Cornerstone University FY2023 filing

Tax-deductible

Grand Rapids, MI501(c)(3)Since 1941Colleges & UniversitiesEIN 38-1443369

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Cornerstone University exists to empower men and women to excel as influencers in our world for Christ by offering a student-focused learning community where Jesus Christ is central.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
82¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.4M 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

FY2023 · 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
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.8M a year · 3% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
82%
of spending
Looks good: 82% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.4M
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
Cash reserves
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.7 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
21
named funders · $774K
Looks good: 21 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$6.9M
7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 7% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
18
of 19 voting members
Looks good: 18 of 19 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$53.4M
-11% vs prior year
Spent
$53.4M
To programs
82%
Net assets
$97.8M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$53.4M
FY2023▼ -11%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$58.1M
FY2022$59.9M
FY2023$53.4M
FY2024$53.6M
FY2025$47.2M
Expenses
$53.4M
FY2023▼ -5%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$50.2M
FY2022$56.2M
FY2023$53.4M
FY2024$55.3M
FY2025$48.2M
Net assets
$97.8M
FY2023-0.4%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$96.1M
FY2022$98.2M
FY2023$97.8M
FY2024$97.8M
FY2025$97.7M

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending May 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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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 1994.

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

Where the money goes

82 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 82% · $44.0M Management & general 14% · $7.7M Fundraising 3% · $1.6M

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

28 people listed on the 990; $1.4M 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
$332,681Pt VII · Sec A
VP Chief of Staff
$166,056Pt VII · Sec A
Exec Dir of Accreditation
$131,165Pt VII · Sec A
$126,778Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Advancement
$114,725Pt VII · Sec A
Nursing Faculty
$112,686Pt VII · Sec A
$111,201Pt VII · Sec A
Associate Vice President for Academics
$110,166Pt VII · Sec A

Dr Gerson Moreno-Riano’s $331K 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Dr Gerson Moreno-Riano$331,369$332,681$221,229—
Dr Joseph Stowell——$81,443$195,266
Heidi Cece$187,200$166,056——
Peter Osborn——$153,163$147,752
John Verberkmoes$130,090$131,165$126,719$140,169
Bradford Sample$136,236$72,486——
Scott Stewart$127,983$126,778$111,782$102,768
Neil Cummings$125,490———

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 Cornerstone University executive salaries →

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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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Educates students to become Christ-centered influencers in the world.

Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $44.0M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Academic instruction and academic support make up the educational expenses. The university has over 270 full- and part-time staff and faculty. We have just under 2000 students on a 120-acre campus and online.

$28.1Mprogram expense
02

Student services includes campus life and activities including athletics, health counseling services, enrollment services financial aid, etc. Organized activities include summer sports camps, golf outings, special academic and athletic trips, banquets, and other miscellaneous activities.

$9.4Mprogram expense
03

Auxiliaries include room and board, apartment rentals, hospitality and events, and radio ministries. Cornerstone Radio Ministries includes the operations of five non-commercial radio stations WCSG, Grand Rapids with signals also in Kalamazoo, Benton Harbor and Battle Creek.

$6.5Mprogram 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 · FY2024
See all 21 funders →
Grants paid · 6 grants · $63.5M · 2020–2023
Unitemized GrantFY2023$16,183,816
Unitemized GrantFY2022$15,916,380
Unitemized GrantFY2021$15,453,623
Unitemized GrantFY2021$2,356,990
Unitemized GrantFY2020$12,874,841
Unitemized GrantFY2020$757,146

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$53.4M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$46.6M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$165K
Money outPt IX
$53.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$44.0M
Managementcol C$7.7M
Fundraisingcol D$1.6M
Owns and owesPt X
$97.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$12.0M
Total assetsLn 16$104.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.9M
PeoplePt VI, VII
28
listed · VII A
PaidVII A10
Voting boardVI 1a19
IndependentVI 1b18
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$236K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$217K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$217K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$46.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$165K
Other incomeLn 4–11$86K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$301K
Total revenueLn 12$53.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$106K
SavingsLn 2$11.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$12.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$17.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$70.9M
Total assetsLn 16$104.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.9M
Net assetsLn 32$97.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51,148
VolunteersI 6170
Fiscal year endsHeaderMay
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$15.3M$12.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$17.6M$17.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$71.5M$70.9M
Total assetsLn 16$108.3M$104.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$10.1M$6.9M
Net assetsLn 32$98.2M$97.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$15.9M$15.9M
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$1.0M$248K$487K$275K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$16.4M$13.5M$2.1M$761K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$693K$536K$112K$45K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$2.7M$1.6M$1.0M$109K
Payroll taxesLn 10$1.2M$946K$163K$66K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$140K$6K$135K
Accounting feesLn 11c$52K$52K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$18K$18K
Investment management feesLn 11f$110K$110K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$767K$727K$1K$38K
Office expensesLn 13$6.2M$4.9M$1.0M$254K
Information technologyLn 14$1.8M$131K$1.6M$3K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$1.2M$575K$623K
TravelLn 17$747K$649K$51K$47K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$107K$100K$6K$2K
InterestLn 20$115K$111K$4K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$3.6M$3.4M$142K
InsuranceLn 23$296K$284K$12K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$379K$360K$19K
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$53.4M$44.0M$7.7M$1.6M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $47.2M$48.2M−$993K$97.7M 990 PDF
FY2024 $53.6M$55.3M−$1.7M$97.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $53.4M$53.4M$48K$97.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $59.9M$56.2M$3.7M$98.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $58.1M$50.2M$7.9M$96.1M 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 FY2023 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $53,411,196 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $565,952 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$216,907
VIII-1d Related organizations$106,601
VIII-1e Government grants$236,496
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$6,020,343
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$217,400
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$6,580,347
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $46,013,808$46,013,808
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $465,896$465,896
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $46,291 · Unrelated business $85,294$131,585
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$300,619−$300,619
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$45,773−$45,773
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $46,626,051 · Unrelated business $85,294 · Excluded from tax $119,504$53,411,196
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $53,362,947 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $15,916,380$15,916,380
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 $247,534 · Management $487,307 · Fundraising $274,765$1,009,606
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $13,543,625 · Management $2,113,470 · Fundraising $761,104$16,418,199
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $535,954 · Management $111,592 · Fundraising $45,378$692,924
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,604,200 · Management $1,023,789 · Fundraising $109,126$2,737,115
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $946,339 · Management $162,981 · Fundraising $65,527$1,174,847
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $5,575 · Management $134,531$140,106
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $52,450$52,450
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $17,994$17,994
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $109,999$109,999
IX-11g Other fees for services$0
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $727,154 · Management $1,408 · Fundraising $37,987$766,549
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $4,865,397 · Management $1,049,456 · Fundraising $253,547$6,168,400
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $130,629 · Management $1,624,041 · Fundraising $2,929$1,757,599
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $574,636 · Management $623,259$1,197,895
IX-17 TravelPrograms $649,413 · Management $51,016 · Fundraising $47,024$747,453
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $99,601 · Management $5,963 · Fundraising $1,606$107,170
IX-20 InterestPrograms $110,556 · Management $4,144$114,700
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $3,416,013 · Management $142,333$3,558,346
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $284,352 · Management $11,848$296,200
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $360,056 · Fundraising $18,959$379,015
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $44,017,414 · Management $7,709,587 · Fundraising $1,635,946$53,362,947
Part X · Balance sheet $104,686,388 assets, 18 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $349,290; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $124,023$106,229
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $15,185,326$11,884,936
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,895,558$1,851,945
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,108,592$1,479,382
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $87,481$40,242
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $434,302$528,270
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $71,499,304$70,859,965
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $17,610,810$17,586,129
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $108,326,203$104,686,388
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $3,108,998$2,666,236
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,983,178$1,565,340
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $3,165,000$2,120,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $224,530$208,266
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $10,142,732$6,919,386
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $51,767,889$52,508,934
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $46,415,582$45,258,068
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $98,183,471$97,767,002
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $108,326,203$104,686,388
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $97,767,002 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$53,411,196
XI-2 Total expenses$53,362,947
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$48,249
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$98,183,471
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$464,718
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$97,767,002

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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