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 1939.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
84 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
57 people listed on the 990; $5.1M paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).
Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
President
$556,791Pt VII · Sec A
Exec. Vice President
$471,190Pt VII · Sec A
SR. VP - Special Asst. to the President
$441,386Pt VII · Sec A
Basketball Coach
$379,194Pt VII · Sec A
Football Coach
$344,293Pt VII · Sec A
Dean-School of Bus.
$321,147Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Pres - Uni. Advancement
$317,985Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Athletics
$311,984Pt VII · Sec A
Dean-School of Law
$305,797Pt VII · Sec A
Former Basketball Coach
$303,000Pt VII · Sec A
Provost, VP Academic Affairs
$300,213Pt VII · Sec A
President Emeritus
$284,841Pt VII · Sec A
Dean - School of Communications
$263,392Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Pres of Student Life
$195,200Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Pres.-Bus, Fin & Tech.
$126,824Pt VII · Sec A
Former - VP & Dean of Students
$123,513Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$53,884Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Youth Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
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$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
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$0Pt VII · Sec A
VP for Finance and Administration
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
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$0Pt VII · Sec A
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$0Pt VII · Sec A
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$0Pt VII · Sec A
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$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Past Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Dr Constance L Book’s $646K as President is at the 56th 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
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Constance L Book | $646,310 | $624,612 | $603,569 | $569,548 | $556,791 | $562,734 |
| Dr Leo Lambert | — | $306,116 | $298,411 | $287,022 | $284,841 | $547,265 |
| Dr Steven House | — | $122,242 | $124,432 | $217,414 | $471,190 | $348,250 |
| William Taylor | $467,446 | $455,250 | $310,415 | — | — | — |
| Gerald Whittington | — | $146,606 | $263,389 | $430,452 | $441,386 | $434,965 |
| James Piatt | $379,079 | $406,393 | $384,422 | $320,333 | $317,985 | $313,822 |
| Tony Trisciani | $393,001 | $379,053 | $353,521 | $349,034 | $344,293 | $334,362 |
| Mike Schrage | — | — | — | $389,173 | $379,194 | $309,919 |
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 Elon 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 a liberal arts undergraduate curriculum and graduate programs to transform students' minds, bodies, and spirits while encouraging freedom of thought.
Questions for Elon University
Your first name shows with your question. Elon University answers here, for everyone.
3 programs · $247.1M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01
Instruction
Expenses related to providing the primary purpose of education for undergraduate and graduate students.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 56-0532303) · Dispute this line$158.3Mprogram expense
02
Student Services
Expenses related to the primary purpose of contributing to students' emotional and physical well-being and intellectual, cultural, and social development. Athletics is included within this division.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 56-0532303) · Dispute this line$46.0Mprogram expense
03
Auxiliary Services
Expenses related to the function of furnishing goods or services to students, faculty, or staff. Examples are residence halls and food services.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 56-0532303) · Dispute this line$42.8Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Baystate Financial Charitable Foundation INCFY2025$100K
Folds of Honor FoundationFY2025$41K
Wille Fam FoundationFY2025$20K
Patriot FoundationFY2025$10K
Meoh Foundation INCFY2025$5K
Total grants receivedfrom 9 funders$197K
Grants paid · 6 grants · $439.0M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$98,401,943
Unitemized GrantFY2023$82,635,678
Unitemized GrantFY2022$72,218,357
Unitemized GrantFY2021$64,271,164
Unitemized GrantFY2020$62,203,963
Unitemized GrantFY2019$59,253,332
Federal money
Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending May 2025 · $62.1M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$55.4M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$4.9M
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$630K
Federal Perkins Loan Program_federal Capital ContributionsDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$266K
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity GrantsDepartment of Education · ALN 84.007 · Direct$266K
Plus 14 smaller programs.
The auditor reported no findings.
Year ending May 2024 · $60.6M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$54.9M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$3.5M
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$758K
Federal Perkins Loan ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$447K
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity GrantsDepartment of Education · ALN 84.007 · Direct$253K
Plus 15 smaller programs.
The auditor reported no findings.
Year ending May 2023 · $57.6M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$52.0M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$2.8M
Federal Perkins Loan ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$765K
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$618K
Covid-19 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters)Department of Homeland Security · ALN 97.036 · Through State of North Carolina Department of Public Safety$486K
Plus 15 smaller programs.
The auditor reported no findings.
Year ending May 2022 · $59.8M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$50.3M
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Direct and through State of North Carolina$4.1M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$2.8M
Perkins Loan ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.038 · Direct$1.0M
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$526K
Plus 11 smaller programs.
The auditor reported no findings.
By the numbers
The FY2021 990, line by line.
Download 990
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$352.2M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$315.0M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$29.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$7.1M
Money outPt IX
$303.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$255.3M
Managementcol C$42.1M
Fundraisingcol D$5.7M
Owns and owesPt X
$770.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$111.3M
Total assetsLn 16$1.1B
LiabilitiesLn 26$281.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
57
listed · VII A
PaidVII A17
Voting boardVI 1a40
IndependentVI 1b39
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$29.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$10.7M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$6.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$315.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$7.1M
Gains on assetsLn 7−$101K
Total revenueLn 12$352.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$111.3M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$111.3M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$3.3M
Accounts receivableLn 4$6.6M
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$4.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$495.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$431.2M
Total assetsLn 16$1.1B
LiabilitiesLn 26$281.2M
Net assetsLn 32$770.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 54,885
VolunteersI 63,582
Fiscal year endsHeaderMay
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
BondsSch K, Pt X
Tax-exempt bond debt owedX 20$205.9M
Bond issues listedSch K Pt I7
Raised by those issuesSch K Pt I$281.2M
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$6.5M
Investment feesPt IX, Sch D
Investment fees, as reportedPt IX 11f$1.8M
Share of the $327.0M endowmentSch D 1g0.55%
Typical, median of 2,202 orgs0.44%
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
| Line | FY21 | FY20 | FY19 | FY18 | FY17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End of yearLn 1g | $327.0M | $258.9M | $270.0M | $257.9M | $231.9M |
| AddedLn 1b | $8.3M | $8.6M | $16.2M | $16.4M | $15.6M |
| SpentLn 1d–1f | $13.9M | $13.4M | $12.7M | $12.5M | $11.4M |
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
| Line | Start FY21 | End FY21 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $87.1M | $111.3M |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $319.7M | $431.2M |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $471.5M | $495.1M |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $894.2M | $1.05B |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $247.9M | $281.2M |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $646.3M | $770.6M |
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to domestic individualsLn 2 | $62.2M | $62.2M | ||
| Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5 | $2.5M | $683K | $1.3M | $548K |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $113.4M | $94.4M | $15.6M | $3.4M |
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $7.5M | $6.5M | $934K | $118K |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $16.0M | $12.5M | $2.7M | $764K |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $8.5M | $7.3M | $1.1M | $163K |
| Management feesLn 11a | $11K | $11K | ||
| Legal feesLn 11b | $1.1M | $1.0M | $768 | |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $147K | $147K | $9 | |
| Professional fundraising feesLn 11e | $36K | $36K | ||
| Investment management feesLn 11f | $1.8M | $1.6M | $161K | |
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $23.4M | $20.1M | $3.3M | $25K |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $812K | $588K | $221K | $4K |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $10.3M | $8.4M | $1.6M | $241K |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $3.3M | $2.2M | $1.1M | $7K |
| RoyaltiesLn 15 | $9K | $913 | $8K | |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $8.5M | $8.2M | $246K | |
| TravelLn 17 | $9.1M | $9.0M | $94K | $90K |
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $875K | $667K | $171K | $37K |
| InterestLn 20 | $949K | $949K | ||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $15.1M | $14.8M | $230K | |
| InsuranceLn 23 | $1.8M | $307K | $1.5M | $2K |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $12.7M | $5.0M | $7.3M | $310K |
| All other expensesLn 24e | $3.1M | $0 | $3.1M | $0 |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $303.1M | $255.3M | $42.1M | $5.7M |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS Apr 9, 2026 | $441.4M | $435.5M | $5.9M | $960.0M | 990 PDF |
| FY2024Filed with the IRS Apr 9, 2025 | $413.0M | $398.3M | $14.7M | $905.4M | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS Apr 11, 2024 | $389.1M | $364.6M | $24.5M | $834.8M | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS Apr 7, 2023 | $374.2M | $328.2M | $46.1M | $803.2M | 990 PDF |
| FY2021 ViewingFiled with the IRS Apr 13, 2022 | $352.2M | $303.1M | $49.1M | $770.6M | 990 PDF |
| FY2020Filed with the IRS Apr 13, 2021 | $328.5M | $314.8M | $13.7M | $646.3M | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
A · Public support
D · Assets and endowments
I · Grants
J · Pay
M · Noncash
O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990
Part I · Summary $352,222,203 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $19,741,647$29,039,013
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $302,783,053$314,993,716
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,089,457$1,057,825
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $3,839,334$7,131,649
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $328,453,491$352,222,203
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $59,253,332$62,203,963
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $149,309,871$148,012,249
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $26,671$36,280
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $106,206,816$92,858,505
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $314,796,690$303,110,997
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $13,656,801$49,111,206
Part VI · Governance 39 of 40 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body40
VI-1b Independent voting members39
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 $352,222,203 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $3,103,970 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$10,688,798
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$18,350,215
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$6,534,856
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$29,039,013
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $314,993,716$314,993,716
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $1,431,182 · Excluded from tax −$272,252$1,158,930
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$101,105−$101,105
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $4,009,889 · Unrelated business $17,790$4,027,679
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $319,003,605 · Unrelated business $4,552,942 · Excluded from tax −$373,357$352,222,203
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $303,110,997 across 24 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $62,203,963$62,203,963
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $683,122 · Management $1,315,886 · Fundraising $547,805$2,546,813
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $94,373,548 · Management $15,633,061 · Fundraising $3,373,817$113,380,426
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $6,484,725 · Management $934,232 · Fundraising $117,887$7,536,844
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $12,526,352 · Management $2,726,479 · Fundraising $763,774$16,016,605
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $7,260,846 · Management $1,108,104 · Fundraising $162,611$8,531,561
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $10,553$10,553
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $1,049,334 · Fundraising $768$1,050,102
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $146,890 · Fundraising $9$146,899
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $36,280$36,280
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $1,629,265 · Management $160,586$1,789,851
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $20,066,729 · Management $3,284,132 · Fundraising $24,660$23,375,521
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $587,636 · Management $220,607 · Fundraising $3,668$811,911
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $8,392,249 · Management $1,632,704 · Fundraising $240,998$10,265,951
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $2,172,498 · Management $1,134,971 · Fundraising $7,014$3,314,483
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $913 · Management $8,075$8,988
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $8,204,762 · Management $245,554$8,450,316
IX-17 TravelPrograms $8,950,578 · Management $93,933 · Fundraising $89,908$9,134,419
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $666,987 · Management $170,635 · Fundraising $37,006$874,628
IX-20 InterestPrograms $948,549$948,549
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $14,844,118 · Management $230,196$15,074,314
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $307,494 · Management $1,538,637 · Fundraising $1,803$1,847,934
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $5,014,554 · Management $7,332,743 · Fundraising $310,233$12,657,530
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $0 · Management $3,096,556 · Fundraising $0$3,096,556
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $255,329,441 · Management $42,063,315 · Fundraising $5,718,241$303,110,997
Part X · Balance sheet $1,051,841,524 assets, 22 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $87,126,813$111,296,462
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $6,462,194$3,309,492
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $4,477,634$6,645,146
X-5 Loans to officers and key people$0
X-6 Loans to other insiders$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $4,830,486$4,277,134
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $471,549,729$495,075,400
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $57,605,811$120,141,353
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $260,033,521$309,424,596
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $2,082,805$1,671,941
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $291$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $894,169,284$1,051,841,524
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $20,570,313$25,937,266
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $7,497,764$8,314,659
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $170,068,089$205,893,294
X-22 Loans from officers and insiders$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $49,757,854$41,074,499
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $247,894,020$281,219,718
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $464,538,676$528,074,951
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $181,736,588$242,546,855
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $646,275,264$770,621,806
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $894,169,284$1,051,841,524
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $770,621,806 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$352,222,203
XI-2 Total expenses$303,110,997
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$49,111,206
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$646,275,264
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$76,301,885
XI-7 Investment expenses$1,789,851
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$2,856,400
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$770,621,806
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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