Thomas University INC

Tax-deductible

Thomasville, GA501(c)(3)Since 1950Colleges & UniversitiesEIN 58-0644897Revenue $21.3M in FY2025

On file with the IRSthomasu.edu1501 Millpond Rd, 31792-7478 · Thomasville, GATax-exempt since Feb 1955School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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Thomas University is an independent, not for profit, institution of higher education with undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students for successful careers and responsible citizenship in a rapidly changing and complex world.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
76¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$981K 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

FY2025 · 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 surplus $234K 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
76%
of spending
Looks good: 76% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$981K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 74% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.0 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $26K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$9.3M
37% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 37% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
21
of 22 voting members
Looks good: 21 of 22 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$21.3M
-5% vs prior year
Spent
$22.4M
To programs
76%
Net assets
$15.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$21.3M
FY2025▼ -5%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$18.0M
FY2021$19.8M
FY2022$20.5M
FY2023$19.8M
FY2024$22.4M
FY2025$21.3M
Expenses
$22.4M
FY2025▼ -3%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$17.7M
FY2021$17.4M
FY2022$20.0M
FY2023$20.1M
FY2024$22.9M
FY2025$22.4M
Net assets
$15.9M
FY2025▼ -17%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$15.1M
FY2021$19.0M
FY2022$19.0M
FY2023$18.8M
FY2024$19.2M
FY2025$15.9M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending May 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Feb 1955.

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

Where the money goes

76 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 76% · $17.1M Management & general 24% · $5.3M

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; $981K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$353,345Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Institutional Advancement
$129,055Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Enrollment
$116,148Pt VII · Sec A
$113,751Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Military/Corporate Relations
$104,000Pt VII · Sec A
Former CFO
$83,681Pt VII · Sec A
Interim CFO
$80,712Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Dr Andy Sheppard’s $353K as President is at the 74th 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
Dr Andy Sheppard$353,345$271,133$268,464$268,464$235,644$235,644
Mr Randy Livingston—$132,676$140,271$140,221$140,121$136,040
Mrs Susan Backofen—$114,205$134,050$134,000$133,900$130,000
Kurt Stringfellow$129,055—————
Mr Kurt Stringfellow—$124,876$113,637$100,291$100,291$85,000
Susan Backofen$116,148—————
Dr John K Meis$113,751$101,003$98,650$98,500$98,500$93,500
Stephen Ferguson$104,000—————

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 for successful careers and responsible citizenship through undergraduate and graduate programs.

Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $14.4M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The primary exempt purpose of thomas university is to provide educational and general instruction services through a dynamic learning environment. Innovative models for reaching learners by faculty and staff.

$7.4Mprogram expense
02

Student Services

A thomas university education includes curricular and co-curricular experiences which increase the trajectory of a student's development socially, physically, culturally, and intellectually.

$5.4Mprogram expense
03

The university conducted auxiliary programs for the convenience of students, faculty, staff, and the at-large community. These programs consist of student housing, food sales, and athletic camps.

$1.6Mprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$26K
Grants paid · 6 grants · $2.4M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$312,548
Unitemized GrantFY2023$382,303
Unitemized GrantFY2022$380,963
Unitemized GrantFY2021$193,880
Unitemized GrantFY2020$549,415
Unitemized GrantFY2019$578,796

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$21.3M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$17.4M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$656K
Money outPt IX
$22.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$17.1M
Managementcol C$5.3M
Owns and owesPt X
$15.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M
Total assetsLn 16$25.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$9.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
28
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a22
IndependentVI 1b21
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.4M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$17.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$656K
Gains on assetsLn 7$556K
Total revenueLn 12$21.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.5M
SavingsLn 2$290K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$5.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$15.9M
Other assetsLn 15$138K
Total assetsLn 16$25.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$9.3M
Net assetsLn 32$15.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5423
VolunteersI 60
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$611K$1.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$7.3M$5.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$16.1M$15.9M
Total assetsLn 16$26.2M$25.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$9.3M$9.3M
Net assetsLn 32$16.9M$15.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$2.7M$2.7M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$855K$116K$738K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$9.0M$7.8M$1.2M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$188K$45K$143K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.0M$271K$759K
Payroll taxesLn 10$722K$597K$125K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$101K$101K
Office expensesLn 13$304K$211K$93K
OccupancyLn 16$746K$688K$59K
InterestLn 20$416K$305K$111K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$784K$576K$209K
InsuranceLn 23$40K$40K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$3.5M$2.3M$1.2M
All other expensesLn 24e$2.1M$1.6M$550K
Total functional expensesLn 25$22.4M$17.1M$5.3M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $21.3M$22.4M−$1.0M$15.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $22.4M$22.9M−$530K$19.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $19.8M$20.1M−$364K$18.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $20.5M$20.0M$536K$19.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $19.8M$17.4M$2.5M$19.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 $18.0M$17.7M$335K$15.1M 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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $21,320,601 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,992,773$3,421,065
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $17,306,475$17,368,163
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $184,210$655,649
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$7,866−$124,276
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $20,475,592$21,320,601
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $2,595,287$2,654,559
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $11,975,409$11,750,631
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $8,785,588$7,955,835
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $23,356,284$22,361,025
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$2,880,692−$1,040,424
Part VI · Governance 21 of 22 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body22
VI-1b Independent voting members21
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 $21,320,601 across 7 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for −$124,276 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$2,372,831
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,048,234
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,421,065
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $17,368,163$17,368,163
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $99,384$99,384
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $556,265$556,265
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $17,899,536 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$21,320,601
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $22,361,025 across 14 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $2,654,559$2,654,559
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $116,148 · Management $738,355$854,503
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $7,762,287 · Management $1,193,381$8,955,668
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $44,915 · Management $142,888$187,803
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $271,340 · Management $758,988$1,030,328
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $596,921 · Management $125,408$722,329
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $101,493$101,493
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $211,276 · Management $93,060$304,336
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $687,789 · Management $58,621$746,410
IX-20 InterestPrograms $305,488 · Management $110,697$416,185
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $575,661 · Management $208,595$784,256
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $39,654$39,654
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,285,012 · Management $1,177,355$3,462,367
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,551,172 · Management $549,962$2,101,134
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $17,062,568 · Management $5,298,457 · Fundraising $0$22,361,025
Part X · Balance sheet $25,222,840 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $489,218$1,505,911
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $121,568$289,601
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $386,178$287,976
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,633,921$1,607,153
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $60,077$60,077
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $4,258$50,408
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $16,126,313$15,896,585
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $7,281,237$5,386,669
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $131,081$138,460
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $26,233,851$25,222,840
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $756,204$970,167
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $642,001$2,326,688
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $211,134$164,036
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $9,315,443$9,344,279
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $11,730,480$9,910,996
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $5,187,928$5,967,565
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $16,918,408$15,878,561
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $26,233,851$25,222,840
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $15,878,561 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$21,320,601
XI-2 Total expenses$22,361,025
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,040,424
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$16,918,408
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$577
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$15,878,561

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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