Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is an accredited four-year liberal arts University that confers two- and four-year degrees and graduate degrees in a variety of academic disciplines. In addition, it provides logistical support for the educational and theological efforts of the Church of the Nazarene and other like-minded religious and educational organizations.
- Income
- $69.2 million
- Spending
- $72.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 86%
- Employees
- 1,181
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $328,199, president, 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
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (2)
- $62.5 million spent. The University is a four-year institution of higher education offering the degrees of Associate in Arts, Associate in Applied Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Science in Management, Master of Arts in Education, and such other Baccalaureate and Graduate degrees as may be authorized by the Board of Trustees of the University, and permitted by the State of Ohio and the Higher Learning Commission; Member - North Central Association. For the year ended June 30, 2025, the University conferred 395 undergraduate and graduate degrees. Average enrollment head count was 2,048 students.
- $74,117 spent. The University provides logistical and facility support for like-minded religious and educational organizations. Organizations historically served include The North Central Ohio District Church of the Nazarene, the National Christian School Athletic Association, the YMCA Great Lakes Leaders Training School, area primary and secondary schools, local first responder organizations and many others.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1963.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.