Leighton University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Leighton University is established as a private, non-profit institution of higher learning dedicated to expanding access to high-quality, student-centered education in the State of Mississippi and beyond. The institution exists to provide transformative academic programs that cultivate intellectual rigor, professional competence, ethical leadership, and lifelong learning. Guided by a commitment to public service and social responsibility, Leighton University seeks to prepare graduates who contribute meaningfully to their communities, advance human well-being, and address emerging challenges across diverse fields of practice. The purpose of the institution is to create an inclusive learning environment where students from varied backgrounds can pursue academic and professional goals through well-designed curricula, evidence-based teaching, and robust student support services.
- Income
- $21,240
- Spending
- $20,816
- Reserves
- 12.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (1)
- $20,816 spent. Guided by a commitment to public service and social responsibility, Leighton University seeks to prepare graduates who contribute meaningfully to their communities, advance human well-being, and address emerging challenges across diverse fields of practice. Fiscal Year: July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 During the 2024-2025 fiscal year, Leighton University advanced its establishment as a fully online, nonprofit institution by focusing on the state authorization process with the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation (MCCA), the agency responsible for administering Title 37, Chapter 60 of the Mississippi Code of 1972. Building on feedback from the prior year's application, the University devoted extensive time to refining faculty and staff recruitment plans, strengthening evidence of financial responsibility, and improving institutional capacity and program documentation to ensure compliance with state requirements. During the reporting period, Leighton University submitted the majority of its AY 2024-2025 materials to the MCCA, including revised academic program descriptions, updated organizational structures, hiring plans, financial projections, and operational policies. The University also made substantial progress in developing the technological infrastructure required for online operations, identifying and engaging Student Information System (SIS) providers capable of supporting admissions, student records, fiscal processes, and academic services. In addition to regulatory preparation and technology development, the University invested significant effort in building national relationships and cultivating a support network aligned with its mission as a nonprofit institution. These partnerships enhanced institutional visibility, broadened professional support, and contributed to long-term sustainability. Overall, the fiscal year represented substantial forward momentum, positioning Leighton University for continued progress toward state authorization and the successful launch of a fully online, high-quality educational institution.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 June 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 October 2021.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Creighton University (Omaha, NE), EIN 47-0376583. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.