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Johnson C Smith University Incorporated

EIN 25-0983069 · Charlotte, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCH O FOR MISSION STATEMENT.

Income
$58.2 million
Spending
$74.0 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 62%
Employees
744
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$719,788, president

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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

    12 of 12 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 (4)
  1. $13.0 million spent. INSTRUCTION: JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY OFFERS INSTRUCTIONS IN VARIOUS LIBERAL ARTS PROGRAMS. FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD THE UNIVERSITY HAD ALMOST 1,800 STUDENTS MATRICULATING IN THESE PROGRAMS. JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY HAS 3 COLLEGES FROM WHICH STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE VARIOUS MAJORS: COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS, COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, AND COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS. (Expenses $ 30,194,913 including grants of $) Other: Public Service, Student Assistance, Auxiliary Service (Room and Board)
  2. $9.2 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES: JOHNSON C SMITH UNIVERSITY OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES TO ITS STUDENTS. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: PLACEMENT AND CAREER COUNSELING, ADMISSION, REGISTRAR, FINANCIAL AID, SPORTS AND VARIOUS OTHER STUDENT ACTIVITIES.
  3. $5.0 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT: OUR ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDES INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, LIBRARY SERVICES, SMART CLASSROOMS, AND FACULTY TRAINING. EVERY FULLTIME STUDENT AT JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY RECEIVES A LAPTOP. OUR LIBRARY CONTINUES TO UPDATE ITS BOOK CATALOGS. IN ADDITION, STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO A WIDE RANGE OF ONLINE CATALOGS. JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY IS IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMING ALL ITS TRADITIONAL CLASSROOMS INTO SMART CLASSROOMS BY PLACING TECHNOLOGY AT THE STUDENT'S FINGER TIP. (Expenses $ 30,194,913 including grants of $) Other: Public Service, Student Assistance, Auxiliary Service (Room and Board)
  4. $30.2 million spent. Other: Public Service, Student Assistance, Auxiliary Service (Room and Board)

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? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, 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 February 1945.

    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.