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William Peace University

EIN 56-0529988 · Raleigh, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 58 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

WILLIAM PEACE UNIVERSITY IS A PRIVATE FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA. THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN THE ORGANIZATIONS OF TOMORROW. ROOTED IN THE LIBERAL ARTS TRADITION, THE STUDENT DEVELOPS AN APPRECIATION FOR LIFE-LONG LEARNING, A FOCUS ON MEANINGFUL CAREERS, AND SKILLS FOR ETHICAL CITIZENSHIP. ON AVERAGE, OVER 95 PERCENT OF OUR GRADUATES GO ON TO JOBS OR CAREERS WITHIN A YEAR OF GRADUATION.

Income
$26.9 million
Spending
$34.5 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-9.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 91%
Employees
414
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$288,750, former president (thru 6/24)

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: 25 out of 100. Higher than 1% 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

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 58 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

    24 of 24 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 (3)
  1. $13.1 million spent. INSTRUCTION & ACADEMIC SUPPORT: WILLIAM PEACE UNIVERSITY IS ACCREDITED BY THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS COMMISSION ON COLLEGES (SACSCOC). THE INSTITUTION OFFERS 3 TYPES OF BACHELOR'S DEGREES IN OVER 25 MAJORS. SERVING APPROXIMATELY 800 STUDENTS, 95% OF OUR GRADUATES ARE EMPLOYED FULLTIME OR ENTER GRADUATE SCHOOL WITHIN ONE YEAR OF GRADUATION. WILLIAM PEACE PROVIDED $10,919,100 OF GRANTS AND ASSISTANCE TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO AID IN THE PERSUIT OF THEIR DEGREE.
  2. $7.2 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES: THERE ARE 6 RESIDENCE HALLS ON CAMPUS AT WILLIAM PEACE UNIVERSITY. EACH RESIDENCE HALL HAS ITS PARTICULAR STYLE AND HISTORY. RESIDENT ASSISTANTS LIVE ON EACH FLOOR, READY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, FOSTER GROUP DISCUSSIONS, ORGANIZE ACTIVITIES AND MORE. WPU ROOMS INCLUDE WIRED AND WIRELESS INTERNET, FREE BASIC CABLE AND NO COST LAUNDRY. ADDITIONALLY, WPU PROVIDES THE OPTION OF UNIVERSITY AFFILIATED STUDENT HOUSING TO ALL SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR AND SENIOR STUDENTS. THESE OFF CAMPUS APARTMENTS PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT STUDENT HOUSING COMMUNITY IN RALEIGH, WITH FOUR BEDROOM OPTIONS TO FIT ALL LIFESTYLES. OPERATING IN THE SAME MANNER AS ON CAMPUS HOUSING, VILLAGE GREEN AT RALEIGH APARTMENTS HAVE WILLIAM PEACE UNIVERSITY RESIDENT STAFF LIVING ON SITE. THE NEWLY RENOVATED BELK DINING HALL OFFERS TASTY, NUTRITIONAL FOOD OPTIONS, INCLUDING A SALAD BAR, DELI, COOKED TO ORDER EXPO STATION AND A VARIETY OF DAILY COOKED MEALS. PEACE PERK, THE ON CAMPUS COFFEE SHOP, OFFERS STARBUCKS COFFEE, SANDWICHES, SNACKS AND A PLACE TO HANG OUT. THE WPU BOOKSTORE IS THE BEST PLACE TO FIND PACER GEAR.
  3. $7.0 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES & ACTIVITIES: WITH OVER 30 STUDENT CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS, THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR A STUDENT TO GET INVOLVED AT WPU. COMMUNITY SERVICE IS ENCOURAGED AND STUDENTS EMBRACE THE CONCEPT OF GIVING BACK. STUDENT SERVICES ALSO INCLUDES HEALTH AND COUNSELING SERVICES. HEALTH SERVICES CAN PROVIDE ROUTINE TREATMENT FOR MINOR ILLNESSES AND INJURIES, WHILE MAINTAINING CONFIDENTIAL MEDICAL INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS. IT ALSO PROMOTES AWARENESS FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS THROUGH CAMPUS EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES. THE COUNSELING CENTER PROVIDES SHORT TERM, PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING TO STUDENTS COPING WITH THE CHALLENGES OF COLLEGE LIFE. WILLIAM PEACE UNIVERSITY OFFERS STUDENTS THE CHANCE TO PLAY AND ENJOY INTERCOLLEGIATE SPORTS. WPU IS A MEMBER OF THE U.S.A. SOUTH ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OF THE NCAA DIVISION III AND FIELDS TEAMS IN EIGHTEEN SPORTS INCLUDING BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, CROSS COUNTRY, GOLF, LACROSSE, SOCCER, SOFTBALL, SWIMMING, TENNIS, TRACK, AND VOLLEYBALL. WILLIAM PEACE UNIVERSITY ALSO OFFERS INTRAMURAL SPORTS LEAGUES FOR ALL INTEREST LEVELS.

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? 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 June 1964.

    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.