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Concordia University Chicago

EIN 36-2191242 · River Forest, IL

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

STEADFAST IN JESUS CHRIST AS REVEALED IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO PROMOTES ACADEMIC RIGOR IN ITS LIBERAL ARTS AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS; GROUNDS STUDENTS IN OBJECTIVE TRUTH, INTEGRITY, AND EXCELLENCE; AND PRACTICES FAITHFULNESS TO THE CONFESSIONAL TEACHINGS OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD, AS IT FORMS STUDENTS FOR VOCATIONS IN CHURCH, FAMILY, AND THE WORLD.

Income
$89.1 million
Spending
$86.5 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
1,171
Volunteers
1,250
Highest pay
$435,975, 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

    5 of 20

    It owes 65% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% 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

    15 of 15 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. $65.1 million spent. EDUCATION, GENERAL AND OTHER - OPERATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION DIVISIONS INCLUDING SUPPORT PROGRAMS DEVOTED TO RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, ENCOURAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING FOR BOTH MASTER'S LEVEL AND DOCTORAL, AS WELL AS UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. (FALL 2024 TOTAL ENROLLMENT - 4,771)
  2. $4.6 million spent. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, AND OTHER UNIVERSITY EVENTS - EACH FISCAL YEAR, CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO HOSTS SEVERAL EVENTS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S MISSION. EVENTS INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, STUDENT LED CONCERTS, THEATRE PRODUCTIONS AND ATHLETIC EVENTS. NOT ONLY DO THESE EVENTS ENHANCE OUR STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE, BUT THEY ALSO HELP EDUCATE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE OVERALL COMMUNITY.
  3. $3.9 million spent. COLLEGE STUDENT ROOM AND BOARD - CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO, LIKE MOST OTHER COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES, PROVIDES ROOM AND BOARD TO ITS STUDENTS. DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD, 563 STUDENTS LIVED IN THE DORMS.
  4. $2.7 million spent. OPERATION OF CHILDCARE, EARLY CHILDHOOD, AND PRIMARY PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, ALL OF WHICH INCLUDE A STRONG EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT, AS WELL AS A CORE CHRISTIAN VALUE COMPONENT. LAST YEAR, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER SERVED NEARLY 200 CHILDREN.

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? 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.

  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 July 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 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.