Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Wittenberg College Board of Directors

EIN 31-0537177 · Springfield, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY PROVIDES A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION DEDICATED TO INTELLECTUAL INQUIRY AND WHOLENESS OF PERSON WITHIN A DIVERSE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY. REFLECTING ITS LUTHERAN HERITAGE, WITTENBERG CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE GLOBAL CITIZENS, TO DISCOVER THEIR CALLINGS, AND TO LEAD PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND CIVIC LIVES OF CREATIVITY, SERVICE, COMPASSION, AND INTEGRITY.

Income
$92.9 million
Spending
$95.5 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 74%
Employees
1,288
Volunteers
24
Highest pay
$543,090, president until 6/25

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 29% 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

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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

    23 of 24 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. $65.4 million spent. WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY CURRENTLY ENROLLS APPROXIMATELY 1,300 FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME STUDENTS WHO PURSUE DEGREES IN MORE THAN 38 MAJOR FIELDS OF STUDY. THE UNIVERSITY HOLDS REGIONAL ACCREDITATION FROM THE HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION (HLC) WHILE SOME ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS HOLD SPECIALTY ACCREDITATION FOR SPECIFIC DEGREE PROGRAMS. WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY IS AUTHORIZED TO CONFER DEGREES OF BACHELOR OF ARTS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS, BACHELOR OF MUSIC, BACHELOR OF MUSIC EDUCATION. THE UNIVERSITY IS ALSO AUTHORIZED TO CONFER MASTER-LEVEL DEGREES INCLUDING A MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ANALYTICS, AND A MASTER OF ARTS IN SPORT ADMINISTRATION.
  2. $13.7 million spent. STUDENTS AT WITTENBERG HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN MORE THAN 70 CO-CURRICULAR ORGANIZATIONS WITH MULTIPLE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS ARE SOME OF THE MOST ACTIVE AND IMPACTFUL GROUPS ON CAMPUS. WITTENBERG OFFERS A BROAD-BASED INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC PROGRAM, NOW OFFERING 23 VARSITY TEAMS, 11 FOR MEN AND 12 FOR WOMEN. THERE IS SOMETHING TO MEET EVERY STUDENT'S EXTRACURRICULAR NEED.
  3. $6.8 million spent. WITTENBERG IS A RESIDENTIAL CAMPUS WITH APPROXIMATELY 80% OF STUDENTS RESIDING IN UNIVERSITY HOUSING. STUDENTS MAY CHOOSE TO LIVE IN ONE OF 7 DISTINCT RESIDENCE HALLS IF THEY ARE FRESHMAN OR SOPHOMORES. WITTENBERG ALSO OFFERS A WIDE SELECTION OF HOUSES AND APARTMENTS FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS. UNIVERSITY DINING IS AVAILABLE ON CAMPUS AND THE STUDENT CENTER HOUSES A BOOKSTORE, CAMPUS MAILROOM, GAME ROOM, LOUNGES AND OTHER AMENITIES.

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 October 13, 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 September 1941.

    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 October 21, 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.