Clemson University Foundation FY2021 filing

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The Foundation is organized to promote the welfare and future development of Clemson University in its educational and scientific research purposes and to seek and receive gifts for the benefit of Clemson University through endowment giving and other fundraising activities, and to manage such funds prudently and within established policy. To learn more about the work of the Clemson University Foundation, please visit our website at https://www.Clemson.edu/giving/cufoundations/index.html.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
77¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$871K 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
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $37.7M a year · 43% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
77%
of spending
Looks good: 77% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$871K
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
29 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $1.02B in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 28.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
7
named funders · $604K
Looks good: 7 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$356.0M
29% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 29% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
27
of 27 voting members
Looks good: 27 of 27 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$112.5M
+73% vs prior year
Spent
$34.7M
To programs
77%
Net assets
$884.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$112.5M
FY2021▲ +73%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$65.2M
FY2021$112.5M
FY2022$80.2M
FY2023$75.0M
FY2024$75.3M
FY2025$118.6M
Expenses
$34.7M
FY2021▼ -15%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$40.9M
FY2021$34.7M
FY2022$41.2M
FY2023$47.1M
FY2024$58.9M
FY2025$77.8M
Net assets
$884.9M
FY2021▲ +36%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$650.0M
FY2021$884.9M
FY2022$868.9M
FY2023$925.6M
FY2024$1.0B
FY2025$1.1B

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 Jun 1968.

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

Where the money goes

77 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 77% · $26.8M Management & general 12% · $4.3M Fundraising 11% · $3.7M

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

32 people listed on the 990; $871K 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
Clemson University President
$607,382Pt VII · Sec A
$161,232Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$102,146Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

James Clements’s $919K as Clemson University President is at the 71st 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
James Clements$918,732$755,931$705,331$781,806$607,382$643,879
M Karen McCauley$353,466$350,802$253,338———
Jovanna King$272,601—————
Regina Steele Travis$256,163—————
April Purvis—$226,572$178,221$123,530$102,146$65,805
John C Alexander$199,312$183,484$184,428$127,809$161,232$105,847
Regina Steele—$180,678————
Timothy Jones$147,774—————

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
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II1 listed

Programs and updates

Raises, manages, and distributes private donations and endowments to support Clemson University’s educational programs, scientific research, and campus capital projects.

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2 programs · $26.8M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Program Support

Funding provided to support the educational, research, and public service mission of clemson university, including support for scholarships, fellowships, faculty support, and academic program support.

$26.1Mprogram expense
02

Capital Projects

Funding provided in support of the educational, research, and public service mission of clemson university through fundraising efforts for physical plant needs. This includes funding in support of prioritized capital projects and expenditures including renovation of existing facilities, construction of new facilities, and large dollar…

$696Kprogram 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 7 funders →
Grants paid · 11 grants · $193.9M · 2019–2024
Clemson UniversityFY2024$48,594,337
Clemson Alumni AssociationSC · FY2024$97,063
Clemson UniversityFY2023$33,446,392
Clemson UniversityFY2022$29,160,761
Clemson UniversityFY2021$26,133,721
Clemson UniversityFY2020$23,454,361
Clemson UniversityFY2019$27,010,310
IptaySC · FY2019$30,720
Clemson Alumni AssociationSC · FY2019$7,090

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$112.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$91.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$17.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.9M
Money outPt IX
$34.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$26.8M
Managementcol C$4.3M
Fundraisingcol D$3.7M
Owns and owesPt X
$884.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$83.4M
Total assetsLn 16$1.2B
LiabilitiesLn 26$356.0M
PeoplePt VI, VII
32
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a27
IndependentVI 1b27
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$91.2M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$6.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$17.4M
Gains on assetsLn 7$11.7M
Total revenueLn 12$112.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$83.4M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$83.4M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$118.6M
Loans to officers and key peopleLn 5$832K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$388K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$9.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.02B
Other assetsLn 15$8.3M
Total assetsLn 16$1.2B
LiabilitiesLn 26$356.0M
Net assetsLn 32$884.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 535
VolunteersI 6144
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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$6.5M
Investment feesPt IX, Sch D
Investment fees, as reportedPt IX 11f$1.7M
Share of the $693.8M endowmentSch D 1g0.24%
Typical, median of 2,202 orgs0.44%
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY21FY20FY19FY18FY17
End of yearLn 1g$693.8M$515.7M$511.2M$483.9M$454.3M
Given inLn 1b$37.6M$18.6M$13.8M$18.3M$11.8M
SpentLn 1d–1f$18.0M$16.8M$15.6M$24.7M$13.5M
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$77.5M$83.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$783.9M$1.02B
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$9.2M$9.2M
Total assetsLn 16$944.3M$1.24B
LiabilitiesLn 26$294.4M$356.0M
Net assetsLn 32$650.0M$884.9M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$23.7M$23.7M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$783K$232K$551K
Payroll taxesLn 10$34K$16K$18K
Legal feesLn 11b$31K$31K
Accounting feesLn 11c$81K$81K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$134K$134K
Investment management feesLn 11f$1.7M$1.7M
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.0M$1.4M$340K$250K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$194K$132K$62K
Office expensesLn 13$651K$335K$70K$246K
Information technologyLn 14$454K$454K
OccupancyLn 16$323K$148K$114K$61K
TravelLn 17$402K$152K$6K$244K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$32K$32K
InsuranceLn 23$148K$11K$137K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$4.1M$896K$1.1M$2.1M
Total functional expensesLn 25$34.7M$26.8M$4.3M$3.7M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS May 12, 2026 $118.6M$77.8M$40.7M$1.1B 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS May 12, 2025 $75.3M$58.9M$16.4M$1.0B 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS May 13, 2024 $75.0M$47.1M$28.0M$925.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $80.2M$41.2M$39.1M$868.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 ViewingFiled with the IRS May 14, 2022 $112.5M$34.7M$77.8M$884.9M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS May 17, 2021 $65.2M$40.9M$24.3M$650.0M 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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $112,486,660 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $45,528,366$91,212,564
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $4,430,413$3,879,838
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $15,228,237$17,394,258
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $65,187,016$112,486,660
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $27,227,264$23,683,425
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $907,672$816,456
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $193,087$134,174
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $12,580,163$10,083,338
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $40,908,186$34,717,393
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $24,278,830$77,769,267
Part VI · Governance 27 of 27 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body27
VI-1b Independent voting members27
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 $112,486,660 across 8 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $2,808 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1d Related organizations$931,972
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$90,280,592
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$6,496,673
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$91,212,564
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $3,877,030$3,877,030
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $20,332 · Excluded from tax $5,708,367$5,728,699
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $11,665,559$11,665,559
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $3,879,838 · Unrelated business $20,332 · Excluded from tax $17,373,926$112,486,660
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $34,717,393 across 16 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $23,683,425$23,683,425
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $232,336 · Fundraising $550,572$782,908
IX-10 Payroll taxesManagement $15,938 · Fundraising $17,610$33,548
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $30,806$30,806
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $81,174$81,174
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $134,174$134,174
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $1,684,502$1,684,502
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,393,801 · Management $339,645 · Fundraising $249,842$1,983,288
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $131,990 · Fundraising $61,718$193,708
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $334,715 · Management $70,303 · Fundraising $245,738$650,756
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $454,158$454,158
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $148,233 · Management $113,754 · Fundraising $60,914$322,901
IX-17 TravelPrograms $152,103 · Management $6,125 · Fundraising $243,659$401,887
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $32,327$32,327
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $10,911 · Management $137,174$148,085
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $896,166 · Management $1,099,492 · Fundraising $2,104,088$4,099,746
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $26,751,344 · Management $4,297,734 · Fundraising $3,668,315$34,717,393
Part X · Balance sheet $1,240,950,463 assets, 19 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $77,501,729$83,428,925
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $69,381,413$118,646,804
X-5 Loans to officers and key peopleStart of year $491,280$831,798
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $420,084$388,270
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $9,228,623$9,196,296
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $545,886,765$717,558,521
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $218,019,342$282,577,728
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $20,000,000$20,000,000
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $3,419,001$8,322,121
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $944,348,237$1,240,950,463
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $257,421$901,646
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $4,000,000$0
X-21 Escrow or custodial accountsStart of year $84,360,217$99,027,121
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $205,778,753$256,095,361
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $294,396,391$356,024,128
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $40,154,813$62,654,828
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $609,797,033$822,271,507
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $649,951,846$884,926,335
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $944,348,237$1,240,950,463
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $884,926,335 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$112,486,660
XI-2 Total expenses$34,717,393
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$77,769,267
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$649,951,846
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$154,129,094
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$3,076,128
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$884,926,335

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

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