Campbell University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO GRADUATE STUDENTS WITH EXEMPLARY ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS WHO ARE PREPARED FOR PURPOSEFUL LIVES AND MEANINGFUL SERVICE. THE UNIVERSITY IS INFORMED AND INSPIRED BY ITS BAPTIST HERITAGE AND THREE BASIC THEOLOGICAL AND BIBLICAL PRESUPPOSITIONS: LEARNING IS APPOINTED AND CONSERVED BY GOD AS ESSENTIAL TO THE FULFILLMENT OF HUMAN DESTINY; IN CHRIST ALL THINGS CONSIST AND FIND ULTIMATE UNITY; AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE WORLD IS ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. THE UNIVERSITY EMBRACES THE CONVICTION THAT THERE IS NO CONFLICT BETWEEN THE LIFE OF FAITH AND THE LIFE OF INQUIRY.
- Income
- $258.3 million
- Spending
- $240.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- -1.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 81%
- Employees
- 2,319
- Volunteers
- 49
- Highest pay
- $584,853, 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
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2530 of 31 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
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $124.9 million spent. STUDENT EDUCATION SERVICES INCLUDING EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION AND INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT. THE UNIVERSITY SERVED A TOTAL ENROLLMENT OF 4,963 STUDENTS BASED ON FALL 2024 IPEDS REPORTING. THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL DEGREES IN ARTS AND SCIENCES, LAW, DIVINITY, PHARMACY, CLINICAL RESEARCH, EDUCATION, BUSINESS, OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE, PHYSICAL THERAPY, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PRACTICE AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
- $74.7 million spent. STUDENT AID TO QUALIFIED STUDENTS.
- $9.0 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES INCLUDING STUDENT HOUSING, FOOD SERVICES, BOOKSTORE, AND OPERATION OF KEITH HILLS GOLF COURSE.
- $3.7 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE SECURITY PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY, UNIVERSITY PERFORMING ARTS SERIES, COMMUNITY RELATIONS EXPENDITURES, AND PAYMENTS TO ANNUITANTS UNDER CHARITABLE TRUST AGREEMENTS.
- (Expenses $ 3,704,809 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 9,041,655) OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE SECURITY PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY, UNIVERSITY PERFORMING ARTS SERIES, COMMUNITY RELATIONS EXPENDITURES, AND PAYMENTS TO ANNUITANTS UNDER CHARITABLE TRUST AGREEMENTS.
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
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? 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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1939.
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.