K |
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
| Line | Start FY23 | End FY23 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $31.2M | $24.3M |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $22.4M | $22.4M |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $56.8M | $56.5M |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $121.0M | $116.7M |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $30.1M | $26.6M |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $90.9M | $90.1M |
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 | $15.8M | $15.8M | ||
| 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 | $497K | $423K | $65K | $10K |
| Pay of disqualified personsLn 6 | $80K | $68K | $10K | $2K |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $15.8M | $13.4M | $2.1M | $316K |
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $653K | $555K | $85K | $13K |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $2.1M | $1.8M | $277K | $43K |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $1.2M | $1.0M | $160K | $25K |
| Management feesLn 11a | $0 | |||
| Legal feesLn 11b | $56K | $56K | ||
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $107K | $107K | ||
| Lobbying feesLn 11d | $0 | |||
| Professional fundraising feesLn 11e | $0 | |||
| Investment management feesLn 11f | $28K | $28K | ||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $991K | $842K | $129K | $20K |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $4.5M | $3.8M | $586K | $90K |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $3.3M | $2.8M | $424K | $65K |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $0 | |||
| RoyaltiesLn 15 | $0 | |||
| OccupancyLn 16 | $4.4M | $3.7M | $573K | $88K |
| TravelLn 17 | $2.2M | $1.9M | $286K | $44K |
| Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18 | $0 | |||
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $276K | $235K | $36K | $6K |
| InterestLn 20 | $555K | $555K | ||
| Payments to affiliatesLn 21 | $0 | |||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $2.3M | $2.3M | ||
| InsuranceLn 23 | $506K | $430K | $76K | |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $4.0M | $4.0M | ||
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $59.4M | $53.7M | $5.0M | $721K |
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 |
| FY2023 ViewingFiled 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 |
| FY2021Filed 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
M · Noncash
J · Pay
O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $57,791,065 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $15,403,266$6,423,100
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $53,714,565$51,694,260
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $851,683−$355,147
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $910,159$28,852
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $70,879,673$57,791,065
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $17,738,162$15,758,938
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $20,522,941$20,389,264
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $22,462,123$23,237,491
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $60,723,226$59,385,693
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $10,156,447−$1,594,628
Part VI · Governance 21 of 22 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body22
VI-1b Independent voting members21
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 $57,791,065 across 13 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $62,433 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$73,300
VIII-1e Government grants$2,473,680
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,876,120
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$806,468
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$6,423,100
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $51,346,391 · Unrelated business $347,869$51,694,260
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $325,353$325,353
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$680,500−$680,500
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$33,676−$33,676
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $95$95
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $51,408,919 · Unrelated business $347,869 · Excluded from tax −$388,823$57,791,065
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $59,385,693 across 30 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $15,758,938$15,758,938
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 $422,688 · Management $64,646 · Fundraising $9,946$497,280
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $68,190 · Management $10,429 · Fundraising $1,605$80,224
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $13,426,399 · Management $2,053,449 · Fundraising $315,915$15,795,763
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $555,326 · Management $84,932 · Fundraising $13,067$653,325
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,811,242 · Management $277,014 · Fundraising $42,617$2,130,873
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,047,029 · Management $160,134 · Fundraising $24,636$1,231,799
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $55,619$55,619
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $106,775$106,775
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising fees$0
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $27,861$27,861
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $842,449 · Management $128,845 · Fundraising $19,822$991,116
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $3,832,923 · Management $586,212 · Fundraising $90,186$4,509,321
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $2,770,241 · Management $423,684 · Fundraising $65,182$3,259,107
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $3,744,631 · Management $572,708 · Fundraising $88,109$4,405,448
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,870,952 · Management $286,146 · Fundraising $44,022$2,201,120
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $234,809 · Management $35,912 · Fundraising $5,525$276,246
IX-20 InterestPrograms $554,984$554,984
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $2,342,632$2,342,632
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $430,069 · Management $75,895$505,964
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $4,001,298$4,001,298
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $53,714,800 · Management $4,950,261 · Fundraising $720,632$59,385,693
Part X · Balance sheet $116,679,644 assets, 30 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $7,500$6,300
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $31,205,941$24,282,491
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $6,345,242$5,623,573
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,220,937$3,814,096
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 $717,087$273,249
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $23,465$21,953
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $734,072$1,019,885
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $56,789,526$56,549,825
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $22,239,042$22,164,919
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $205,385$205,385
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,498,396$2,717,968
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $120,986,593$116,679,644
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $4,687,145$1,919,364
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $2,449,449$2,404,885
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 $19,268,048$18,468,798
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $3,681,186$3,830,531
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $30,085,828$26,623,578
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $61,432,208$60,420,678
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $29,468,557$29,635,388
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $90,900,765$90,056,066
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $120,986,593$116,679,644
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $90,056,066 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$57,791,065
XI-2 Total expenses$59,385,693
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,594,628
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$90,900,765
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$142,607
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$607,322
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$90,056,066
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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