Mission of challenge, nurture, community: Carson-Newman college offers a christian, liberal arts education in an environment that encourages open intellectual inquiry and deeper spiritual maturity. Students receive a personalized education in small classes. Caring faculty and staff mentors get to know and nurture each student. We seek to instill christian values in our students and inspire them to use unique gifts for a lifetime of service. The historic baptist distinctives of religious liberty, personal responsibility, and compassion for others create a welcoming community that fosters a sense of belonging. The cultural heritage and geographic beauty of the appalachian region enriches the Carson-Newman experience, and the college contributes to the environmental preservation adn economic development of this national treasure. Vision: to become a premier christian liberal arts college with a world-wide impact.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

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
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $2.5M a year · 4% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $21K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$41.7M
26% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 26% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
26
of 26 voting members
Looks good: 26 of 26 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$65.3M
-8% vs prior year
Spent
$44.4M
To programs
83%
Net assets
$118.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$65.3M
FY2021▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$70.7M
FY2021$65.3M
FY2022$42.3M
FY2023$57.6M
FY2024$58.7M
FY2025$48.4M
Expenses
$44.4M
FY2021▼ -36%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$69.2M
FY2021$44.4M
FY2022$49.1M
FY2023$50.6M
FY2024$55.6M
FY2025$58.9M
Net assets
$118.7M
FY2021▲ +21%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$97.7M
FY2021$118.7M
FY2022$111.9M
FY2023$118.9M
FY2024$122.0M
FY2025$111.5M

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

Give Claim
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 Nov 1933.

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

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $36.6M Management & general 15% · $6.8M Fundraising 2% · $956K

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

32 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Charles Flower’s $196K as President is at the 35th 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2020
Charles Flower$195,874$201,193$210,000$124,560
Jeremy Buckner$157,635$165,456$157,500$122,846
Kevin Triplett$142,654$154,350$147,000—
Robert Key$147,618$134,583$124,247—
James Ingram$146,760———
Michael Scott Fualkenberry———$140,667
Eugene Pope$121,519$136,159$129,675$116,646
Mrs Martha H Chambers———$127,546

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 Carson-Newman University executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Provides Christian liberal arts education, nurturing students for lifelong service.

Questions for Carson-Newman University

Tap to ask. Carson-Newman University sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Carson-Newman University answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Carson-newman college is a private, christian-based liberal-arts not-for- profit institution of higher education which is operated under the auspices of the tennessee baptist convention. The college provides undergraduate and graduate instruction to approximately 2,560 students, academic support that includes library services, tutoring…

Pt IX · col B
02

Carson-newman college provides auxiliary enterprises taht include housing for approximately 935 full-time students residential students, food service, a bookstore, and facilities for summer programs operated by lifeway ministries for approximately 4,000 children.

Pt IX · col B
03

Carson-newman college provides student services that include admissions, orientation, registration, financial-aid assistance counseling, academic support and career counseling, psychological counseling, intramural programs, and inter-collegiate athletics.

Pt IX · col B

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$21K
Grants paid · 1 grant · $26.5M · 2019–2019
Unitemized GrantFY2019$26,490,945

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$65.3M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$36.5M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$17.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$11.7M
Money outPt IX
$44.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$36.6M
Managementcol C$6.8M
Fundraisingcol D$956K
Owns and owesPt X
$118.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$16.6M
Total assetsLn 16$160.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$41.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
32
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a26
IndependentVI 1b26
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$17.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$5.1M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$337K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$36.5M
Other incomeLn 4–11$11.7M
Total revenueLn 12$65.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$16.6M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$16.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$65.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$65.1M
Other assetsLn 15$9.1M
Total assetsLn 16$160.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$41.7M
Net assetsLn 32$118.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51,183
VolunteersI 625
Fiscal year endsHeaderJuly
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$14.6M$16.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$56.3M$65.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$64.1M$65.1M
Total assetsLn 16$147.0M$160.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$49.2M$41.7M
Net assetsLn 32$97.7M$118.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$17.5M$15.1M$2.0M$489K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$4.1M$3.2M$773K$107K
TravelLn 17$552K$458K$73K$21K
InterestLn 20$739K$629K$110K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2.8M$2.5M$245K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$18.7M$14.7M$3.6M$339K
Total functional expensesLn 25$44.4M$36.6M$6.8M$956K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $48.4M$58.9M−$10.5M$111.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $58.7M$55.6M$3.1M$122.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $57.6M$50.6M$7.0M$118.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $42.3M$49.1M−$6.8M$111.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $65.3M$44.4M$20.9M$118.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 $70.7M$69.2M$1.5M$97.7M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $65,286,029 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $6,811,887$17,143,640
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $63,475,063$36,477,735
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $403,128$11,664,654
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $70,690,078$65,286,029
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $26,490,945$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $22,163,891$21,592,553
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $20,543,554$22,780,227
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $69,198,390$44,372,780
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,491,688$20,913,249
Part VI · Governance 26 of 26 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body26
VI-1b Independent voting members26
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
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
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $65,286,029 across 7 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $203,044 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$5,123,394
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$12,020,246
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$336,714
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$17,143,640
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $36,477,735$36,477,735
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $11,461,610$11,461,610
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $48,142,389$65,286,029
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $44,372,780 across 6 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $15,052,355 · Management $1,951,615 · Fundraising $489,082$17,493,052
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $3,219,426 · Management $772,892 · Fundraising $107,183$4,099,501
IX-17 TravelPrograms $458,088 · Management $72,597 · Fundraising $21,355$552,040
IX-20 InterestPrograms $628,785 · Management $109,722$738,507
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $2,549,150 · Management $245,280$2,794,430
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $14,711,456 · Management $3,645,041 · Fundraising $338,753$18,695,250
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $36,619,260 · Management $6,797,147 · Fundraising $956,373$44,372,780
Part X · Balance sheet $160,428,637 assets, 15 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $950,830; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $14,580,259$16,611,341
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $2,041,368$1,824,691
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,066,431$1,269,934
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $64,111,156$65,147,848
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $56,301,975$65,527,670
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $7,703,451$9,096,323
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $146,955,025$160,428,637
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,579,935$1,293,177
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $4,508,874$2,690,491
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $43,142,072$37,756,083
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $49,230,881$41,739,751
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $21,289,057$30,837,665
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $76,435,087$87,851,221
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $97,724,144$118,688,886
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $146,955,025$160,428,637
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $118,688,886 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$65,286,029
XI-2 Total expenses$44,372,780
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$20,913,249
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$97,724,144
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$51,493
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$118,688,886

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

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.