Northwest Nazarene University Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF NORTHWEST NAZARENE UNIVERSITY (NNU) IS THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WHOLE PERSON. CENTERED IN JESUS CHRIST, THE NNU EDUCATION INSTILLS HABITS OF HEART, SOUL, MIND, AND STRENGTH TO ENABLE EACH STUDENT TO BECOME GOD'S CREATIVE AND REDEMPTIVE AGENT IN THE WORLD. NORTHWEST NAZARENE UNIVERSITY STRIVES TO BE A VIBRANT EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT INTEGRATES AND REFLECTS CHRISTIAN FAITH IN ALL THAT IT DOES. THE UNIVERSITY SEEKS TO PROVIDE NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED PROGRAMS DISTINGUISHED BY GRADUATES WHO ARE ACADEMICALLY PREPARED, SPIRITUALLY GROUNDED, SERVICE MINDED, GLOBALLY ENGAGED, AND VOCATIONALLY SUCCESSFUL.
- Income
- $76.1 million
- Spending
- $70.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 78%
- Employees
- 879
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $259,468, 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
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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 2538 of 38 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 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)
- $44.8 million spent. INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES AND ORGANIZED RESEARCH:NORTHWEST NAZARENE UNIVERSITY, A CHRISTIAN COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSITY, OFFERS MORE THAN 60 AREAS OF STUDY, 16 MASTER'S DEGREES IN SIX DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES, 3 DOCTORAL DEGREES, ACCELERATED DEGREE PROGRAMS, CONCURRENT CREDIT FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND A VARIETY OF CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS. IN ADDITION TO ITS 90-ACRE CAMPUS LOCATED IN NAMPA, IDAHO, THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS PROGRAMS ONLINE AS WELL AS IN IDAHO FALLS, AND IN COOPERATION WITH PROGRAMS IN TEN COUNTRIES. FOUNDED IN 1913, THE UNIVERSITY SERVES OVER 1,600 UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, MORE THAN 6,000 CONTINUING EDUCATION STUDENTS, AND OVER 7,000 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH THE CONCURRENT CREDIT PROGRAM.
- $11.5 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND STUDENT SERVICES:LIBRARY SERVICES: NNU'S LIBRARY RESOURCES ARE EXCELLENT AND MOST ARE DELIVERED VIA THE WEB WITH ACCESS TO LIBRARIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.MARKETING AND MEDIA: NNU'S OFFICE OF MARKETING AND MEDIA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING THE UNIVERSITY TELL ITS STORY -- THAT NNU SEEKS A MORE EXCELLENT WAY; A WAY ROOTED IN LOVE. THE AUDIENCE FOR THIS STORY INCLUDES PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS, DONORS, ALUMNI, THE COMMUNITY, MEDIA, AND FACULTY AND STAFF. THE OFFICE OFFERS ITS SERVICES ACROSS CAMPUS IN MARKETING, BRANDING, RESEARCH OR EXPERTISE IN CONTENT DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND MEDIA RELATIONS, TO HELP EACH DEPARTMENT TELL ITS OWN PART OF THE NNU STORY.ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTER: PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SERVICES TO ALL NNU STUDENTS, INCLUDING WRITING CONSULTING, SUBJECT AREA TUTORING BY PEERS, AND COURSES FOR CREDITS.INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES (ITS): OFFERS COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO THE NNU CAMPUS AND A WIDE VARIETY OF AUDIO/VISUAL SERVICES TO THE CAMPUS, AREA CHURCHES, AND THE COMMUNITY. SERVICES OFFERED INCLUDING MAKING COPIES, TRANSPARENCIES, PROVIDING MATERIALS NEEDED TO PRODUCE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND SIGNS, LAMINATING, AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDING AND DUPLICATING, PHOTOGRAPHY, SENDING AND RECEIVING FAXES, AND OTHER RELATED SERVICES. ITS MAINTAINS A LARGE INVENTORY OF MEDIA EQUIPMENT THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, FOR STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS, AND FOR USE BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY.STUDENT DEVELOPMENT: THE OFFICE OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT IS CHARGED WITH TAKING CARE OF EVERY ASPECT OF THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE AT NNU. IT INCLUDES RESIDENTIAL LIFE, STUDENT GOVERNMENT, SPIRITUAL LIFE, THE CAMPUS WELLNESS CENTER, MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS, INTRAMURAL ATHLETICS, AND THE CAREER CENTER.INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS: NNU IS A MEMBER OF THE GREAT NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (GNAC), COMPRISED OF 11 NCAA DIVISION II SCHOOLS. SPORTS OFFERED AT NNU INCLUDE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SOCCER, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S GOLF, MEN'S BASEBALL, WOMEN'S SOFTBALL, AND WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL.
- $5.4 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES:FOOD SERVICES: MEALS WERE PROVIDED AT NORTHWEST NAZARENE UNIVERSITY BY SODEXO, INC. AND AFFILIATES UNTIL 7/31/23, AT WHICH POINT FRESH IDEAS FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT TOOK OVER. MOST STUDENTS LIVING ON CAMPUS ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY A MEAL PLAN. MEAL PLAN OPTIONS ARE BASED ON THE RESIDENCE HALL BEING LIVED IN. AN AVERAGE OF 544 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED IN SOME TYPE OF MEAL PLAN ON CAMPUS FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: CONVENIENCE OF ON-CAMPUS LIVING. ALL SEVEN FACILITIES COMBINE FOR A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 873 BEDS, WITH 629 STUDENT OCCUPANCY FOR FALL 2023 AND 567 STUDENT OCCUPANCY FOR SPRING 2024. ALL UNMARRIED STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE SENIOR STANDING OR ARE LESS THAN 23 YEARS OF AGE ARE REQUIRED TO LIVE IN ONE OF THE RESIDENCE HALLS UNLESS THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY GRANTED AN EXCEPTION.ON-CAMPUS BOOKSTORE: BEGINNING JULY 1, 2023, OUR CAMPUS BOOKSTORE MANAGEMENT WAS TRANSFERRED TO AN OUTSIDE THIRD PARTY, SO THIS IS NO LONGER A PART OF THE UNIVERSITY'S AUXILIARY SERVICES.CONFERENCES AND EVENTS: HANDLES RENTALS/PLANNING FOR EVENTS, CONFERENCES, CAMPS, ETC., HELD IN THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AS WELL AS OTHER AREAS ACROSS CAMPUS.RESIDENTIAL RENTALS: OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE UNIVERSITY HAS PURCHASED VARIOUS PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN THE VICINITY OF THE MAIN CAMPUS. THESE PROPERTIES ARE TO BE USED, ACCORDING TO THE CAMPUS MASTER PLAN, FOR FUTURE EXPANSION OF THE CAMPUS. DEPENDING ON THE CONDITION OF THE HOMES ON THESE PROPERTIES, THEY HAVE EITHER BEEN DEMOLISHED OR TURNED INTO RENTAL PROPERTIES UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THEY ARE NEEDED FOR CAMPUS EXPANSION.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1946.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Northwestern University (Evanston, IL), EIN 36-2167817. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.