Converse University FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Spartanburg, SC501(c)(3)Since 1889Colleges & UniversitiesEIN 57-0314380Revenue $36.5M in FY2021

On file with the IRSconverse.edu580 East Main Street 205 Carnegie B, 29302-1931 · Spartanburg, SCTax-exempt since Feb 1937School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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Converse University is a liberal arts college which offers co-ed undergraduate and graduate degrees. Converse advances a culture of belonging and collaboration that ignites creativity, innovation, and transformation.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
80¢ 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

FY2021 · 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 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $554K a year · 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
80%
of spending
Looks good: 80% 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 · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.7 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
6
named funders · $322K
Looks good: 6 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$35.6M
20% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 20% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
29
of 29 voting members
Looks good: 29 of 29 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$36.5M
+12% vs prior year
Spent
$35.3M
To programs
80%
Net assets
$143.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$36.5M
FY2021▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$32.7M
FY2021$36.5M
FY2022$42.2M
FY2023$34.7M
FY2024$41.5M
FY2025$50.7M
Expenses
$35.3M
FY2021▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$33.8M
FY2021$35.3M
FY2022$41.1M
FY2023$40.5M
FY2024$43.3M
FY2025$47.6M
Net assets
$143.4M
FY2021▲ +17%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$122.3M
FY2021$143.4M
FY2022$133.7M
FY2023$132.4M
FY2024$137.2M
FY2025$145.8M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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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 Feb 1937.

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

Where the money goes

80 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 80% · $28.4M Management & general 15% · $5.2M Fundraising 5% · $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

40 people listed on the 990; $1.4M 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
$277,100Pt VII · Sec A
VP Institutional Advancement
$163,800Pt VII · Sec A
$146,523Pt VII · Sec A
Assistant VP for Philanthropy
$123,831Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Communications Officer
$120,000Pt VII · Sec A
VP for Finance & Business
$112,167Pt VII · Sec A
Dean, Petrie School of Music
$108,000Pt VII · Sec A
Professor
$105,633Pt VII · Sec A

Dr Boone Hopkins’s $261K as President is at the 56th 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Krista Newkirk Jd———$132,982$277,100$274,600
Dr Boone Hopkins$260,915$253,415$266,827$162,299——
Joseph Wilferth—$169,612$61,733———
Krista Bofill———$93,983$163,800$160,596
Kristin Lacey$162,772$150,050$143,525$133,322$78,207—
Dr Jeffrey Barker———$86,073$146,523$143,650
L Wayde Dawson—————$130,000
Michael Pasquarella—$126,906$31,712———

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

Provides coeducational undergraduate and graduate liberal arts degrees within a collaborative, residential campus community designed to foster student creativity, learning, and personal growth.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $28.4M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Founded in 1889, converse college develops adaptable leaders who are equipped with the creativity, character, knowledge and perspective to transform the world around them. Consistently top-ranked by "U.S. News and world report", converse offers co-educational undergraduate and graduate programs.

$24.2Mprogram expense
02

Converse college is a residential college, meaning on-campus living is a valuable experience where in and out of class learning merge. From historic charm to modern ease, converse's residence halls offer diverse options to suit the needs and preferences of today's students.

$4.2Mprogram 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
See all 6 funders →
Grants paid · 3 grants · $3.2M · 2019–2021
Unitemized GrantFY2021$1,914,020
Unitemized GrantFY2020$668,909
Unitemized GrantFY2019$626,183

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$36.5M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$21.3M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$10.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$4.5M
Money outPt IX
$35.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$28.4M
Managementcol C$5.2M
Fundraisingcol D$1.7M
Owns and owesPt X
$143.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$19.6M
Total assetsLn 16$179.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$35.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
40
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a29
IndependentVI 1b29
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$10.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$5.3M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$382K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$21.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$4.5M
Gains on assetsLn 7$3.7M
Total revenueLn 12$36.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$8.3M
SavingsLn 2$11.3M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$19.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$87.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$51.1M
Other assetsLn 15$16.5M
Total assetsLn 16$179.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$35.6M
Net assetsLn 32$143.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5691
VolunteersI 627
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$21.6M$19.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$71.1M$87.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$52.4M$51.1M
Total assetsLn 16$163.7M$179.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$41.4M$35.6M
Net assetsLn 32$122.3M$143.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$5.1M$5.1M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$994K$321K$526K$147K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$12.5M$10.0M$1.9M$625K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$165K$132K$25K$8K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$2.1M$1.7M$313K$104K
Payroll taxesLn 10$960K$768K$144K$48K
Legal feesLn 11b$38K$38K
Accounting feesLn 11c$58K$58K
Investment management feesLn 11f$326K$326K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.9M$1.4M$289K$193K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$427K$299K$64K$64K
Office expensesLn 13$479K$383K$72K$24K
OccupancyLn 16$1.1M$908K$107K$53K
TravelLn 17$41K$35K$4K$2K
InterestLn 20$992K$844K$99K$50K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2.7M$2.3M$268K$134K
InsuranceLn 23$485K$485K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$2.4M$2.0M$238K$119K
All other expensesLn 24e$2.6M$2.2M$260K$144K
Total functional expensesLn 25$35.3M$28.4M$5.2M$1.7M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $50.7M$47.6M$3.1M$145.8M 990 PDF
FY2024 $41.5M$43.3M−$1.9M$137.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $34.7M$40.5M−$5.7M$132.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $42.2M$41.1M$1.1M$133.7M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $36.5M$35.3M$1.2M$143.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $32.7M$33.8M−$1.1M$122.3M 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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $36,493,779 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $8,332,797$10,736,013
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $22,847,873$21,286,655
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,579,902$4,485,265
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$76,500−$14,154
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $32,684,072$36,493,779
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $4,899,500$5,073,551
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $15,720,679$16,715,842
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $13,181,681$13,551,386
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $33,801,860$35,340,779
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$1,117,788$1,153,000
Part VI · Governance 29 of 29 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body29
VI-1b Independent voting members29
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 $36,493,779 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $9,470 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$5,288,871
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,447,142
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$381,653
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$10,736,013
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $21,277,185$21,277,185
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $758,572$758,572
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax −$14,154−$14,154
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $3,726,693$3,726,693
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $21,286,655 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $4,471,111$36,493,779
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $35,340,779 across 19 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $5,073,551$5,073,551
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $320,622 · Management $526,305 · Fundraising $147,300$994,227
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $10,006,333 · Management $1,876,188 · Fundraising $625,396$12,507,917
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $132,078 · Management $24,765 · Fundraising $8,255$165,098
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,670,839 · Management $313,282 · Fundraising $104,427$2,088,548
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $768,041 · Management $144,008 · Fundraising $48,003$960,052
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $38,263$38,263
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $58,495$58,495
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $325,855$325,855
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,444,031 · Management $288,806 · Fundraising $192,538$1,925,375
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $298,561 · Management $63,978 · Fundraising $63,978$426,517
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $383,447 · Management $71,896 · Fundraising $23,965$479,308
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $908,385 · Management $106,869 · Fundraising $53,434$1,068,688
IX-17 TravelPrograms $34,970 · Management $4,114 · Fundraising $2,057$41,141
IX-20 InterestPrograms $843,596 · Management $99,247 · Fundraising $49,623$992,466
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $2,281,459 · Management $268,407 · Fundraising $134,203$2,684,069
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $484,605$484,605
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,025,530 · Management $238,297 · Fundraising $119,149$2,382,976
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $2,239,248 · Management $260,444 · Fundraising $143,936$2,643,628
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $28,430,691 · Management $5,193,824 · Fundraising $1,716,264$35,340,779
Part X · Balance sheet $179,052,954 assets, 20 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $643,199; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $10,146,837$8,255,789
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $11,477,532$11,330,182
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,808,334$2,769,123
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $558,811$435,489
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $81,211$285,570
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $52,438,122$51,140,927
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $45,772,664$57,803,992
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $25,376,180$29,842,650
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $14,328,056$16,546,033
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $163,727,605$179,052,954
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,366,986$2,527,814
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $451,605$484,773
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $29,643,850$28,518,358
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $5,194,138$1,830,111
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $3,398,777$1,844,569
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $41,377,697$35,622,365
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $37,879,401$41,115,890
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $84,470,507$102,314,699
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $122,349,908$143,430,589
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $163,727,605$179,052,954
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $143,430,589 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$36,493,779
XI-2 Total expenses$35,340,779
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,153,000
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$122,349,908
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$14,905,533
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$5,022,148
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$143,430,589

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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