Saint Francis University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AS THE OLDEST FRANCISCAN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THE UNITED STATES, SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM OUR CATHOLIC TRADITION AND EXPRESSES THE LIVED EXAMPLE OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISSI IN THE MODERN WORLD. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE "O".SAINT FRANCIS PROMOTES AN INCLUSIVE LEARNING COMMUNITY AND A LIFELONG PATH TO VIRTUE, TRUTH, AND COMPASSION. WITHIN A CULTURE THAT SEEKS UNDERSTANDING THROUGH INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION, WE CHAMPION THE INHERENT DIGNITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL PERSON AND THE COMMON GOOD.
- Income
- $103.7 million
- Spending
- $108.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -4.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 82%
- Employees
- 1,408
- Volunteers
- 53
- Highest pay
- $201,373, head men's basketball coac
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
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2527 of 27 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $91.9 million spent. SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY ("SFU"), FOUNDED IN 1847 BY THE FRANCISCANS OF THE THIRD ORDER REGULAR, IS THE OLDEST FRANCISCAN COLLEGE IN THE NATION. LOCATED IN LORETTO, PA, THE UNIVERSITY IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE REGION, PROVIDING HIGHER EDUCATION, CULTURAL EVENTS, PERFORMING ARTS, ATHLETIC COMPETITION, AND NUMEROUS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR CAMBRIA COUNTY AND BEYOND. OVER 98% OF THE UNIVERSITY'S UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS RECEIVE SOME SORT OF FINANCIAL AID. SFU PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THE COMMUNITY AND SERVES BOTH TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS. IN ADDITION TO SFU'S MAIN CAMPUS LOCATION IN LORETTO, THE UNIVERSITY CONDUCTS INSTRUCTION AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN WESTERN PA IN BOTH UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS. CONTINUED ON "SCHEDULE O".SFU CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 1,424 FULL-TIME AND 140 PART-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND 398 GRADUATE STUDENTS. ALL FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE. SFU ESTIMATES THAT OVER 8,000 HOURS WERE DEDICATED TO SERVICE BY SFU STUDENTS.THE UNIVERSITY'S CENTERS OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES FOR THE AREA: THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SBDC) PROVIDES EXPERTISE IN FINANCING, MARKETING, AND OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS. THESE PROJECTS ARE FUNDED THROUGH FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO BUSINESSES AT NO COST.THE DOROTHY DAY CENTER SERVES AS THE MAJOR ARM OF OUTREACH FOR THE UNIVERSITY THROUGH FAITH, EDUCATIONAL, AND SOCIAL SERVICES. THE CENTER OFFERS A VARIETY OF ASSISTANCE TO THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, INCLUDING EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID, FOOD, AND CLOTHING, AS WELL AS DIRECT STUDENT ASSISTANCE THROUGH MANY VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS. MAJOR PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE SMILE AND PLUS-1 PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS USE UNIVERSITY STAFF AND STUDENTS TO WORK WITH ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUTH OF THE AREA, IN THE AREAS OF READING SKILLS, TUTORING, AND OTHER LIFE EXPERIENCE SKILLS.THE UPWARD BOUND CENTER IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND DESIGNED TO PREPARE LOW INCOME, POTENTIAL FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR THE RIGORS OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. PROVIDED AT NO COST TO THE PARTICIPANTS, THE PROGRAM OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF ACADEMIC, CAREER, AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS. FROM SEPTEMBER TO MAY, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SATURDAY FOLLOW-UPS HELD ON CAMPUS AND TUTORIALS HELD AFTER SCHOOL IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC YEAR ACTIVITIES INCLUDE COLLEGE VISITS, SAT CRAM SESSIONS, AND COLLEGE FAIRS. DURING THE SIX-WEEK RESIDENTIAL SUMMER PROGRAM, STUDENTS ATTEND FIVE ACADEMIC CLASSES EACH DAY AND PARTICIPATE IN A WIDE VARIETY OF CAREER AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES. ON AVERAGE, 93% OF UPWARD BOUND STUDENTS GO ON TO COLLEGE IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. AFTER COMPLETING HIGH SCHOOL, 80% OF UPWARD BOUND GRADUATES EARN A COLLEGE DEGREE WITHIN FIVE YEARS.THE UNIVERSITY HOSTS APPROXIMATELY 430 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN A VARIETY OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS INCLUDING SCIENCE DAY AND BUSINESS DAY. THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO PARTICIPANTS AT LITTLE OR NO COST. THEY INCLUDE A DAY OF WORKING WITH VARIOUS UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS, GUEST PROFESSORS, AND STUDENTS TO PRESENT AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE EXCITING TOPICS IN VARIOUS CONCENTRATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE UNIVERSITY HOSTS FORENSIC COMPETITIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE REGION AND WEEK LONG SCIENCE ACADEMIES AND KID SCIENCE CAMPS ALL THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS FOR ALL AGE GROUPS.
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
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1970.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 October 7, 2026.
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