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Trinity Christian College Association

EIN 36-2387148 · Crestwood, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDE A BIBLICALLY INFORMED LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION TO UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE COLLEGE STUDENTS. WE STRIVE TO OFFER THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR EXCELLENCE IN FURTHER STUDY AND CAREERS BEYOND TRINITY. ALL PROGRAMS ARE GROUNDED ON A CORE OF FOUNDATIONAL STUDIES THAT ADDRESS THE ENDURING ISSUES AND QUESTIONS OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND TEACH STUDENTS TO EXPLORE AND APPLY THE IMPLICATIONS OF A REFORMED WORLD-AND-LIFE VIEW TO ALL AREAS OF LEARNING, LIVING, AND WORKING.

Income
$33.2 million
Spending
$38.1 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 75%
Employees
687
Volunteers
165
Highest pay
$282,013, 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

Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 3% 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 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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

    9 of 9 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 (2)
  1. $29.7 million spent. TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE, ADULT STUDIES AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS: TRINITY OFFERS CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, FIELD EXPERIENCE AND INTERNSHIPS, SERVICE-LEARNING, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES TO PROVIDE A FOUR-YEAR, LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION IN 70+ PROGRAMS OF STUDY, INCLUDING, ART, BUSINESS, COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION, MATHEMATICS, NURSING, THEOLOGY, AND SCIENCE. SEVERAL PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS ARE ALSO OFFERED, INCLUDING PRE-LAW AND PRE-MED. TRINITY OFFERS BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL OFF CAMPUS PROGRAMS. TRINITY'S PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN CHICAGO PROVIDES ACCESS TO INTERNSHIPS, CULTURAL EXPERIENCES, AND CAREER AND SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES. THE CHICAGO SEMESTER PROGRAM ENABLES STUDENTS TO GAIN REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE THROUGH LIVING AND WORKING IN THE CITY FOR AN ENTIRE SEMESTER. STUDENTS GAIN HANDS-ON LEARNING THROUGH THE GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDY ABROAD FOR A SEMESTER IN COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE. TRINITY'S ADULT STUDIES PROGRAM IS A NON TRADITIONAL PROGRAM SERVING ADULTS AGE 23 AND OLDER AND OFFERING ACCELERATED DEGREE COMPLETION PROGRAMS IN BUSINESS AND EDUCATION AS WELL AS CERTIFICATION AND ENDORSEMENT PROGRAMS. GRADUATE STUDIES OFFERS MASTER'S DEGREES IN SELECT PROGRAMS. AUDIO-VISUAL AIDS TO INSTRUCTION, LIBRARY SERVICES FOR STUDENTS AND FOR RESEARCH, COMPUTER SERVICES FOR STUDENTS, AND THE ACADEMIC DEAN'S OFFICE THAT DEVELOPS CURRICULUMS AND MAINTAINS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FOR A CAMPUS OF AROUND 1,200.
  2. $4.2 million spent. DINING SERVICE THAT PROVIDES DAILY MEALS, RESIDENCE HALLS THAT PROVIDE ON CAMPUS HOUSING, AND THE BOOKSTORE WHICH OFFERS TEXTBOOKS, ACADEMIC SUPPLIES, AND VARIOUS SUNDRIES.

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 July 1961.

    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.

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