Cornerstone University FY2024 filing

Tax-deductible

Grand Rapids, MI501(c)(3)Since 1941Colleges & UniversitiesEIN 38-1443369Revenue $53.6M in FY2024

On file with the IRScornerstone.edu1001 E Beltline Ave Ne, 49525-5803 · Grand Rapids, MITax-exempt since May 1994School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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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

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
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
Looks good: 3.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
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
$7.5M
7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 7% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 15 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$53.6M
+0.4% vs prior year
Spent
$55.3M
To programs
82%
Net assets
$97.8M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$53.6M
FY2024+0.4%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$58.1M
FY2022$59.9M
FY2023$53.4M
FY2024$53.6M
FY2025$47.2M
Expenses
$55.3M
FY2024▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$50.2M
FY2022$56.2M
FY2023$53.4M
FY2024$55.3M
FY2025$48.2M
Net assets
$97.8M
FY2024>-0.01%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$96.1M
FY2022$98.2M
FY2023$97.8M
FY2024$97.8M
FY2025$97.7M

From the FY2024 Form 990 (year ending May 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 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% · $45.5M Management & general 15% · $8.1M Fundraising 3% · $1.7M

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

26 people listed on the 990; $1.4M 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
$331,369Pt VII · Sec A
VP Chief of Staff
$187,200Pt VII · Sec A
VP for Academics
$136,236Pt VII · Sec A
Sec Dir of Accreditation
$130,090Pt VII · Sec A
$127,983Pt VII · Sec A
Avp Marketing
$125,490Pt VII · Sec A
$114,100Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Advancement
$113,110Pt 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.

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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.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $45.5M · in their own filed words · FY2023
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.

$29.0Mprogram 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.

$9.8Mprogram expense
03

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

$6.8Mprogram 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 FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$53.6M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$47.1M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$345K
Money outPt IX
$55.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$45.5M
Managementcol C$8.1M
Fundraisingcol D$1.7M
Owns and owesPt X
$97.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$15.1M
Total assetsLn 16$105.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.5M
PeoplePt VI, VII
26
listed · VII A
PaidVII A10
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$230K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$178K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$62K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$47.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$345K
Other incomeLn 4–11$197K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$83K
Total revenueLn 12$53.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$92K
SavingsLn 2$15.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$15.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$18.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$68.4M
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$105.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.5M
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$12.0M$15.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$17.6M$18.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$70.9M$68.4M
Total assetsLn 16$104.7M$105.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.9M$7.5M
Net assetsLn 32$97.8M$97.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$16.2M$16.2M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$958K$731K$174K$53K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$17.2M$13.1M$3.1M$946K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$751K$460K$256K$35K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$3.4M$2.1M$1.1M$158K
Payroll taxesLn 10$1.2M$740K$413K$57K
Legal feesLn 11b$234K$4K$230K
Accounting feesLn 11c$46K$46K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$63K$63K
Investment management feesLn 11f$76K$76K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$0$0$0$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2.0M$2.0M$22K
Office expensesLn 13$5.6M$4.7M$531K$339K
Information technologyLn 14$1.4M$146K$1.3M
OccupancyLn 16$1.2M$602K$630K
TravelLn 17$666K$593K$35K$39K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$88K$74K$10K$4K
InterestLn 20$38K$36K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$3.6M$3.4M$144K
InsuranceLn 23$306K$294K$12K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$331K$312K$19K
All other expensesLn 24e$0$0$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$55.3M$45.5M$8.1M$1.7M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $47.2M$48.2M−$993K$97.7M 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $53.6M$55.3M−$1.7M$97.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $53,639,419 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $6,580,347$6,011,527
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $46,579,760$47,085,224
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $165,277$345,364
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $85,812$197,304
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $53,411,196$53,639,419
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $15,916,380$16,183,816
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $22,032,691$23,443,751
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $17,994$62,917
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $15,395,882$15,636,004
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $53,362,947$55,326,488
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $48,249−$1,687,069
Part VI · Governance 15 of 17 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members15
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 $53,639,419 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $823,808 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$61,911
VIII-1d Related organizations$72,398
VIII-1e Government grants$229,762
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,647,456
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$177,729
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$6,011,527
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $46,261,416$46,261,416
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business −$261 · Excluded from tax $428,671$428,410
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossUnrelated business $81,509 · Excluded from tax $144,534$226,043
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$83,046−$83,046
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$28,739−$28,739
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $47,085,224 · Unrelated business $81,248 · Excluded from tax $461,420$53,639,419
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $55,326,488 across 22 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $16,183,816$16,183,816
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $731,224 · Management $173,545 · Fundraising $52,731$957,500
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $13,114,846 · Management $3,112,616 · Fundraising $945,759$17,173,221
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $459,825 · Management $256,297 · Fundraising $35,333$751,455
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $2,050,806 · Management $1,143,077 · Fundraising $157,586$3,351,469
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $740,479 · Management $412,728 · Fundraising $56,899$1,210,106
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $4,031 · Management $230,153$234,184
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $46,050$46,050
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $62,917$62,917
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $75,736$75,736
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $2,003,823 · Fundraising $22,394$2,026,217
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $4,702,918 · Management $530,764 · Fundraising $339,244$5,572,926
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $146,001 · Management $1,284,702$1,430,703
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $602,110 · Management $629,925$1,232,035
IX-17 TravelPrograms $592,986 · Management $34,579 · Fundraising $38,844$666,409
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $73,867 · Management $9,654 · Fundraising $4,492$88,013
IX-20 InterestPrograms $36,198 · Management $1,905$38,103
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $3,444,810 · Management $143,534$3,588,344
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $294,090 · Management $12,254$306,344
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $311,765 · Fundraising $19,175$330,940
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $45,493,595 · Management $8,097,519 · Fundraising $1,735,374$55,326,488
Part X · Balance sheet $105,225,637 assets, 18 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $277,608; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $106,229$91,531
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $11,884,936$15,016,256
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,851,945$760,536
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,479,382$1,659,624
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $40,242$20,930
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $528,270$820,069
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $70,859,965$68,370,232
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $17,586,129$18,208,851
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $104,686,388$105,225,637
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,666,236$2,716,378
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,565,340$1,730,234
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $208,266$261,161
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $6,919,386$7,460,401
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $52,508,934$51,136,415
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $45,258,068$46,628,821
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $97,767,002$97,765,236
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $104,686,388$105,225,637
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $97,765,236 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$53,639,419
XI-2 Total expenses$55,326,488
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,687,069
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$97,767,002
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,586,703
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$11,532
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$87,068
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$97,765,236

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

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