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Lincoln Memorial University

EIN 62-0479542 · Harrogate, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY IS A VALUES-BASED LEARNING COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES.

Income
$285.2 million
Spending
$214.2 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
2,534
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$429,398, president of

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $94.2 million spent. UNDERGRADUATE/GRADUATE PROGRAMS THE UNIVERSITY STRIVES TO GIVE STUDENTS A FOUNDATION FOR A MORE PRODUCTIVE LIFE BY UPHOLDING THE PRINCIPLES OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S LIFE: A DEDICATION TO INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND IMPROVEMENT; A RESPECT FOR CITIZENSHIP; RECOGNITION OF THE INTRINSIC VALUE OF HIGH MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS; AND A BELIEF IN A PERSONAL GOD. THE UNIVERSITY IS COMMITTED TO TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE. THE UNIVERSITY'S CURRICULUM AND COMMITMENT TO QUALITY INSTRUCTION AT EVERY LEVEL ARE BASED ON THE BELIEFS THAT GRADUATES MUST BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE CLEARLY AND EFFECTIVELY IN AN ERA OF RAPIDLY AND CONTINUOUSLY EXPANDING COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, MUST HAVE AN APPRECIABLE DEPTH OF LEARNING IN A FIELD OF KNOWLEDGE, MUST APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THE VARIOUS WAYS BY WHICH WE COME TO KNOW OURSELVES AND THE WORLD AROUND US, AND MUST BE ABLE TO EXERCISE INFORMED JUDGEMENTS. THE UNIVERSITY BELIEVES THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR CORNERSTONES OF MEANINGFUL EXISTENCE IS SERVICE TO HUMANITY. BY MAKING EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS WHERE THEY LIVE AND THROUGH VARIOUS RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL EVENTS OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY, LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY SEEKS TO ADVANCE LIFE IN THE CUMBERLAND GAP AREA AND THROUGHOUT THE REGION THROUGH ITS TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE MISSION. UNDERGRADUATE/GRADUATE PROGRAMS THE UNIVERSITY STRIVES TO GIVE STUDENTS A FOUNDATION FOR A MORE PRODUCTIVE LIFE BY UPHOLDING THE PRINCIPLES OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S LIFE: A DEDICATION TO INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND IMPROVEMENT; A RESPECT FOR CITIZENSHIP; RECOGNITION OF THE INTRINSIC VALUE OF HIGH MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS; AND A BELIEF IN A PERSONAL GOD. THE UNIVERSITY IS COMMITTED TO TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE. THE UNIVERSITY'S CURRICULUM AND COMMITMENT TO QUALITY INSTRUCTION AT EVERY LEVEL ARE BASED ON THE BELIEFS THAT GRADUATES MUST BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE CLEARLY AND EFFECTIVELY IN AN ERA OF RAPIDLY AND CONTINUOUSLY EXPANDING COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, MUST HAVE AN APPRECIABLE DEPTH OF LEARNING IN A FIELD OF KNOWLEDGE, MUST APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THE VARIOUS WAYS BY WHICH WE COME TO KNOW OURSELVES AND THE WORLD AROUND US, AND MUST BE ABLE TO EXERCISE INFORMED JUDGEMENTS. THE UNIVERSITY BELIEVES THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR CORNERSTONES OF MEANINGFUL EXISTENCE IS SERVICE TO HUMANITY. BY MAKING EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS WHERE THEY LIVE AND THROUGH VARIOUS RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL EVENTS OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY, LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY SEEKS TO ADVANCE LIFE IN THE CUMBERLAND GAP AREA AND THROUGHOUT THE REGION THROUGH ITS TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE MISSION.
  2. $58.5 million spent. DEBUSK COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (DCOM) STATEMENT COMMITTED TO THE PREMISE THAT THE CORNERSTONE OF MEANINGFUL EXISTENCE IS SERVICE TO HUMANITY. THE MISSION OF LMU-DCOM IS ACHIEVED BY: TEACHING, RESEARCH, SERVICE, INCLUDING OSTEOPATHIC CLINICAL SERVICE AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT; NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE APPALACHIAN REGION AND BEYOND; RURAL COMMUNITIES SUPPORTED BY SUPERIOR FACULTY AND TECHNOLOGY; CARE, DIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE AS AN ENDURING COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBILITY AND HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS.
  3. $9.7 million spent. THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY-DUNCAN SCHOOL OF LAW BUILDS UPON A FOUNDATION THAT UPHOLDS THE PRINCIPLES OF ABRAHAM LINCOLNS LIFE: A DEDICATION TO INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND IMPROVEMENT; A RESPECT FOR CITIZENSHIP; RECOGNITION OF THE INTRINSIC VALUE OF HIGH MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS; AND A BELIEF IN A PERSONAL GOD. THROUGH TEACHING, RESEARCH AND SERVICE, THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY-DUNCAN SCHOOL OF LAW WILL PREPARE GRADUATES: 1. WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THE PREMISE THAT THE CORNERSTONE OF MEANINGFUL EXISTENCE IS SERVICE TO HUMANITY; 2. WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS REPRESENTATIVES OF CLIENTS, OFFICERS OF THE COURTS, AND PUBLIC CITIZENS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW; AND 3. WHO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LAW, AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE, BASIS AND ROLE OF THE LAW AND ITS INSTITUTIONS, AND THE SKILLS OF LEGAL ANALYSIS AND WRITING, ISSUE RECOGNITION, REASONING, PROBLEM SOLVING, ORGANIZATION, AND ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE EFFECTIVELY IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION. THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY-DUNCAN SCHOOL OF LAW BUILDS UPON A FOUNDATION THAT UPHOLDS THE PRINCIPLES OF ABRAHAM LINCOLNS LIFE: A DEDICATION TO INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND IMPROVEMENT; A RESPECT FOR CITIZENSHIP; RECOGNITION OF THE INTRINSIC VALUE OF HIGH MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS; AND A BELIEF IN A PERSONAL GOD. THROUGH TEACHING, RESEARCH AND SERVICE, THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY-DUNCAN SCHOOL OF LAW WILL PREPARE GRADUATES: 1. WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THE PREMISE THAT THE CORNERSTONE OF MEANINGFUL EXISTENCE IS SERVICE TO HUMANITY; 2. WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS REPRESENTATIVES OF CLIENTS, OFFICERS OF THE COURTS, AND PUBLIC CITIZENS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW; AND 3. WHO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LAW, AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE, BASIS AND ROLE OF THE LAW AND ITS INSTITUTIONS, AND THE SKILLS OF LEGAL ANALYSIS AND WRITING, ISSUE RECOGNITION, REASONING, PROBLEM SOLVING, ORGANIZATION, AND ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE EFFECTIVELY IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1942.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.