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Nebraska Wesleyan University

EIN 47-0376524 · Lincoln, NE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY IS AN ACADEMIC COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO INTELLECTUAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION AND IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF CHRISTIAN CONCERN.

Income
$87.1 million
Spending
$86.1 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
979
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$409,976, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 31 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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

    30 of 31 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 May 31, 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. $62.9 million spent. INSTRUCTION - NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY (NWU OR UNIVERSITY) IS KNOWN FOR A RIGOROUS AND NURTURING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, ENHANCED BY THE FACULTY'S DESERVED REPUTATION FOR EXCEPTIONALLY EFFECTIVE TEACHING AND MENTORING. ACADEMIC PROGRAMS CONSIST OF FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION AND INTEGRATION OF THE LIBERAL ARTS REGARDLESS OF MAJOR. NWU SERVES APPROXIMATELY 1,500 TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATES EARNING BACHELOR'S DEGREES ON A RESIDENTIAL CAMPUS. THE UNIVERSITY ENROLLS APPROXIMATELY 200 GRADUATE STUDENTS. U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT HAS NAMED NWU A TOP REGIONAL UNIVERSITY. ITS GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, THE ARCHWAY CURRICULUM, INTEGRATES LEARNING ACROSS DISCIPLINARY BOUNDARIES, ENHANCES LEARNING THROUGH NON-CLASSROOM EXPERIENCES, AND WEAVES SKILL DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM.THE UNIVERSITY IS A NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED LEADER FOR COMBINED EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS, RANKING 13TH IN THE NATION (AMONG ALL DIVISIONS) WITH 192 ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS AND SEVENTH IN THE NATION FOR NCAA POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS.
  2. $10.1 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES - NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY'S LIVING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOCUSES ON STUDENT SUCCESS THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE PERSON. STUDENT WELL-BEING AND PERSONAL GROWTH ARE SUPPORTED THROUGH CAREER GUIDANCE, HEALTH AND COUNSELING SERVICES, ORGANIZATIONAL INVOLVEMENT AND MULTIPLE ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES. ABOUT 40% OF TRADITIONAL STUDENTS COMPETE IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS (21 SPORTS). NWU IS A MEMBER OF NCAA DIVISION III AND COMPETES IN THE AMERICAN RIVERS CONFERENCE. THE PRAIRIE WOLVES HAVE CELEBRATED MANY CONFERENCE WINS AS WELL AS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN MEN'S GOLF AND MEN'S BASKETBALL.
  3. $5.9 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT - NEBRASKA WESLEYAN INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS ARE STRENGTHENED BY THE UNIVERSITY'S LIBRARY, COOPER CENTER FOR ACADEMIC RESOURCES, ACADEMIC ADVISING, ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES, INSTRUCTIONAL AND COMPUTER SERVICES, GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT OFFICE, UNIVERSITY SYMPOSIUMS AND LECTURES AND SUPPORT OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR FACULTY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 May 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 May 1942.

    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.