Samford University

Tax-deductible

Birmingham, AL501(c)(3)Since 1841Colleges & UniversitiesEIN 63-0312914Revenue $370.6M in FY2025

On file with the IRSsamford.edu800 Lakeshore Dr, 35229-0001 · Birmingham, ALTax-exempt since Oct 1951School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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The mission of Samford University is to nurture persons in their development of intellect, creativity, faith, and personhood. As a christian University, the community fosters academic, career, and ethical competency while encouraging social and civic responsibility, and service to others.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
88¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 500 volunteers and 2,876 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

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
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $33.1M a year · 11% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
88%
of spending
Looks good: 88% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$4.6M
to officers and key staff · 1% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 55% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 1% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.4 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
8
named funders · $124K
Looks good: 8 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$432.2M
41% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 41% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
40
of 40 voting members
Looks good: 40 of 40 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$370.6M
+24% vs prior year
Spent
$328.2M
To programs
88%
Net assets
$611.3M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$370.6M
FY2025▲ +24%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$233.0M
FY2021$280.3M
FY2022$366.7M
FY2023$281.6M
FY2024$299.7M
FY2025$370.6M
Expenses
$328.2M
FY2025▲ +11%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$240.4M
FY2021$240.2M
FY2022$257.1M
FY2023$270.9M
FY2024$296.6M
FY2025$328.2M
Net assets
$611.3M
FY2025▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$256.4M
FY2021$395.4M
FY2022$501.1M
FY2023$517.6M
FY2024$558.4M
FY2025$611.3M

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

88 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 88% · $290.2M Management & general 10% · $33.8M Fundraising 1% · $4.2M

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

58 people listed on the 990; $4.6M 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
Head Coach, Basketball (term 4/30/2025)
$638,505Pt VII · Sec A
President
$561,048Pt VII · Sec A
Dean, Cumberland School of Law
$326,418Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President for Finance, Business Affairs and Strategy
$301,721Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Athletics
$299,650Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President for Advancement and Marketing
$291,582Pt VII · Sec A
Head Coach, Football
$277,369Pt VII · Sec A
Professor
$271,735Pt VII · Sec A

Henry Bucky W McMillan’s $639K as Head Coach, Basketball (term 4/30/2025) is at the 55th 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
Henry Bucky W McMillan$638,505—————
Theron Andrew Westmoreland——$583,079$397,907$436,787$354,812
Beck a Taylor$561,048$492,995$440,465$263,530——
Henry W McMillan—$417,969————
Ryan B Hudson$326,418$315,084————
Colin M Coyne$301,721$290,684$257,518———
Charles Martin Newton JR$299,650$295,081$269,220$290,470$256,174$241,302
Christopher M Hatcher$277,369$298,622$268,978$278,670$265,572$239,459

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 Samford University executive salaries →

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

Programs and updates

Provides Christian higher education that fosters students' intellectual, creative, and ethical development while preparing them for careers and civic responsibility.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $276.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Samford University, with Its 14

1 student to faculty ratio in the 2024-2025 academic year, offered 41 degree programs in 126 majors to students in ten academic schools. Students were enrolled from 44 states (plus puerto rico) and 16 foreign countries.

$107.2Mprogram expense
02

Samford university awarded over $103 million in aid to over 5,900 students during the 2024-2025 aid year.

$103.4Mprogram expense
03

Additional program services include food services and vending, educational workshops/programs and other types of program services.

$65.5Mprogram 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 8 funders →
Grants paid · 19 grants · $476.7M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$101,903,840
Summit Community ChurchME · FY2024$6,600
Peace Baptist ChurchGA · FY2024$6,600
Unitemized GrantFY2023$89,253,588
Unitemized GrantFY2022$78,803,676
E3 Partners MinistryTX · FY2022$54,700
Unitemized GrantFY2021$73,512,418
Unitemized GrantFY2021$3,073,512
Unitemized GrantFY2020$67,014,965
Unitemized GrantFY2020$1,428,120
Unitemized GrantFY2019$61,587,045
One Vision International INCTN · FY2019$21,600
See all 19 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$370.6M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$277.2M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$62.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$31.4M
Money outPt IX
$328.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$290.2M
Managementcol C$33.8M
Fundraisingcol D$4.2M
Owns and owesPt X
$611.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$38.4M
Total assetsLn 16$1.0B
LiabilitiesLn 26$432.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
58
listed · VII A
PaidVII A15
Voting boardVI 1a40
IndependentVI 1b40
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$62.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.9M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$4.5M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$249K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$277.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$31.4M
Gains on assetsLn 7$18.6M
Total revenueLn 12$370.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$38.4M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$38.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$511.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$439.4M
Other assetsLn 15$2.9M
Total assetsLn 16$1.0B
LiabilitiesLn 26$432.2M
Net assetsLn 32$611.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 52,876
VolunteersI 6500
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$41.1M$38.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$471.6M$511.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$350.4M$439.4M
Total assetsLn 16$905.5M$1.04B
LiabilitiesLn 26$347.1M$432.2M
Net assetsLn 32$558.4M$611.3M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$35K$35K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$101.9M$101.9M
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$1.5M$1.5M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$3.1M$1.3M$1.5M$343K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$71K$71K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$89.4M$79.5M$8.5M$1.3M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$7.7M$6.8M$786K$120K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$16.1M$14.2M$1.7M$280K
Payroll taxesLn 10$6.3M$5.5M$679K$116K
Legal feesLn 11b$243K$19K$224K
Accounting feesLn 11c$249K$249K
Investment management feesLn 11f$1.4M$1.4M
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$9.7M$7.3M$1.8M$576K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2.7M$2.0M$555K$225K
Office expensesLn 13$5.2M$3.8M$1.3M$84K
Information technologyLn 14$6.0M$1.7M$4.0M$256K
RoyaltiesLn 15$3K$2K$345
OccupancyLn 16$19.1M$14.1M$5.0M$23K
TravelLn 17$6.5M$5.6M$217K$650K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$826K$754K$39K$33K
InterestLn 20$11.8M$10.9M$837K$4K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$18.8M$17.4M$1.4M$33K
InsuranceLn 23$1.7M$475K$1.2M
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$16.4M$14.3M$2.0M$72K
All other expensesLn 24e$1.4M$1.2M$242K$6K
Total functional expensesLn 25$328.2M$290.2M$33.8M$4.2M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $370.6M$328.2M$42.3M$611.3M 990 PDF
FY2024 $299.7M$296.6M$3.1M$558.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $281.6M$270.9M$10.7M$517.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $366.7M$257.1M$109.6M$501.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $280.3M$240.2M$40.2M$395.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $233.0M$240.4M−$7.4M$256.4M 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 $370,563,617 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $31,030,865$62,588,453
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $250,489,641$277,174,144
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $18,739,993$31,403,989
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$603,920−$602,969
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $299,656,579$370,563,617
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $89,841,459$103,441,935
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $116,706,958$122,687,341
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $90,031,807$102,085,663
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $296,580,224$328,214,939
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $3,076,355$42,348,678
Part VI · Governance 40 of 40 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body40
VI-1b Independent voting members40
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 $370,563,617 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $6,134,925 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$248,516
VIII-1e Government grants$2,855,664
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$59,484,273
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$4,513,535
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$62,588,453
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $271,342,064$271,342,064
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $2,240,024 · Excluded from tax $10,273,296$12,513,320
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $100,902$100,902
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossUnrelated business $743,004 · Excluded from tax −$1,407,385−$664,381
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $18,587,824$18,587,824
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$39,490−$39,490
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $277,169,990 · Unrelated business $2,987,182 · Excluded from tax $27,817,992$370,563,617
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $328,214,939 across 25 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $35,200$35,200
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $101,903,840$101,903,840
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $1,502,895$1,502,895
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $1,272,460 · Management $1,525,350 · Fundraising $343,208$3,141,018
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsFundraising $70,735$70,735
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $79,477,861 · Management $8,546,704 · Fundraising $1,330,487$89,355,052
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $6,831,463 · Management $785,758 · Fundraising $119,568$7,736,789
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $14,162,824 · Management $1,675,393 · Fundraising $280,312$16,118,529
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $5,469,594 · Management $679,493 · Fundraising $116,131$6,265,218
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $18,888 · Management $224,175$243,063
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $248,553$248,553
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $1,448,232$1,448,232
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $7,316,147 · Management $1,784,877 · Fundraising $576,193$9,677,217
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,964,695 · Management $555,329 · Fundraising $224,921$2,744,945
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $3,837,782 · Management $1,320,610 · Fundraising $84,066$5,242,458
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,673,803 · Management $4,025,730 · Fundraising $255,660$5,955,193
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $2,283 · Management $345$2,628
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $14,101,122 · Management $4,993,699 · Fundraising $22,754$19,117,575
IX-17 TravelPrograms $5,619,765 · Management $217,344 · Fundraising $650,135$6,487,244
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $754,200 · Management $39,324 · Fundraising $32,781$826,305
IX-20 InterestPrograms $10,924,194 · Management $836,669 · Fundraising $3,581$11,764,444
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $17,375,896 · Management $1,361,408 · Fundraising $32,826$18,770,130
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $474,928 · Management $1,222,856$1,697,784
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $14,335,755 · Management $2,022,934 · Fundraising $72,356$16,431,045
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,180,559 · Management $242,343 · Fundraising $5,945$1,428,847
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $290,236,154 · Management $33,757,126 · Fundraising $4,221,659$328,214,939
Part X · Balance sheet $1,043,452,487 assets, 20 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $41,097,533$38,375,510
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $35,304,699$45,592,605
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $4,036,478$5,404,474
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $857,907$274,570
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $350,362,504$439,420,553
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $344,241,324$376,065,527
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $109,691,534$117,227,709
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $17,708,204$18,213,274
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $2,189,313$2,878,265
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $905,489,496$1,043,452,487
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $10,680,695$13,898,888
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $9,206,619$7,449,028
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $135,100,988$134,692,931
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $46,462,250$141,153,763
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $142,634,544$131,264,025
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $347,069,423$432,184,276
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $118,964,414$141,101,354
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $439,455,659$470,166,857
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $558,420,073$611,268,211
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $905,489,496$1,043,452,487
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $611,268,211 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$370,563,617
XI-2 Total expenses$328,214,939
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$42,348,678
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$558,420,073
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$12,781,349
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$2,281,889
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$611,268,211

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

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