Lee University FY2020 filing

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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.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 62-0502739) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
82¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.0M 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

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
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
A surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
82%
of spending
82% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.0M
to officers and key staff · 1% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 1% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
2.3 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $28.6M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
2.3 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $92K
5 funders name it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$49.1M
24% of total assets
Liabilities are 24% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
16
of 16 voting members
16 of 16 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$106.1M
Spent
$102.9M
To programs
82%
Net assets
$152.3M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$106.1M
FY2020
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
$102.9M
FY2020
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
$152.3M
FY2020
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 FY2020 Form 990 (year ending June 2020) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

You’re viewing the FY2020 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 Oct 1951.

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

Where the money goes

82 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 82% · $84.7M Management & general 18% · $18.2M

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

24 people listed on the 990; $1.0M paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President
$162,897Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer
$146,346Pt VII · Sec A
VP for Ministerial Develop
$131,995Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Student Development
$125,863Pt VII · Sec A
Dean of School of Nursing
$119,404Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Academic Officer
$118,819Pt VII · Sec A
VP for Info Sys/Assoc Prof
$116,927Pt VII · Sec A
$104,757Pt 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 →

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.

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3 programs · $75.4M · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

Instructional Expenses

Instruction is provided to approximately 4,265 full time equivalent students in various programs throughout the academic year. This includes both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2019. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 62-0502739) · Dispute this line
$59.1Mprogram expense
02

Student Services

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

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2019. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 62-0502739) · Dispute this line
$12.8Mprogram 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.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2019. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 62-0502739) · Dispute this line
$3.4Mprogram 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

Federal money

Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Jun 2025 · $24.5M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$16.5M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$6.9M
Trio Student Support ServicesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.042 · Direct$279K
Trio McNair Post-Baccalaureate AchievementDepartment of Education · ALN 84.217 · Direct$233K
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$220K

Plus 6 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2024 · $24.1M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$17.6M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$5.4M
Trio Student Support ServicesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.042 · Direct$262K
Trio McNair Post-Baccalaureate AchievementDepartment of Education · ALN 84.217 · Direct$256K
Federal Work-Study ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.033 · Direct$236K

Plus 5 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2023 · $26.5M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$19.7M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$4.9M
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Direct$686K
Trio_student Support ServicesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.042 · Direct$274K
Trio_mcnair Post-Baccalaureate AchievementDepartment of Education · ALN 84.217 · Direct$271K

Plus 6 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2022 · $38.8M federal money spent
Federal Direct Student LoansDepartment of Education · ALN 84.268 · Direct$22.4M
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Direct$9.0M
Federal Pell Grant ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.063 · Direct$5.9M
Trio_mcnair Post-Baccalaureate AchievementDepartment of Education · ALN 84.217 · Direct$257K
Trio_student Support ServicesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.042 · Direct$254K

Plus 7 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$106.1M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$94.2M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$314K
Money outPt IX
$102.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$84.7M
Managementcol C$18.2M
Owns and owesPt X
$152.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$19.8M
Total assetsLn 16$201.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$49.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
24
listed · VII A
PaidVII A8
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b16
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$5.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$94.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$314K
Other incomeLn 4–11$114K
Gains on assetsLn 7$377K
Total revenueLn 12$106.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$19.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$19.8M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$1.0M
Accounts receivableLn 4$4.2M
Notes and loans receivableLn 7$1.1M
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$146K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$146.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$28.6M
Other assetsLn 15$148K
Total assetsLn 16$201.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$49.1M
Net assetsLn 32$152.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51,868
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
BondsSch K, Pt X
Tax-exempt bond debt owedX 20$23.7M
Bond issues listedSch K Pt I6
Raised by those issuesSch K Pt I$44.6M
Investment feesPt IX, Sch D
Investment fees, as reportedPt IX 11f$55K
Share of the $24.9M endowmentSch D 1g0.22%
Typical, median of 2,202 orgs0.44%
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY20FY19FY18FY17FY16
End of yearLn 1g$24.9M$23.9M$21.9M$20.6M$19.5M
AddedLn 1b$791K$672K$1.1M$622K$335K
SpentLn 1d–1f$631K$67K$687K$1.1M
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$5.1M$19.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$22.8M$28.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$149.3M$146.5M
Total assetsLn 16$183.7M$201.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$34.8M$49.1M
Net assetsLn 32$148.8M$152.3M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$29.4M$29.4M
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$34.5M$28.0M$6.5M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$1.5M$990K$487K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$3.3M$2.7M$623K
Payroll taxesLn 10$2.9M$2.3M$582K
Management feesLn 11a$31K$25K$5K
Legal feesLn 11b$81K$81K
Accounting feesLn 11c$81K$10K$72K
Investment management feesLn 11f$55K$55K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.4M$693K$719K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$491K$257K$234K
Office expensesLn 13$2.2M$1.5M$757K
Information technologyLn 14$1.6M$1.6M
TravelLn 17$1.6M$938K$643K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$527K$270K$257K
InterestLn 20$768K$768K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$5.6M$5.6M
InsuranceLn 23$819K$177K$642K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$14.1M$9.7M$4.4M
All other expensesLn 24e$1.9M$1.4M$489K
Total functional expensesLn 25$102.9M$84.7M$18.2M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS May 11, 2026 $111.3M$93.2M$18.0M$187.2M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Apr 3, 2025 $91.6M$91.4M$209K$169.4M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS May 10, 2024 $97.3M$93.5M$3.8M$166.2M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Feb 28, 2023 $108.8M$105.9M$2.8M$160.8M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Feb 15, 2022 $108.0M$101.3M$6.7M$163.5M 990 PDF
FY2020 ViewingFiled with the IRS May 17, 2021 $106.1M$102.9M$3.2M$152.3M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support D · Assets and endowments I · Grants J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990
Part I · Summary $106,104,009 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $7,441,775$11,468,687
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $97,951,222$94,206,766
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,036,906$691,561
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$64,579−$263,005
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $106,365,324$106,104,009
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $28,428,447$29,350,971
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $42,555,991$42,173,913
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $33,513,875$31,350,859
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $104,498,313$102,875,743
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,867,011$3,228,266
Part VI · Governance 16 of 16 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body16
VI-1b Independent voting members16
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 $106,104,009 across 8 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $153,630 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$5,037,635
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$6,431,052
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$11,468,687
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $94,053,136$94,053,136
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $314,358$314,358
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $377,203$377,203
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission −$263,005−$263,005
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $93,943,761 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $691,561$106,104,009
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $102,875,743 across 20 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $29,350,971$29,350,971
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $28,018,940 · Management $6,514,098$34,533,038
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $989,908 · Management $486,897$1,476,805
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $2,652,352 · Management $622,687$3,275,039
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $2,307,167 · Management $581,864$2,889,031
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $25,117 · Management $5,400$30,517
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $80,786$80,786
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $9,817 · Management $71,540$81,357
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $54,958$54,958
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $693,354 · Management $719,266$1,412,620
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $256,866 · Management $233,808$490,674
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,457,827 · Management $756,736$2,214,563
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $1,583,398$1,583,398
IX-17 TravelPrograms $937,630 · Management $642,532$1,580,162
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $269,905 · Management $256,621$526,526
IX-20 InterestPrograms $768,057$768,057
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $5,647,012$5,647,012
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $177,001 · Management $642,382$819,383
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $9,697,994 · Management $4,435,967$14,133,961
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,437,565 · Management $489,320$1,926,885
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $84,697,483 · Management $18,178,260 · Fundraising $0$102,875,743
Part X · Balance sheet $201,404,012 assets, 19 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $5,069,770$19,785,542
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,080,205$1,017,083
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $3,813,758$4,181,367
X-7 Notes and loans receivableStart of year $1,394,397$1,060,939
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $161,086$145,624
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $149,254,093$146,482,976
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $22,766,575$28,582,875
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $116,239$147,606
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $183,656,123$201,404,012
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $5,618,854$7,288,057
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,971,364$2,876,668
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $22,558,233$23,682,163
X-23 Secured mortgages and notes payableStart of year $16,863$10,371
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $4,648,471$15,287,533
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $34,813,785$49,144,792
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $129,036,602$131,490,979
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $19,805,736$20,768,241
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $148,842,338$152,259,220
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $183,656,123$201,404,012
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $152,259,220 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$106,104,009
XI-2 Total expenses$102,875,743
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$3,228,266
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$148,842,338
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$182,832
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$5,784
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$152,259,220

Form 990 e-file FY2020 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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