La Sierra University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
LA SIERRA UNIVERSITY'S MISSION IS TO SEEK TRUTH, ENLARGING HUMAN UNDERSTANDING THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP; TO KNOW GOD, OURSELVES, AND THE WORLD THROUGH REFLECTION, INSTRUCTION, AND MENTORING; TO SERVE OTHERS, CONTRIBUTING TO THE GOOD OF OUR LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $72.1 million
- Spending
- $87.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 9.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 77%
- Employees
- 1,288
- Volunteers
- 23
- Highest pay
- $234,370, president (ending 09/23)
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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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 2523 of 24 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $49.8 million spent. INSTRUCTION AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS SERVED MORE THAN 1,100 UNDERGRADUATE AND MORE THAN 340 GRADUATE STUDENTS. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE A COMMUNITY-CENTERED APPROACH AROUND GENERAL STUDIES, INTERNATIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND CULMINATES IN A SENIOR PROJECT OF ORIGINAL SCHOLARSHIP.
- $10.4 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES SERVED STUDENTS' EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL WELL BEING, INTELLECTUAL, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM. MORE THAN 100 STUDENTS VOLUNTEERED FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE. THERE ARE 4 ACTIVE MINISTRIES AND 24 SOCIAL CLUBS. THE UNIVERSITY HAS MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SOCCER, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK, AND WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL VARSITY PROGRAMS. APPROXIMATELY 239 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE. THERE IS ALSO AN INTRAMURAL PROGRAM THAT IS OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS FOR PARTICIPATION. THE INTRAMURAL SPORTS INCLUDE: FLAG FOOTBALL, SOCCER, BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, BADMINTON, BEACH VOLLEYBALL, PICKLEBALL, AND SOFTBALL. 236 STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM THIS YEAR.
- $5.7 million spent. AUXILIARIES - EXPENSES FOR ENTERPRISES THAT EXIST TO FURNISH GOODS OR SERVICES TO STUDENTS, FACULTY OR STAFF. 552 STUDENTS LIVED IN RESIDENCE HALLS AND 84 IN UNIVERSITY APARTMENTS AND HOUSES. IN ADDITION, 43 FACULTY AND STAFF OCCUPY APARTMENTS AND HOUSES OWNED BY THE UNIVERSITY.
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? Worth knowing.
The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.
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 April 1947.
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.