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Gwynedd Mercy University

EIN 23-1352613 · Gwynedd Vly, PA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS AS FOLLOWS: A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY, ROOTED IN THE TRADITION OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY, OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY PREPARES STUDENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL CAREERS AND MEANINGFUL LIVES IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY.GWYNEDD MERCY UNIVERSITY IS SHAPED BY OUR CATHOLIC IDENTITY AS WELL AS OUR MERCY HERITAGE AND CHARISM, WITH PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO LEAD PRODUCTIVE LIVES OF DEEP MEANING AND VALUE.

Income
$72.2 million
Spending
$66.8 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 77%
Employees
962
Volunteers
72
Highest pay
$550,334, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 20 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $33.3 million spent. EDUCATION OF STUDENTS - GWYNEDD MERCY UNIVERSITY AWARDS UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE DEGREES IN NURSING AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS, EDUCATION, BUSINESS, AND THE ARTS AND SCIENCES; IN TRADITIONAL AND ACCELERATED FORMATS, BOTH ON GROUND AND ONLINE. GMERCYU PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH A QUALITY, MISSION-CENTERED HIGHER EDUCATION DESIGNED TO PREPARED DISTINCTIVE MERCY GRADUATES.AT GMERCYU, MAKING SURE STUDENTS ARE DEVELOPING THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS IS AT THE CENTER OF THE GMERCYU EXPERIENCE. EACH DEGREE PROGRAM INCLUDES A SET OF LEARNING OUTCOMES THAT DEFINES WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW AND BE ABLE TO DO UPON GRADUATION. IN ADDITION TO PROGRAM-LEVEL LEARNING OUTCOMES, GMERCYU HAS ESTABLISHED UNIVERSITY-LEVEL STUDENT AND LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THE GENERAL EDUCATION CORE, FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE PROGRAM, AND HONORS PROGRAM. GMERCYU ALSO OFFERS SEVERAL ALTERNATIVE BREAK AND STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS THAT PAVE THE WAY FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH WITHIN AND BEYOND U.S. BORDERS.GMERCYU TAKES PRIDE IN OFFERING STUDENTS CHALLENGING DEGREE PROGRAMS AND COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE. WITH ROBUST SERVICE AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAMS AND DEEPLY SUPPORTIVE FACULTY AND STAFF, STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM A CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY CAN FOCUS ON BUILDING THEIR FUTURES.
  2. $18.6 million spent. FINANCIAL AID - TO STUDENTS - GWYNEDD MERCY UNIVERSITY PROVIDES ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR A DIVERSE GROUP OF STUDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH HIGH FINANCIAL NEED. IN FISCAL 2024-2025, 100% OF FULL-TIME, FIRST-TIME TRADITIONAL DEGREE-SEEKING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS RECEIVED SOME FORM OF FINANCIAL AID. TO FURTHER PROVIDE STUDENTS ACCESS TO A GREAT EDUCATION AT AN AFFORDABLE COST, GWYNEDD MERCY UNIVERSITY OFFERS MANY SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS. KNOWN AS "GIFT ASSISTANCE," THESE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS DO NOT NEED TO BE REPAID, AND GENERALLY ARE RENEWABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL THREE YEARS FOR FIRST-YEAR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND TWO YEARS FOR TRANSFER UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. UNDERGRADUATE TUITION IS SET FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR BASED ON ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. STUDENTS ALSO ARE CHARGED A COMPREHENSIVE FEE, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TOWARD THE COSTS OF PROVIDING COMPUTER/TECHNOLOGY ACCESS, ACTIVITIES, USE OF FACILITIES, AND OTHER RESOURCES AND SERVICES GENERALLY AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS. GRADUATE AND ACCELERATED PROGRAM TUITION IS BILLED PER CREDIT HOUR AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF A STUDENT'S EDUCATION ARE COVERED THROUGH PROGRAM FEES. FULL-TIME TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS RECEIVE AWARD LETTERS DETAILING ANY AID FOR WHICH THEY ARE ELIGIBLE. GMERCYU'S AID PACKAGES ACCOUNT FOR TUITION, FEES, ROOM, BOARD, BOOKS, SUPPLIES, TRANSPORTATION, AND MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES. A TYPICAL AID PACKAGE INCLUDES GRANTS OR SCHOLARSHIPS, A LOW-INTEREST STUDENT LOAN, AND CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT (UP TO 15 HOURS PER WEEK). UNDERGRADUATES WILL LIKELY RECEIVE THE SAME AMOUNT ALL FOUR YEARS AS LONG AS THEY SUBMIT THE FAFSA ANNUALLY, CONTINUE TO MEET ALL CONDITIONS OF THE AWARD, AND THEIR NEED REMAINS ESSENTIALLY UNCHANGED.
  3. $2.4 million spent. HOUSING AND MEAL SERVICES FOR STUDENTS - GWYNEDD MERCY UNIVERSITY PROVIDES LIVING ARRANGEMENTS THAT SUPPORT AND ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL EXPERIENCES TO HELP DEVELOP IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS. GWYNEDD HAS THREE RESIDENCE HALLS; ONE IS DEDICATED TO FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS AND TWO ACCOMMODATE TRANSFER STUDENTS AND SOPHOMORES THROUGH SENIORS. ROOM TYPES RANGE FROM SINGLE AND DOUBLE OCCUPANCY TO SUITE STYLE LIVING. DUE TO REACHING HOUSING CAPACITY THIS PAST YEAR, GMERCYU ALSO OFFERED OFFSITE HOTEL LIVING. HOUSING ASSIGNMENTS ARE MADE BASED ON A VARIETY OF FACTORS INCLUDING CLASS YEAR, GENDER, LIFESTYLE PREFERENCES, ROOMMATE REQUESTS, SPACE AVAILABILITY AND HOUSING DEPOSIT DATE.GWYNEDD MERCY UNIVERSITY OFFERS FLEXIBILITY TO STUDENTS THROUGH ITS DINING OPTIONS. ALL RESIDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DINING PLANS; ALL ACCESS PLUS PLAN, ALL ACCESS PLAN, WEEKLY 15 PLAN, AND 100 BLOCK PLAN FOR RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS. FIRST-YEARS AND SOPHOMORES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE 100 BLOCK PLAN. COMMUTERS ARE CHARGED $50 IN DINING DOLLARS PER SEMESTER AND HAVE THE OPTION OF CHOOSING ANY OF THE OTHER MEAL PLAN OPTIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for churches. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1946.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.