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Trevecca Nazarene University

EIN 62-0497990 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY IS A PRIVATE, CO-EDUCATIONAL, CHRISTIAN LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY. THE UNIVERSITY EXISTS TO CARRY OUT THE EDUCATIONAL MISSION OF THE CHURCH BY MEANS OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE SCHOLARSHIP, CRITICAL REFLECTION, THOUGHTFUL WORSHIP, AND THE PREPARATION OF STUDENTS FOR LIVES OF MEANINGFUL SERVICE IN VARIOUS CAREERS.

Income
$95.9 million
Spending
$98.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-8.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 84%
Employees
1,164
Volunteers
47
Highest pay
$268,830, 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: 48 out of 100. Higher than 29% 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 41% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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

    42 of 43 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. $51.2 million spent. TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY IS A COMPREHENSIVE, FULLY ACCREDITED, CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY OFFERING UNDERGRADUATE, MASTER'S AND DOCTORAL DEGREES. LOCATED IN THE HEART OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, THE UNIVERSITY SEEKS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN SCHOLARSHIP, CRITICAL THINKING, AND MEANINGFUL WORSHIP TO PREPARE THEM FOR LIVES OF LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE.THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS 15 ASSOCIATE DEGREES, 74 BACCALAUREATE DEGREES, 25 MASTER'S PROGRAMS, AND 3 DOCTORAL PROGRAMS AS WELL AS ONE SPECIALIST AND THREE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS IN A NUMBER OF FIELDS INCLUDING BUSINESS, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, COUNSELING, RELIGION, MUSIC, LEADERSHIP, AND LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCES. THIS YEAR, TREVECCA LAUNCHED NEW DEGREE PROGRAMS, SPECIALIZED TRACKS AND EXPANDED FORMATS TO CONTINUE EQUIPPING SERVANT LEADERS IN A VARIETY OF FIELDS. THE PH.D. IN LEADERSHIP STUDIES OFFERS A PATH FOR DOCTORAL GRADUATES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE EVOLVING BODY OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELD OF LEADERSHIP THROUGH RESEARCH OR INSTRUCTION. THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN PERFORMANCE AND FITNESS PROGRAM PREPARES GRADUATES FOR HANDS-ON CAREERS IN HEALTH, FITNESS, AND EXERCISE SCIENCE. IN THE EDUCATION SPECIALIST IN INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, A NEW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TRACK EMPOWERS EDUCATORS AND LEADERS TO EFFECTIVELY AND ETHICALLY INTEGRATE AI INTO CLASSROOMS AND INSTITUTIONS.TREVECCA AWARDS INSTITUTIONAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID ASSISTING STUDENTS IN DEVELOPING A PLAN FOR MEETING THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES. THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID PROVIDES GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN A STUDENT'S POTENTIAL RESOURCES AND THE UNIVERSITY'S COSTS. THE PERCENTAGE OF TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID FROM ANY SOURCE WAS MORE THAN 90%.
  2. $30.2 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES AREAS INCLUDE OFFICES WHICH PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND CONTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS' EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING AND INTELLECTUAL, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE THE CONTEXT OF THE FORMAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM. THIS INCLUDES THE OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS, THE REGISTRAR, THE OFFICE OF STUDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND ATHLETICS WHICH IS COMPRISED OF VARSITY AND JUNIOR VARSITY TEAMS ACROSS 14 SPORTS.STUDENT SERVICES ALSO INCLUDES THE CENTER FOR STUDENT DEVELOPMENT (CSD) WHICH PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH PROGRAMS TO ACCOMPANY THEIR COLLEGE CAREER AT ALL STAGES. FROM FRESHMEN LINK GROUPS TO CAREER DEVELOPMENT COUNSELING AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS, CSD HAS EVERYTHING STUDENTS NEED TO SUCCEED. THE COUNSELING CENTER, CLINIC, DISABILITY SERVICES, SECURITY, AND OFFICE OF THE CHAPLAIN ARE HOUSED WITHIN THE CSD.
  3. $4.9 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT: TREVECCA PROVIDES SUPPORT TO THE ACADEMIC FUNCTIONS ACROSS CAMPUS THROUGH THE FUNCTIONS OF THE OFFICE OF THE PROVOST, OFFICE OF THE ACADEMIC DEAN, OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH, THE LIBRARY, AND THE CENTER FOR ONLINE LEARNING.

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 July 1946.

    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.