Lee University is a private, comprehensive University located in cleveland, tennessee. The University is operated under the auspices of the church of god and is governed by a board of trustees.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.2M 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
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $5.8M a year · 6% 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
81%
of spending
Looks good: 81% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.2M
to officers and key staff · 1% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 1% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $42.6M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 0.6 months of spending in cash, plus $42.6M in investments.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $92K
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$21.1M
10% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 10% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
24
of 24 voting members
Looks good: 24 of 24 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$111.3M
+22% vs prior year
Spent
$93.2M
To programs
81%
Net assets
$187.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$111.3M
FY2025▲ +22%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$106.1M
FY2021$108.0M
FY2022$108.8M
FY2023$97.3M
FY2024$91.6M
FY2025$111.3M
Expenses
$93.2M
FY2025▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$102.9M
FY2021$101.3M
FY2022$105.9M
FY2023$93.5M
FY2024$91.4M
FY2025$93.2M
Net assets
$187.2M
FY2025▲ +11%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$152.3M
FY2021$163.5M
FY2022$160.8M
FY2023$166.2M
FY2024$169.4M
FY2025$187.2M

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

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Oct 1951.

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

Where the money goes

81 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 81% · $75.2M Management & general 19% · $18.0M

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

34 people listed on the 990; $1.2M 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
President and Chancellor
$170,643Pt VII · Sec A
Professor of Voice
$158,297Pt VII · Sec A
Former President
$146,090Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President for Business & Finance
$140,984Pt VII · Sec A
Chair, Department of Natural Sciences
$125,025Pt VII · Sec A
$123,819Pt VII · Sec A
Dean, College of Education
$119,472Pt VII · Sec A
Associate Professor of Violin
$119,300Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Charles Paul Conn$170,643$205,431$265,717$175,926——
Mark Walker$146,090$201,045$207,654$210,758$165,337$131,995
Paul Conn————$146,164$162,897
Andrea Dismukes$158,297—————
Chris Conine$140,984$152,241$150,717$147,484$146,291$146,346
Christopher Coulter——$138,843———
Sara Campbell—$135,400$124,088$123,332$121,576$119,404
Deborah Murray$123,819$132,819$133,319$130,269$128,819$118,819

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 Lee 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 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides Christian liberal arts and professional education, integrating faith with academics.

Questions for Lee University

Tap to ask. Lee University sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Lee University answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $66.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Instructional Expenses

Instruction is provided to approximately 2,961 full time equivalent students in various programs throughout the academic year. This includes both undergraduate and graduate programs.

$50.4Mprogram expense
02

Student Services

Provides services to enrolled students including student athletics, health clinic, spiritual life programs, residential life programs, etc.

$11.9Mprogram expense
03

Academic Support

Provides support services to various attendees of the university, as well as, support of programs within the university. Academic support includes faculty development, the library and research centers.

$3.9Mprogram 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 5 funders →
Grants paid · 6 grants · $159.5M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$25,865,979
Unitemized GrantFY2023$25,112,594
Unitemized GrantFY2022$24,154,333
Unitemized GrantFY2021$26,600,552
Unitemized GrantFY2020$28,393,393
Unitemized GrantFY2019$29,350,971

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$111.3M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$85.9M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$21.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$3.6M
Money outPt IX
$93.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$75.2M
Managementcol C$18.0M
Owns and owesPt X
$187.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.7M
Total assetsLn 16$208.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$21.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
34
listed · VII A
PaidVII A12
Voting boardVI 1a24
IndependentVI 1b24
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$21.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.8M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$17K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$85.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$3.6M
Other incomeLn 4–11$21K
Gains on assetsLn 7$3.1M
Total revenueLn 12$111.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$4.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$4.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$42.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$147.4M
Other assetsLn 15$652K
Total assetsLn 16$208.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$21.1M
Net assetsLn 32$187.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51,868
VolunteersI 60
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$9.1M$4.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$34.3M$42.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$147.6M$147.4M
Total assetsLn 16$198.8M$208.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$29.4M$21.1M
Net assetsLn 32$169.4M$187.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$25.9M$25.9M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$638K$141K$497K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$29.4M$23.2M$6.2M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$889K$729K$160K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$2.9M$2.7M$271K
Payroll taxesLn 10$2.2M$1.6M$578K
Legal feesLn 11b$188K$188K
Accounting feesLn 11c$126K$12K$113K
Investment management feesLn 11f$74K$74K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.7M$1.0M$1.6M
Advertising and promotionLn 12$722K$619K$103K
Office expensesLn 13$961K$642K$319K
Information technologyLn 14$2.1M$2.1M
TravelLn 17$2.8M$2.3M$485K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$552K$228K$324K
InterestLn 20$440K$407K$33K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$5.0M$4.6M$374K
InsuranceLn 23$1.5M$573K$916K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$14.2M$10.6M$3.6M
Total functional expensesLn 25$93.2M$75.2M$18.0M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $111.3M$93.2M$18.0M$187.2M 990 PDF
FY2024 $91.6M$91.4M$209K$169.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $97.3M$93.5M$3.8M$166.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $108.8M$105.9M$2.8M$160.8M 990 PDF
FY2021 $108.0M$101.3M$6.7M$163.5M 990 PDF
FY2020 $106.1M$102.9M$3.2M$152.3M 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 J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $111,269,584 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $6,252,245$21,782,477
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $85,249,950$85,850,367
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $283,019$3,615,307
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$224,574$21,433
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $91,560,640$111,269,584
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $25,112,594$25,865,979
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $35,196,351$36,055,197
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $31,043,041$31,305,288
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $91,351,986$93,226,464
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $208,654$18,043,120
Part VI · Governance 24 of 24 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body24
VI-1b Independent voting members24
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
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 $111,269,584 across 8 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $94,968 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$1,830,277
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$19,952,200
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$16,772
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$21,782,477
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $85,776,832$85,776,832
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $548,745$548,745
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $3,066,562$3,066,562
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $85,871,800 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $3,615,307$111,269,584
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $93,226,464 across 19 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $25,865,979$25,865,979
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $140,750 · Management $496,853$637,603
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $23,234,919 · Management $6,206,809$29,441,728
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $729,360 · Management $159,578$888,938
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $2,652,677 · Management $270,640$2,923,317
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,585,582 · Management $578,029$2,163,611
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $187,599$187,599
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $12,500 · Management $113,297$125,797
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $74,292$74,292
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,013,965 · Management $1,638,813$2,652,778
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $618,951 · Management $102,716$721,667
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $642,011 · Management $318,581$960,592
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $2,072,528$2,072,528
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,339,272 · Management $485,395$2,824,667
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $227,549 · Management $323,952$551,501
IX-20 InterestPrograms $407,029 · Management $33,145$440,174
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $4,596,627 · Management $374,312$4,970,939
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $572,824 · Management $916,386$1,489,210
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $10,591,849 · Management $3,641,695$14,233,544
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $75,231,844 · Management $17,994,620 · Fundraising $0$93,226,464
Part X · Balance sheet $208,374,307 assets, 17 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $9,542; see the IRS return.
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $9,122,664$4,681,214
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $365,696$8,534,680
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $6,688,115$4,323,393
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $53,369$141,221
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $147,622,329$147,438,600
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $34,268,209$42,593,329
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $699,583$652,328
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $198,829,507$208,374,307
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $7,917,317$7,889,392
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,588,262$1,810,073
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $8,625,405$4,754,179
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $11,267,317$6,687,890
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $29,398,301$21,141,534
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $140,680,737$142,784,685
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $28,750,469$44,448,088
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $169,431,206$187,232,773
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $198,829,507$208,374,307
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $187,232,773 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$111,269,584
XI-2 Total expenses$93,226,464
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$18,043,120
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$169,431,206
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$241,553
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$187,232,773

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 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.